Marvellous Markets and Frozen Fountains

Samedi 18 decembre

Being a Saturday, Cathy and I decided to head to the market to buy some fresh produce for our meals - we were looking for vegetqables including beans and some type of meat for dinner tonight. With one week to go before Christmas Day, we were expecting to see lots of christmas trees and treats - we were not disappointed!

Great looking quiches - we bought 1 piece of quiche saumon to share for lunch .... very filling!

 There was even mistletoe - with white flowers/fruit at 5euro per bunch!

Light flaky pastry coated with icingsugar, bugne, like Italiian crostini or is it crostoli?

We need some lemons for our lamb .....

Plenty of tempting sweet treats like these delicious praline tarts and apricot flans ......

 Buche de Noel or what I would call christmas Logs!

The macaroons I bought for later - pistache, chocolat, cafe and rose......

A boucherie ....

..  we found some lamb - 6 slices si vous plais ..... merci!

..... pigs trotters, no thanks!!

I think this is Beurre, butter,

duck foie gras ...

We ended up at Place Bellecour where I spotted this pigeon puffed up against the cold air ....

The full moon high in the early evening sky, spotted from the west bank of the Rhone .....

 Through to Rue de la Republique via Passage Menestrier ...

We walked through the dark walkway above to the opera, past Hotel de Ville and on to Place des Terreaux and spotted the Bartoldi fountain in suspended animation - the icicles resembling white glass mains hanging sculpturally from the huge horses' heads....

One more trip to Part Dieu, for another dose of the Orange Store and Decathlon, Cathy's favourite shops!

Then back home to cook our chops with lemon, boiled potatoes and a spinch and leek dish... yum!