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In Remembrance: Vintage War Postcards

November 10, 2017 by ashleyt 1 Comment

war postcard

French WWI Postcards, in Remembrance

While sifting through vintage postcards I found these at a flea market here in France. In honour of Remembrance Day or Veterans Day, I’m sharing them with you.

I find these images, meant to uplift, quite heartbreaking.

Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away before I was old enough to think to ask him about his experiences. I know that he fought in several different countries. Robin’s grandfather was captured at Dunkirk and forced to walk to a prisoner’s camp in Germany from there. He spoke very little of his experience.

These French postcards are from WWI. What are your favourite books, films, stories about WWI or WWII? Did you have a family member that fought or was displaced at the time?

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Filed Under: Festivals and Events Tagged With: flea market postcards, remembrance day, veterans day, Vintage Postcards, WWI postcards

Flea Market Find: Vintage Mirror

March 15, 2017 by ashleyt 2 Comments

vintage mirror

Mirror Decorated with Vintage Postcards

I couldn’t resist this lovely vintage mirror decorated with old postcards. I had promised myself to stop buying vintage postcards at French flea markets, but this could be characterized as a mirror… n’est-ce-pas?

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Filed Under: Curious Papers/Finds Tagged With: french flea market, vintage mirror, Vintage Postcards

Joyeuse Pâques! Easter in Provence

March 26, 2016 by ashleyt 9 Comments

Easter in Provence

The bakeries are full of handmade chocolate. The church bells have stopped ringing last Thursday only to burst to life on Sunday morning, and just about everyone is planning a large meal that is sure to include some local lamb and spring veggies.

Easter Chocolate

The biggest difference between Easter here and my native North America? Most French people buy their easter eggs either at the local bakery, which has made them especially, or an artisan chocolatier. We eat a lot less, but higher quality chocolate. This is the mantra for just about anything food related here in France. The radio commercials that warn you that snacking is bad for your health make me laugh. In Anglo-Saxon culture, all people ever seem to talk about concerning eating habits is snacking! I’m personally with the French on this one- I’d rather stretch the limits of my stomach on a 3 course meal any day!

To get you into the Easter spirit, here are some scans of cartes postales anciennes that I’ve acquired through many hours of rifling through stacks of old papers at assorted vide greniers.

Vintage Easter French Postcards

cartes postales anciennes

Would you like some eggs?

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Filed Under: Festivals and Events, French Culture Tagged With: artisan chocolate, cartes postales anciennes, easter in france, french attitudes to food, french culture, joyeuses pâques, oeufs de pâques, Vintage Postcards

Vintage New Years Postcards from France

December 31, 2015 by ashleyt 3 Comments

Happy New Year from Provence!

My resolutions? Hmm. All the usual suspects really.

Here is a selection of some vintage New Years postcards in my collection. These are generally from the turn of the 20th century up until the years of WWI. The postcards aren’t simply happy holiday images; some are quite somber (despite their smiling faces) with their effort to uplift soldier’s spirits. Either way, their sometimes odd symbolism, and faded colours are a joy.

I hope you enjoy these images as much as I do! A little bit of old to bring in the New Year…

bon annee carte postale

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Filed Under: Curious Papers/Finds, Festivals and Events Tagged With: 1915 carte postale, 1920s france, anciennes cartes postales, bonne année, cartes postales, french postcards, Vintage Postcards, WWI postcards

Merry Christmas from Provence!

December 24, 2015 by ashleyt 1 Comment

The cafes are full inside and out today in Provence as everyone enjoys the mild weather. The baker is furiously making fougasse/pompe à l’huile for tomorrow, the local epicerie can’t seem to keep fresh mejool dates (that melt in your mouth!) and clementines on the shelves. There are towers of foie gras beside the cashiers in the grocery stores. Just in case you somehow managed to forget to buy some for tomorrow’s meal. I can’t wait to see the fish stalls tomorrow in my local village. Just about everyone will be buying shellfish and smoked salmon. The meal of the 24th, or Le Gros Souper, is more important here than the meal of the 25th. Traditionally full of Christian symbolism, “Le Gros Souper” is actually a simple meal of simple dishes consisting of fish and vegetables all served at the same time. The dessert, the famous “13 desserts” is a mixture of seasonal fruits (fresh and candied), dates, nougat, dried figs and raisins, nuts and finally a

I can’t wait to see the fish stalls tomorrow in my local village where just about everyone will be buying shellfish and smoked salmon. The meal of the 24th, or Le Gros Souper, is more important here than the meal of the 25th. Traditionally full of Christian symbolism, “Le Gros Souper” is actually a simple meal of simple dishes. It consists of fish and vegetables all served at the same time. The dessert, the famous “13 desserts” is a mixture of seasonal fresh and candied fruits. These include dates, nougat, dried figs and raisins, nuts. The meal is completed with a pompe à l’huile or fougasse flavoured with orange blossom.

Are you in the spirit? Here are a few vintage postcards to get you in the mood…

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Filed Under: Curious Papers/Finds, Festivals and Events Tagged With: 13 desserts, anciennes cartes postales, Christmas in Provence, foie gras, fougasse, joyeux noel, le gros souper, lifestyle blogger, provence blog, provence lifestyle, reveillon, vintage christmas, Vintage Postcards

Vintage Parisian Postcards

November 23, 2015 by ashleyt 2 Comments

A Curious Find: Vintage Parisian Postcards

I was at the Carpentras flea market a couple weeks ago and came upon this 1920s album. I couldn’t help myself when I saw that the book was being sold with postcards as well.

Despite most likely paying too much, the first 3 pages were filled with vintage Parisian postcards. These evocative images of Parisian architecture are wonderful!

vintage postcard book

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Filed Under: Curious Papers/Finds Tagged With: 1920s Paris, brocante, brocante; vide-grenier, Carpentras marche aux puces, cartes postales, Eiffel Tower, french antiques, Paris monuments, Parisian architecture, Vintage Paris, Vintage Postcards

Poisson d’Avril! April Fools Day in France

April 1, 2015 by ashleyt 5 Comments

Poisson d'Avril Cartes Postale

Two years ago on the first of April, my day started with attempting to daringly participate (my target was my boss) in the poisson d’avril, or April Fools day in France. 

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Filed Under: Curious Papers/Finds, Festivals and Events Tagged With: April Fool's Day, expat in france, expat life, french blog, poisson d'avril, Vintage Postcards

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Ashley

curiousprovence

Photographer, Guide, Artist and Foodie. Learn about this Curious Canadian living in Provence here.

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