Back to Lourmarin

Poor Mike and Jean are still recovering from jet lag and we are loaded in the car en route to the Lourmarin market. It's Friday and we need one more visit to the market in Lourmarin for those table linens that I should have bought! And Mike and Jean are certainly pleased to go back to our favorite provencal village.

When we arrived in Lourmarin, London, Steve and Mike went a different direction than Jean and myself. We made our rounds throughout the market and conquered our shopping lists and then ran into the boys and London in the centre of Lourmarin. Turns out they had a 'pub crawl' throughout Lourmarin and had drinks at our favorite friends establishments. It was a fun morning for all of us! Then it was time for lunch at La Recreation, our traditional market day lunch spot.

Let the shopping begin!

Market Day Festivities

French Flag is Proudly Displayed in the Centre of Lourmarin for the World Cup Festivities! France is playing today I think.

Our favorite - David's Restaurant! He should probably trim back that ivy!

The shoppers and the pub crawl participants meet up in centerville!

Someone is so excited about her day! She ran into ALL of our Lourmarin friends!

Market Day is always fun in Lourmarin

Our favorite village

Who's ready for lunch?

A relaxing lunch at La Recreation!

Chateau Lourmarin - Where are the donkeys in the field?

After lunch we are heading to the car through the market stalls that are packing up. In case you didn't know, this is definitely the best time to 'make a deal.' We have gotten our best bargaining once the crowds leave and they are truly wanting us to get out of their way! Haha! Today's bargain - double the Peony's for the price! Sold! We were so excited until we realized we had an hour drive back home and needed to keep these precious flowers alive. Resourceful Jean poured a bottle of water in a market bag and we held them in the water the whole way back to Bandol! A small price to pay for a week of fresh peonies!

Packing up Market

Excited little girl

Our Peony Score - 2 for 1!!

Happy With Flowers in Front of Chateau Lourmarin

 On our way back to Bandol we came across the most amazing fields of sunflowers. It was impossible to not stop and run through them for some photographs. The sunflowers were absolutely stunning! Of course we had to dodge a few bees for the pictures, but not a huge deal.

Sunflowers in the Luberon

Um, MOM.....there are bees here!

Seriously, Is it safe to walk through here?

Dad & London 

Mom & London

Getting a little more comfortable with the sunflowers despite the bee presence.

No London, you can't pick those!

Sassy in Sunflowers

My Pretty Girl

Jean & London

Having Fun

'Mom, Is this Sunflower as big as my face?'

Chaos in the Sunflowers

Beautiful Fields

Ladies in the Sunflowers - we didn't want to leave

 We had so much fun in Lourmarin and made it safely back to Bandol. Once our market goods were put away we headed down to the evening market in Bandol for sunset, carousel rides and dinner.

Our evening view

Boat School Anyone?

Evening Market in Bandol

How Many Carousel Rides????

Mom & Jean on the Carousel Too!

Dad Getting in on the Carousel Fun Tonight!

Dinner at La Grange, our favorite pizzeria by the apartment!

London is experimenting with photography with her camera. She spent the dinner taking photographs from her perspective. They are pretty good despite being a little blurry.