Getting in the Spirit

Now that we're feeling Christmassy after the 'concert', we went off to the Truffle market at Lalbenque, just outside Cahors.  

This market is held every Tuesday afternoon from the beginning of December till March...

...but, of course, this one, just before Christmas, attracts lots of people; curious spectators like us, families intent on buying truffles for a very special Christmas meal as well as professionals and suppliers.

There was even a group of some 5 Japanese/koreans being shown the market.  This excited some of the truffle people who were trying to press business cards into their hands!

And this is what all the fuss is about.

We arrived just after 2 o'clock and the street was already heaving with people.  The truffle sellers lined one side of the road with their produce on trestles in front of them, with the public kept at bay behind a rope.

Potential buyers were offered the baskets to smell and then replaced on view.

And then the moment arrived; half past two , the bell rang, and the rope dropped.

Whispered negotiations took place, prices were agreed and folded notes hurriedly exchanged hands.
Within minutes everything was done and dusted and we were left with memories of rural France and the ways things have always been done ... and no doubt will continue!

We loved seeing the 'old boys' creep out of their barns to come to this weekly ritual.

 

 

 

But the day was not over yet!

I had seen that our nearest town, Gourdon, was having a Firework display in the evening.  So, as it was free, we decided to go, albeit with no great expectations.  We arrived at the Place in front of the Post Office and saw that it had been set up with 'disco' lights and 'Dance' music was playing (not ballroom!).  

We bounced around to the music whilst we were waiting for it to start as the temperature had fallen to zero by then.  Then the display began; lots of laser lights and one static firework!  At this point I feared that my suspicions were correct. But, the performance got better and better. The laser display, bursts of real flames and then rockets and aerial displays were great.

The entertainment finished in a blaze of glory and then Father Christmas arrived, to the delight of all the young children who were invited to go and get a kiss from him.

So, the end of a lovely day, and we went home for our mulled wine!