July 23 - Vaison-la-Romaine 🇫🇷

Today is market day in Vaison-la-Romaine so we’re off to see what these markets in Provence are all about. The city is split in two by the Ouvèze River. The Roman bridge connects the newer city (Ville-Basse) with the hill-capping medieval city (Ville-Haute). Ancient Vaison-la-Romaine had a treaty that gave it the preferred “federated” relationship with Rome. This along with a healthy farm economy (olives and vineyards) made it a prosperous place. There is still a 6,000 seat theatre that dates back to the time of the Romans. In the 16th Century, the Pope gave Vaison-la-Romaine market town status. Today, merchants gather with gusto, turning the entire place into a festival of produce. After the market we stopped along the route home for a dégustation de vin (wine tasting) and chose a couple of beautiful rose wines to pair with the Poulet Fermier (free-range chickens) that were deliciously roasted on a spit and which we bagged for lunch with oven roasted potatoes! Wow, it doesn’t get much better than this. It’s HOT today; 41 degrees Celsius. After lunch we floated in the pool to stay cool then later drove to Orange to map out the spot where we’ll watch the Tour de France pass by tomorrow. Another great day.

Market day in Vaison-la-Romaine....it’s jammed with people!

Market day purchases. Melons, strawberries, peaches, aubergine, tomatoes, virgin olive oil, wild honey, raspberry jam, baguette and wine among other things! All so fresh.

Floating in 41 degree heat with rum and macerated strawberries with lime juice.

Downtown Orange, the Tour de France spins through here tomorrow. We’ll have front row seats!

Camaret-sur-Aigues is a stop on the Tour de France tomorrow. We’ll watch them cycle by in Orange.