Olives, Accents, and Afternoon Shade: A Day at the Olonzac Market

Our quest today is to visit the Olonzac market which is considered to be one of the best weekly markets in the Minervois region. The narrow local streets are taken over by stalls selling goat cheeses, olives, galette, fresh sun-ripened stone fruits, rotisserie chickens, horse meat, fish, bread, cakes…..oh and so much more and of course everyone wants to chat about how things are made, what herb goes with what meat. It takes an age to shop. I love it. 

We leave with arms full of fruit, veg and galettes but no horse meat!

On the way out we visit a second hand clothing shop… of course we do! The owner is from south London… still got the accent even when he is speaking French.  I always wonder how people get to live where they do. In his case a marriage breakup persuaded him to reluctantly take up a job offer in France. That was 20 years ago. He’s never been tempted to go back although Thailand is calling. Who knows where he will end up!

We had hoped to check out the second part of the market that had woven baskets, textiles, clothing, and local crafts, but the heat got to us and so we abandoned that idea as well as exploring village of Pepieux. Next time!

Back home in the village, we notice that the shutters are open on the house opposite. Strange .  We know the owner is away and we've been watering her plants. A cheerful head pops through the window. Time for another chat I think. It turns out she is a real estate agent and eagerly shows us around. Traditional kitchen and lounge, 3 bedrooms, two bathrooms over 3 levels with your typical precarious spiral staircase.  MMM.  How much we ask. €135,000!  Say that again! Very tempting, well apart from the dratted spiral staircase.  

So we settle in for an afternoon in the shade - chilling is just what we need!