There was a pottery market on Saturday and Sunday in Lauzerte. I did get a small dish, yet was hesitant to buy anything larger since our suitcases will be full as it is.
However, it was very nice to wander through and look at all the colorful pieces of pottery for sale in all different styles.
Moissac has one of the largest markets in the area. Today, we did some shopping at their Sunday market and then went back to the nearby abbey for a visit. The markets are the places to go for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Of course, that's not all they sell. You can also find pocket knives, tablecloths, or anything else you might need.
And, as you can see in the top picture, the Moissac market in particular has a great spice table.
On Saturday, the Tour de France went from Figeac down to Toulouse. Despite a somewhat rainy day, we packed a picnic and staked out a nice spot. We were told to get set up before the Junk Train arrived and soon realized what that meant as colorful vehicles promoting one company or another drove by, hurling free keychains, hats, and other knick-knacks to the bystanders. 
We watched the circling helicopters above, indicating the bicyclists' arrival. Then they turned the corner. They went by very quickly, all in one pack.
Within 30 seconds our viewing of the Tour de France was over as they sped past us, but it was quite a half a minute. In that short time, Chris was able to get some great pictures
Over the holiday weekend, we headed off to Provence. Check out the new
pictures that have been added to our France photo album! I'll be adding captions as soon as I can.
We went to Arles, Nimes, and Avignon. And we stopped at Pont du Gard, an amazingly intact Roman aquaduct. I think that was the height of the trip for me. It's breathtaking.
We also went down to the Mediterranean for a day to swim, which was a welcome respite from the heat.
And on the way, we stopped at Carcassonne. Here's a picture of us looking at it from a distance, before we headed into town.
We saw Roman ruins, walled cities, and beautiful vistas. It was a fantastic weekend and we were able to see a lot in a short amount of time.
One of the major attractions of Southwest France is the wine region of Bordeaux. It can be a little daunting to find which vineyards to visit and which parts of Bordeaux to explore, so research is a must. Just be sure you know before hand which vineyards you need reservations for to avoid disappointment.
To explore the vineyards by bike, stop by the Bordeaux or St. Emillion tourist office and rent a bike for a full day or a half day. Chris and I rented bikes for the afternoon and then we were off.
We just got back from a trip to one of the local markets. We went to the Montcuq Sunday market and came back with strawberries, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and meringue cookies. Also for sale was clothing and other non-food items, which we've only seen at a few markets. Each village, town, and city has its own market one or two days a week and each is a little different. We've been trying to hit as many different ones as we can.
I wish I had pictures, but I haven't brought the camera to one yet. I will soon. In the meantime, please enjoy this ferret in beret picture.
This weekend we kayaked down the Dordogne river, passing castles and towns along the way. It was one of the best excursions we've done since we got here. The river was moving very fast, so we just floated along and took pictures on the way.
We traveled into Spain last Saturday and went to San Sebastian, a beautiful city on the ocean. We had tapas for lunch and took a walk along the water. I'm so glad we made it into Spain and this is a gorgeous city to visit. However, I can't say I minded coming back to France where I can at least understand a little of the language. I'll have to work on my Spanish before I return.
A Gallo-Roman villa was discovered in the town of Seviac, dating back to the second century AD. While it is unclear who lived here, the family must have had a good deal of wealth, since the villa is quite large and had its own bath complex. It also had spectacular mosaics on the floors, many of which have been uncovered and can be seen today.
Normally, beautiful artwork like this would have been carted off to a museum. To see mosaics like this in their original setting is truly rare and impressive.
