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Post by Anne on Jan 3, 2008 10:09:48 GMT -5
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jan 3, 2008 10:40:38 GMT -5
Wow, thanks Anne! I have yet to make it to the Luberon or Aix, but this is an incentive to try a bit harder! Great pictures, thanks for posting them - it's a wonderful way to start my morning.
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Post by Ray(aka) tripnebraska on Jan 3, 2008 11:05:47 GMT -5
I exalt you for the beautiful photos.
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Post by sistereurope on Jan 3, 2008 11:15:20 GMT -5
Oh Anne- thanks for these pics. I'm sitting here suffering from PPD (in my case PPWithdrawl) and I feel better seeing your photos and realizing that we will be there in the Spring! So glad to hear that you had a nice NY.
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Post by Shoesy on Jan 3, 2008 11:45:18 GMT -5
Wow, Anne! From those pictures I can see that you had quite a vacation. Absolutely beautiful!
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Post by luvparee on Jan 3, 2008 12:04:09 GMT -5
Anne~ Merci beaucoup for pictures of the beautiful Luberon! I've been there twice and love it! Although we missed Lourmarin and Aix (were intending to stop there on our way to Cassis, but our directions were not the best and we wound up in Marseille and had to drive to Cassis from there) during our trip in the summer of 2006, I still need to get back and spend some time in those two towns. However, we did see ALOT in our 8 days! The market at L'Isle sur la Sorgue is such a fabulous fun time. We all had to purchase another suitcase to bring back all the "stuff" we bought!
Any other pictures would be appreciated ................ Merci!
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jan 3, 2008 12:07:15 GMT -5
luvparee - is that the market where all the antique/brocante dealers join together? If so, what did you think of it?
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Post by Anne on Jan 3, 2008 13:35:24 GMT -5
Luvparee - I don't have any other picture ... I am surprised that you enjoyed the area so much in the summer . July and August are supposed to be dreadfully overcrowded in the Lubéron, especially the most famous places like Ménerbes, Gordes, Lourmarin or ... L'Isle sur la Sorgue . Becky - I have never been at L'Isle sur La Sorgue so I cannot tell you about its brocante market, but we visited quite a few brocante shops in Lourmarin (most of which call themselves "antiques" of course ) because our friends are still decorating their house, and I can tell you that prices are quite shocking , evidently because of all the wealthy tourists who own houses in the area . If you are looking for stuff to decorate your French house I think that you'd better shop in your house's area than in the Lubéron ... Sister - Spring should be great there, warm weather and not too crowded yet .
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Post by holger on Jan 3, 2008 14:59:17 GMT -5
This looks wonderful. I am just starting to think of another trip to France but not this coming summer as we will be in Scotland for a conference and then with friends who live in Plymouth and finally a few days in London. So we are thinking of next Christmas-New Year's. However, I really hate the cold and damp and so was looking at these pictures and thinking about the south of France for several days through Christmasand then Paris over the end of December and through the first few days of January. But I am a bit worried about being in a small place over Christmas. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Will probably rent an apartment for the week in Paris but thought maybe a hotel or B & B would be less isolating over Christmas.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jan 3, 2008 16:18:40 GMT -5
Anne, I will ask Richard (friend who is helping me decorate) about the town, but that name sounded at least close. I'll post whatever I find out, next time I talk to him. Apparently it's a town that has a huge market for antiques and brocante items, which I think he said is held each summer. He said that the dealers all go but that it's reasonably affordable (he's not a professional decorator, but could be if he chose and has a good eye for that sort of thing). He says that although it's ironic, it's hard to find any bargains anywhere around where we are (which I assumed we could do, once we got out of the immediate vicinity of Paris), because tourists and Parisian dealers buy up everything and drive the prices up.
