To Market....

.. in Villefranche-de-Rouergue

It was to be another rainy day, but we didn't want to miss the market in Villefranche and spending some more time with our British friends before they returned to Dorset; so we headed out with fingers crossed. All was well until we parked our car in town, and were preparing to head up to the town square ... and then, alas, the deluge!

But it didn't last long. Our friends arrived and gave us a somewhat guided tour as we walked up to the market and later, they took us into the church to point out the incredible wood carvings in the choir. 

We didn't really have a shopping list for the market but picked up a couple of fresh items and spent most of our time taking photos! (extra).

Lots of colour - which we needed on a very gray day - and lots of interesting people...schools groups, locals and even some tourists! Luckily for us, this is not tourist season yet or that market would have been a zoo. And..quel surpris! Whom did we see selling cheese from behind a counter set up under the porch of the church? Sister Mary of Goat cheese fame! She spotted us and greeted us with her amazing smile! How neat is that? 

I had to be back home by 4:30 - which was not a problem - to, believe it or not,  join my book club's zoom meeting! The author of the last book we read was joining us and I did not want to miss her. Thankfully, the wifi was still up and running as it was a real treat to hear her talk and get a better understanding of her as the person she is now. She had been caught up in an organization which she later realized had been a cult, an organization that promoted subservience of women to their husbands as well as home schooling their children using a curriculum designed by their charismatic leader. It was fascinating to hear how she, an independent, 29 year old university educated teacher, allowed herself to slip into that belief system and into such a subservient role. As unhappy as she was, she did not leave her husband, but when he left her, she broke the ties with the cult and in her recovery, wrote a book describing her experience in the hope that it would help others. I am so glad I was able to take part in the meeting! 

So, it was a very busy and interesting day, regardless of intermittent rain!