I'm Ashamed To Say

That in nearly four decades I have only seen the Lewis Carnival a couple of times and one of those was when my wife was one of the judges of the floats.  This year it took place last Saturday in Stornoway.  CJ and I went into town in the morning early to avoid it.  There was a 'continental market' in the square.  It was largely a gathering of food stalls mostly selling take-away hot food.  I hope they did well with the Carnival goers in the afternoon.  There wasn't really much to photograph but I was fascinated by the cheese stall.  We can get a pretty good selection of unusual cheese in Stornoway in both the Coop Supermarket and The Good Food Boutique and I'd rather support the local economy.  However this cheese stall would take some beating for purveying the unusual:

Perhaps I'll give those a miss.

Civray Market

I love French street markets.  Today we went to Civray Market,  It appears to be winding down and was not as large as it is in the full height of the summer but it was still interesting and there were a few photographs to be had:

Knife sharpening, beekeeping and dog-loving.

Don't you just love those spectacles - very French.

Et un beau sourire

Couldn't be any nationality but French!

Artisan basket maker.

Sainte Foy La Grande Market

This year David and I went to the market in Sainte Foy several times.  There is something quite magical and natural about French street markets.  This afternoon I was looking for some photos from our visits in September when I remembered that several of my favourite photos of Sainte Foy were taken at the market some years ago.  I'm afraid I've been playing around a bit.    The odd thing is that I was convinced that I had blogged using these photos at the time but I wasn't blogging when I took them.

Charroux Market: Hats

I have never been to Charroux Market when the hat stall has not been there. I don't need a new hat - I stick to my Tilley Hats and I have enough to last my life out I should think. But I could be tempted:

European Market in Stornoway

France has street markets.  They are a way of life.  Last week Stornoway had a European Street Market.  Somehow it didn’t have quite the same ambience and natural feeling that it would have in France.

 

Civray Market

Tuesday is market day in Civray. We were there quite early ie just after 0900 before Les Anglais who feature large in the area arrived in force. Mind you you could tell us a mile away because we were the people wearing shorts, open toed sandals or beards or even all three. I love markets for their colour and bustle, their day to day ordinariness and their general atmosphere. They are not just a good place to buy things, they are also an experience and a place to people watch. Further South the markets are much more tourist oriented and even larger and more interesting for all that but here the market is by the locals for the locals.

" Vous avez entendu cela?......."

Les Moules

Honey and knife sharpening!

Les tomates

Now that's what I call a cooking pot

Garlic, of course

'No. We don't sell gloves'

But we sell baskets

Tupperware! Really?

Compulsory table covering en France

Food, glorious food.

Every decent market has a huge paella on the go for breakfast

Shopping bags are still big en France

Want your house painted as a Christmas card?

Too stylish for Les Anglais

'These are lovely and firm'

Country fare