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Post by luvparee on Jan 3, 2008 17:56:27 GMT -5
Becky -- Frankly, I don't know the answer to your question ........ I know there are alot of antique stores in L'Isle sur la Sorgue that are also open during the market on Sunday, but the market that I've been to is just a HUGE Provencal market with fabric, tablecloths, cheese, olives, wine, herbs, rotisserie chickens, paper products, handbags, jewelry, tabletop, linens, dishware, etc., etc. , and some brocante. Much bigger than any of the street markets in Paris. I believe it's been billed as the second largest market in France, with the flea market in Paris being the largest. It much takes up alot of the town, but is so charming because there are alot of streams, old water wheels, rivers, etc., in LSLS, and the market just winds around the town and along the banks of the rivers/streams. If you're ever in the area, it is a must do. However, you need to get there by 8:30-9A on Sunday in order to park somewhere near the market. And I believe they start tearing down around noon to 1P. However, one can certainly do alot of damage in that time!!!!
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jan 3, 2008 21:47:18 GMT -5
Well, even if that's not the same place I heard about it does sound fun and interesting!
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Post by Darcy on Jan 3, 2008 23:35:05 GMT -5
Beautiful photos, Anne, thanks so much!
Becky, I've not been to the brocante at L'Ile sur la Sorgue, but you are thinking of the right town. It's a place I've wanted to go to for ages.
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Post by Jody on Jan 4, 2008 5:25:27 GMT -5
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Post by Anne on Jan 4, 2008 5:34:46 GMT -5
Becky - Yes, L'Isle sur la Sorgue is indeed the town with the brocante market, I only meant that I couldn't comment on it since I had never visited it . Holger - Our friends have owned this holiday home for four years now and they say that end of Dec has always been very sunny so far . We had nights around or even below 0°C, but we could sit in the sun and read the paper at midday with just a sweater on, no coat . The only problem can be the cold wind . We were freezing in Lourmarin because of the heavy mistral . Re. hotels and B&B : all popular villages have lovely stylish places . We saw a place which looked great in Lourmarin, old and charming house with a lovely big garden . This is the place : www.luberonweb.com/luberon_locations/holidays/owners/saint_louis/saint_louis.php
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Post by Jody on Jan 4, 2008 5:41:40 GMT -5
here's what I could find this morning
Market day: Thur, Sun mornings; daily during the summer Antique Market (Puce): Sunday all day Every Sun - Brocante, Ave des 4 Otages, all day Every Sat, Sun, Mon - Brocante, by the Gare Every Sat, Sun - Brocante, LiIsle aux Brocanteurs Last Sun - Brocante books; Parc Caisse d'Epargne 3rd Weekend July - Marché Provençal, avec Pêche d'Antan Every Aug - Foire à la Brocante * (every 15 Aug) 1st Sun Aug - Marché Flottant Foire: closest Thur to 15 Nov; 28 Oct at St-Laurent Foire à la Brocante: Easter and 15 Aug. Festival de la Sorgue: 2nd-4th weeks July Corso Nautique: 25-26 July Fête Nautique: first week Aug. Fête du Partage des Eaux: 10 Aug. Fête St. Cézaire: last week Aug.
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Post by holger on Jan 4, 2008 8:22:37 GMT -5
Anne226, Thanks. The house in Loumarin looks lovely and I will contact them as plans proceed. We also had mistral winds in St. Remy in September which knocked out the hotel's internet. I am wondering how this period over Christmas would be along the coast--maybe not Nice but one of the other coastal towns. I would like something festive and not so closed down that we would feel depressed because we were not able to engage in some festivities.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jan 4, 2008 10:39:35 GMT -5
Demarais, thanks so much for posting this! I do think this place is going to have to get a visit at some point (when I finally have a house where I can put the great things I'm sure I would find, that is). Thanks again!
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Post by jcjflorida on Jan 4, 2008 15:17:23 GMT -5
Anne, your pictures are beautiful! We rented a house in L'Isle sur la Sorgue in May 2005. It is a wonderful area and we were able to explore Avignon, Arles, Aix, Gordes and more. The house we rented is on VRBO www.vrbo.com/14760The town is full of antique shops. We missed the huge market on Sunday because of a travel nightmare (arriving 24 hours late, cutting a whole day out of our vacation ). But we did experience the mid week market which was great. I fell in love with Provence. When we left we took the TGV to Paris and got there in about 2 1/2 hr. Here are some pictures from that trip. L'Isle sur la Sorgue Aix-en-Provence and Lacoste Our house Our visitor
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jan 4, 2008 15:30:56 GMT -5
Great pictures - okay, I'm convinced! I have to go there . . .
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