March marché

 

The tops of the vendors' trucks of the Sunday marché are just visible behind the levee that protects Amboise from flooding by the Loire.  The post title is an etymologist's playground.  The English word March is the 3rd month of the year.  Uncapitalized, it means to walk in a military manner.  The French word marché is market in English.  It also derives from the verb marcher (pronounced the same) that means to walk in English.  Don't get me started on the word levee.

le marché de vendredi

 

The Friday market in November.

the Friday market reopens

It's quite the contrast to the pre-pandemic market.  Now the stands are separated by 25 feet and each has a waiting line marked on the pavement with indicators for proper distancing.  So there are fewer vendors and fewer customers.  Masks are required for all.  But this local icon of commerce and culture is back.

the marketplace

This vaulted parking area is where the Friday and Sunday markets are held in Amboise.  Of course, this is just a fraction of the total area.  The Sunday market is one of the largest in France and today it's filled with locals and tourists on a day when the heat wave has receded a bit.

market day sunrise surprise

Last Sunday, the just rising sun bathed the plane trees in this wonderful pinkish-red glow.  The tops of the market's stalls can be seen behind the levee.

hats off to the Loire

The Friday and Sunday market space is right on the left bank of the Loire.  It's a great opportunity to get both in the same shot.

they're back

White asparagus is a local specialty here and they were everywhere in last Sunday's market.

leaving the Sunday market

Sunday market

We just had a four day weekend in France as a result of a holiday on Thursday.  As a result the regular Sunday market was slammed with locals and tourists.

asparagus season

Our area is famous for its white asparagus and the markets are brimming with them.

Theme Day - "let's eat!"

The first of every month is Theme Day for the worldwide bloggers of City Daily Photo.  To see how the others interpreted today's theme click here.

I had to do a little digging for a decent photo for today's theme and so this shot of tomatoes was actually taken in September at a nearby Tomato Festival.

neither snow nor fog...

Here, a little fog doesn't slow down the customers from making their appointed rounds at the marché.

Marché Nocturne d'Amboise

The Tuesday night market is held every year during July and August in front of the church Saint-Denis (which dates from the 12th century).  Of course, the sun sets between 9 and 10 pm at this time of year so there's still plenty of light for shopping the market's vendors and enjoying a nice meal of local food and wine.

ready for summer

another glorious market day and another milestone

It's been three weeks since I took this Sunday market photo.  At today's market, the trees are looking pretty bare. But here they are at their autumnal peak, glowing with the back-light of the low morning sun.  A wonderful last hurrah.

On a more personal note, this blog has reached another milestone, better to be called a kilometer-stone, as this is the 1000th post since it began in February of 2013.  I really never thought I would see this day.

the wine merchant

Here is one of the local wine merchants selling his goods at the Sunday market. And of course you can taste it first before buying.  Yet another reason to go to the markets.

l'asperge - asparagus

The white asparagus is a specialty of this area and they are in full swing now.  These are from the Sunday market in Amboise.  Miam!

winter market

The fog and cold of winter doesn't prevent the Friday and Sunday markets from continuing as usual.

paella anyone ?

It may be winter but the Friday and Sunday markets continue in Amboise.  And it's the perfect time for hot paella.  And, yes, this pan is as big as it looks!

le marché - la dernière journée de novembre

It was a foggy and dark Sunday morning for the marché the last weekend.  That didn't dampen the spirits of the venders or the shoppers.  Still a far cry from Black Friday.