Sunday, May 22, 2011

Market Day . . .

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Every Thursday morning the market gets underway in the village of Carantec. A weekly ritual, a social gathering as much as a commercial operation. A chance to get out and shoot the breeze a bit, catch up on local gossip, bring home some groceries which are better here than at the supermarket. A time honored tradition.
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These postcards give a little bit of an idea of the flavor of life in Brittany. Sails, sea, shore, waves, lighthouses, ancient rock.
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But perhaps even better than postcards, painted scraps of driftwood by a local artist. A fine addition to any household.
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Fish of many descriptions . . .
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Crabs for sale . . .
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Lobsters too . . .
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The traditional Thursday roast chicken and potato lunch ! Yum !
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And of course, cheese to finish off a meal with. Cheese from all over the French cheese map. I took several home. A different cheese could be eaten every day of the year in France, and one still would not have tasted them all.
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27 comments:

Suze said...

Brilliant photo of the fish; interesting about the variety of cheese.

Alistair said...

Owen - you make me ache to go back with all this.

And my mouth water.

And you're a very naughty boy for the lobster shot!

Ha.

{Still - only a few months to wait}

Steve said...

A veritable carnival of colours that set me off afloat this morning...!

The Poet Laura-eate said...

Gorgeous drifwood paintings indeed, but as a veggie, I can resist most of the rest of the produce!

A lovely tradition to have though.

Marginalia said...

I love the colour of the crabs and lobsters. They are far to pretty to eat. The same can't be said of the cheeses.

I'm disappointed, no mention of wine,beer or cider. Can a meal be called a meal without at least one of those?

the fly in the web said...

Oh...something I miss!
No, not the markets but the blasted cheese!
And I wouldn't have minded a herring either.

Lovely photographic wake up this morning...thank you.

elena nuez said...

thanks for that amazing trip!!!
I loved it!!!

Elena

mythopolis said...

I wish there were such colorful and diverse markets here.

Le Journal de Chrys said...

J'aime beaucoup les marchés!!! Du coup je suis gâtée aujourd'hui chez toi!

MERCI

AB said...

The cheeses, fish and crab just look so delicious.

Stickup Artist said...

What an colorful array of the abundance of the good things in life. Fresh air and fresh food, a friendly town, and local wares. Sometimes, people get it right!

Anonymous said...

You make life feel good again.

Please have you all a good new week.

Amanda said...

I visited the "phare d'eckmül" when I was a little girl. I think there is a picture of it on one of the postcards. Brittany is so gorgeous. I miss it very much.

Deborah said...

Owen, that looks like a wonderful (and authentic) market! So often, at least in this part of France, they have lost their special-ness, and in the summer are really just aimed at tourists, with stuff that isn't local, good or less expensive than the stores. But there's still the ambiance of strolling through one on a Saturday morning, basket in hand. Stopping for a coffee and a croissant, and every now and then finding something really good. Marinated sweet garlic, for instance!
Must come to Brittany one day - you make it all look so good.

Elisa said...

What a colourful photos you have taken! Beautiful ;) Spring and almost summer has finally come to Finland! And weather warmed few degrees when we won icehockey..
Have a nice week Owen!

Lena said...

I just had breakfast and now I want roast chicken and potatoes? And cheese and bread and... !!! Yum!
XXX

Mary Ann said...

Now I'm envious. This market is fantastic.

PeterParis said...

Seeing your photos made me make a tour to the fridge. No lobster around, but some cheese! :-)

The Sagittarian said...

Looks like a fab day out, I love little local markets and it's so rare to find a decent one with authentic stuff to buy. I would have definitely swooped on the cheese and crab...but also would have been searching for some local booze. Of course.

Lynne with an e said...

What glorious colours, sights and aromas! I would love to stroll through such a market place and sample the wares...though I fear those lobsters might leave a bit of a woolly taste in my mouth. I think I'll run and catch up with the Saj in her search for some local liquid refreshment. See ya!

Leovi said...

Beautiful colors.

CiCi said...

Great weekly tradition for the community. I really like the driftwood with the artwork painted on the pieces.

babbler said...

Owen, Mr. Slug and I were enthralled by our virtual vacation through the street market in Brittany. It has inspired Mr. Slug to slide out on to our patio, bathed in a lovely dappeled sunlight, to fire up the barbecue and enjoy an adult slug libation out in the "Garden of Eatin'!"
PS- you are in for a golfing treat at Slug's Rest!

Owen said...

Hi everyone,
Warm thanks and hugs to all for your boozing, colorful, slippery, friendly thoughts here...

So sorry to be away for so long, but had a minor crisis at work to deal with on short notice, involving travel to a foreign country where people eat wiener schnitzel and quaff Kolsch, only just got back after a week away, and am off again in the morning... no rest for the weary !

Very best wishes to all... et à bientôt...

Roxana said...

those lobster colours are simply amazing!!! but you know me, the last pic makes me sooo hungry, i adore cheese :-)

Pastelle said...

Miam ! Ca fait plaisir aux yeux et en plus ça donne faim !

Significant Snail said...

You do such a wonderful job of photographing your surroundings. Those lobsters are amaging! You make the ordinary into something extraordinary.