Ceret - Market day circus

We actually didn't need to get much at the market today just onions, bananas, mushrooms, cucumber, quiche (for lunch) and the poulet roti for supper. Of course we were not able to resist the strawberries and Dad bought some cheese (even though we have a lot and will have to mainline cheese for a while)

I don't think I've posted a picture of this stall before. There are a lot of cork (liege) trees in the hills around
and cork is being replaced as a stopper for bottles. This booth has what you would expect re little people
and animals made out of wine corks but they have so much more ...

belts, wallets, purses ...

candle holders, bowls and jewelry.

Market shopping is a serious and often intense business and people have serious shopping containers for the job.

At the end of the foray it should be almost to heavy to carry and overloaded with greenery sticking out.

This is the sensible solution. The brown bags indicate some pastries, perhaps
herbs, cheese.

The classic

Different pockets for different items.

And if you have forgotten your basket .....

Mum bought a shopping bag from home.

After shopping we had coffee at Le Pablo and realized how exhausting market day is, for the dogs.

Got to sleep on a lap.

Under a chair

Better still, in bed.

For the last 2 days there has been a yellow van driving around, with a loud speaker on top, announcing the coming of the circus.

Posters like this one are on all the roads coming in to town.

Flyers were handed out at the market announcing "Avec ses jongleurs, ses equilibristes, la cavalerie, ses terrible clowns les rois du rire et bien d'autre surprise". I'm fine with all of this but not with "les animaux exotique."

Its a pretty small circus

but they have 3 lions in a big cage on a flatbed truck. They looked healthy and well fed, lying in the sun and
 watching the people and traffic go by. It just makes me sad.

Needless to say none of us wanted to go to the circus so after lunch we headed out for Mum and I to do some sketching.

Dad and Joan sat, at the car, and read in the sun while Mum and I walked down and
sat on the riverbank just beyond the house on the right.

The three bridges (historic pedestrian, road, rail) are a nightmare of angles
and arches.

Although we complained about them to each other we both enjoyed the challenge.

This last shot is for Heather who loves watching La Tour de France. I have seen a lot of
spandex clad bicyclists on my hikes but never been fast enough with my camera. This group
cycled over Le Pont Diable in front of us. Hopefully this will make up for the clowns and lions.