Masking the effect...

It was good to see so many people considering others by wearing masks at the market in Le Grand-Pressigny this morning.

Sunday morning market in Descartes...

Blessed today with beautiful spring weather for visiting the Sunday morning market in Descartes.

Getting out and about...

After a week of avoiding  contact with others (so as to keep our germs to ourselves), yesterday we ventured out to, first the market at descartes and then on to our first brocante of the season at Sepmes.

Couldn't resist snapping this machine parked near us...very smart! 

Then it was on to check out the hundreds of stalls on display.

Where you had a choice of bicycles.

There was the usual collection of galvanized buckets plus some items whose application wasn't immediately obvious...

although this one seemed obvious enough, though I had to take a peek.

and sure enough it was what I thought it was but bizarrely it was actually 'piped-in' via a hose from the house behind - not sure if this was for demonstration purposes or purely for convenience.

Bon week-end...

Yesterday's visit to Descartes' market  and gardens under a lovely winter's sun  finished of a very pleasant weekend for us after celebrating the Chinese New Year in some style at Cally's on Friday and our Fete St. Blaise in the village on Saturday...it is good to be back in the swing of things.

Friday market at Vouvray...

...I wouldn't bother! We visit Vouvray quite often as the 'Cave de Producteurs' is good for taking friends to when they visit plus we tend to take it in when we restock on our favourite tipple at nearby Montlouis-sur-Loire - but we had never visited on market day (Friday).

Last Friday we decided to try it but there were very few vendors and little or no atmosphere...or cheese!

Perhaps it is better during the summer.

 Other than the 'Cave de Producteurs' and the church we find Vouvray rather disappointing for a place that is a major tourist attraction here in the Loire Valley. 

Sunday market, plus...

As well as the normal very good Sunday market at Descartes there is also a brocante - so you can make a day of it! Sadly I'll be working. There are also brocantes at Betz-le-Chateau and Abilly (Jam Festival)

Now this would make a great lantern...

Spotted at Amsterdam's most famous day market,(they told us this every time the tram passed by) with stalls lining both sides of the Albert Cuyp street. 

Happy Halloween!