Marseilles

Marseilles is a dirty, crowded city. Fortunately I’d done some research and knew that so as soon as we got off the boat (after noting Notre-Dame de la Garde on the hill overlooking the city) we headed to rent a car. Greg is not intimidated by European driving and pushed us through the traffic with no incidents—only a few sharp intakes of breath on my part—and within an hour we were driving along the coast east of Marseille. We drove to an off-the-beaten-path area known as Calanques of Marseille. A calanque is a steep-walled inlet or cove that has been developed by limestone.

We hiked for about an hour enjoying the limestone outcroppings and vistas of azure blue Mediterranean. Practically perfect day in itself but (of course) I had more planned! We got back in the car headed back through Marseille and a little north west to Aix en Provence. This village had much more the French ambience we sought and we were rewarded with a few minutes of soaking in all things French. A sidewalk café, mimes and street band, fountain across the street, shops and bakeries.

Traffic back to Marseille kept us wondering if we’d embark in time, but as Greg always tells me, things will work out. And they did. Beautifully.