I have not been able to keep up with writing as we go as much as I expected. Learning about how to setup and manage WordPress has also been challenging. I will catch up with our previous activities in the future but for now will write about our current activities. So….

We are in an apartment in Isle sur La Sorgue in the region of Vaucluse in Provence. it’s a town of 20.000 or so people. It is on the river Sorgue and technically an island with canals and bridges around it. It was originally an industrial town with big water wheels generating hydraulic power. It still produces beautiful woolen products today by a company Brun de Vian-Tiran. It is often referred to as Venice of the south.

Today it is known for its 300 antique shops and stalls, biannual antique fairs and also for its markets. There is a big market on Sundays, originating from the 12th century and a smaller one on Thursdays. On Sundays the town fills with visitors from about 10 – 3 and then goes back to its relatively quiet self. We love to go shopping at the food stalls for supplies early before the influx of visitors and then wander the market with the tourists before it all quietens down again and we can feel somewhat like locals! This town is very busy during August but most of the French people have left now and there don’t seem to be too many tourists here. We occasionally hear someone speaking English but so far haven’t met any Australians. Mostly it seems a town French people like to holiday in and that’s fine with us.

We are staying in an apartment above a little square. We hear the sounds of people at the cafes below long into the night. Always happy sounds that add to the atmosphere. We can close our shutters to block it if we wish.

it’s the third time we have come to stay here and it has not lost any of its charm for us.