Apt & Menerbes

We had the car for another day today and started off toward Apt, home to a famous marche paysan, farmers market. Unfortunately the rest of Provence also knew of it because it took us many a trip around the town roundabouts to find parking. It was a delightful market filled with textiles, cheese, sausage and olive oil from the region. Oh, and don't forget the olive vendors, and of course the fresh produce. We found a delightful little corner bistro to have lunch after the market. From there we continued north to Saignon and walked around the sleepy hilltop village. Almost no other tourists, or people for that matter. My favorite sight was a dog sleeping on a lounge chair next to a man selling something outside his shop. I wish I'd had enough courage to ask for a picture, but I managed to snap one nonetheless. We wandered around an old cemetery next to the town church where preparations were being made for a wedding. Upon further exploration we found the original church, now closed to visitors, and some ruins from many centuries ago. The rich history here is just fascinating. There are so many ruins you can just walk around in.
We traveled back toward Avignon stopping in Menerbes, noted on our tourist map as one of the most beautiful villages in France. It lived up to the title. Around every corner was a new vista of old doors, cobbled stones and vintage lamps. We stopped at a boulangerie for some lavender almond cookies and waked to the top of the hill to the old church, following a local cat. It started to rain a bit, so we headed back into Avignon. Shortly after we headed out again in search of dinner, we found a place to eat it began raining really hard! There was also a lot of lightening and people who had been seated outside (as is customary just about everywhere in France) started flooding into the indoor seating areas. We watched, amused, as the restaurant owners shuttled people back and forth with a large table umbrella. Our walk home was a wet one as it is still pouring outside. We hope it blows over before our picnic at the pont du gard tomorrow, but alas we have been unable to get wifi so it's impossible to know what the forecast has in store. I'm not totally sad about being somewhat disconnected. It's been nice to unwind and finally feel like we're on vacation. It's hard to believe we leave France the day after tomorrow.

Update- not raining!! We just got back from the market with a baguette, Provence sausage, souffle and done other things I can't pronounce made of pastry dough with something inside. We're off to see the pont du gard! Au
Revoir!

Sorry for the terrible iPhone pictures. All we got right now!!