Bloomin' lovely!

May the 1st is Fête du Travail day in France. To celebrate there is an annual flower fair held in the bastide town of Tournon d’Agenais. Which just happens to be the village where my parents live!
So yesterday, off we went to experience our first taste of a traditional French Fête. I was not disappointed!

As we approached the entrance to the bastide, a smiling lady at a wooden booth took €2 entrance fee and in return stamped my hand. The last time I had my hand stamped was probably ten years ago on a bad night out in Manchester! The little red ‘P’ on my hand for admittance to the flower fair made me feel so rock and roll.

It was a sensory overload as I walked into the medieval town square. Colour filled every paving-stone, every corner, each little nook and cranny. There was music playing and the smell of freshly ground coffee floating in the air. Flowers, plants, trees. Hanging baskets and brightly coloured plant pots, all for sale. My favourite types of flowers are meadow flowers. Wild unpredictable ones, gypsy grass and daisies. So I surprised myself when the purchase I went home with was a pastel coloured pot filled with orange tiger lilies.

The flowers were the main event in the centre of the square, but down the little side streets other vendors were also selling their wares. Hand woven wicker baskets, wrought iron goods, hand made jewellery, summer hats and clothing. I bought a long gypsy skirt, the sort that swishes when you walk. I simply adore the bohemian style here. By the end of Summer I fully expect to

have embraced my inner Esmerelda and have arms full of bangles, flowers braided in my hair and a henna tattoo on my foot!

Amongst the flowers in the market square, a small stage boasted a lively brass band. Their joyful music could be heard through out the whole of the fair, no matter which part you were wandering around.

An exceptionally cute addition to the day was the little train that ran up and down the hill from the village below, to the top of the bastide town. Very handy when going back to the car laden with carrier bags full of plants!

I have lived in France for 9 weeks now, but it was only yesterday that I ticked a very important ‘must do’ off my list.
French Crêpe. Tick.
Most delicious, with Nutella of course.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment yesterday. Usually I feel very uncomfortable in crowded places, but there was something magical in the air which made me feel right at home