Sunday, October 26, 2008

Foire aux Potirons

Today was Issigeac's annual Pumpkin Festival....

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 Issigeac is a very beautiful Medieval village dating back to the time of the hundred years wars, when much of the present village was built but actually going back even further than that to the Gallo-Roman era and is very popular with tourists and locals alike.

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What I really like about these special food festivals is that they bring out lots of people and because of that lots and lots of traders turn out as well.  The local apple grower was there today with his array of apples all grown within a few miles of here.  The florist was selling locally grown Chrysanthemums and the basket man was there with his woven selection.

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The regular Oyster man was there selling his oysters raised in the Marennes-Oleron basin,  just a couple of hours drive north of here and the walnuts are the famous Franquette, (Noix du Perigord).  Of course, no Pumpkin Festival would be complete without the garlic man....

Actually, all these pictures were taken rather late in the day.  When I first arrived I was unable to get any photos because there were simply too many people....but too many people to take photos gave a great buzz to the festival and I enjoyed my few hours there.   There are more PHOTOS here

4 comments:

Veggie Gnome said...

Absolutely beautiful! Just love the produce. I could snatch up ALL that garlic and the walnuts and.....

Did you get back home laden with wonderful produce? :)

chaiselongue said...

Beautiful pictures - what an amazing variety of different potirons! All shapes and colours. You have such good markets in your part of France, even better than here.
I really like your new template too - it gives so much more space and shows off the photos better. Was it easy to change? I've been thinking of changing mine, but worry that it may involve too much fiddling around with all the elements of it.

Kate said...

I so wish I could have been at that market Ian!

2 posts in one day....are you getting as blogified as me??

Ian said...

Hi all, thanks for your comments.
Veggie gnome, the garlic was delicious....and of course walnuts are very local...we have three walnut trees in our garden.
Chaiselongue, the markets here are really magnificent and we have such a choice of markets as well as produce. I can go to a different market every day of the week and all within less than 30 minutes drive.
Kate, I wasn't able to take you to the Issigeac market whilst you were here but next time you come I shall take you there. Don't get too excited about 2 posts in a day though.....I'm not up to your calibre of posting..