Bonjour from Marseille

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Hello sunshine and clear (albeit windy) skies. It’s a beautiful day. Our excursion today is taking us south of Marseille to Cassis, located on the mediterranean. It used to be a small fishing village but today is a sought after summer destination. 

We initially were driven through the city of Marseille as the port where  we are docked is north of Marseille and we had to drive south. We drove by the old port of Marseille all along the water. People out running and biking this Sunday morning. Fairly modern buildings as so much of Marseille was destroyed during WWII. 

Today’s wind, our tour guide explained, is called the Mistral, which blows down from the Alps (north to south), through the Rhône Valley and into Marseille. In winter it is a cold wind. But it also clears the clouds away. This wind can blow 147 days each year and in the summer forest fires are an issue as the summer months are normally very dry.

We then followed this scenic road that took us up and along the edge overlooking the Mediterranean as we were also going to visit the Calanaques of Marseille. These cliffs are a natural wonder nestled between Marseille and Cassis. They are a geological formation made of limestone. Crystal clear waters, sheer cliffs, sandy beaches, lots of areas to hike, the Calanques National Park is protected and highly regulated. 

I took so many more pictures with my SLR but above are a couple just to show you some of what we saw. 

We took a short boat ride from Cassis (3 hour tour?) to experience the Calanques up close. Because of the wind, the guide had to confirm that the boat could go out. She was told YES, which made us happy. The swells were 4 to 6 feet in places, but the boat  handled it well - the captain knew what he was doing - it was a very exciting boat ride!! In the summer months, when the water is calm, you can swim in this beautiful water, gazing up at the huge cliffs. Hiking is the main way to access this area, especially the little beaches tucked here and there.

After the boat ride we had some free time in Cassis, a beautiful little village nestled along the shore. Restaurants and shops everywhere. A pretty little beach area where the waves were rolling in. The beach was small pebbles here - no sand. 

Lots of folks coming out this Sunday morning to enjoy the good weather. It seems that Marseille had the same stormy weather we had yesterday as well.

Back to ship early afternoon for lunch, a short nap, and then it was warm enough to sit on our cabin deck with the sun shining and protected from the wind. An MSC cruise ship is docked across from us. It’s a busy port with both cruise ships, ferries, and cargo ships.

I want add a mention about the wine from this area - Cassis wine. We drove past many vineyards and white is the main type that comes out of Cassis. I’m hoping the ship might have a bottle so I can try it. This area is considered Provence and according to our guide, Provence is the birthplace of French wine. On a low note, 26% of the population in Marseille lives below the poverty line. Oil is a big export.

That’s all for today; tomorrow we are in Montpelier, France, with a short excursion in the morning and then one in the afternoon. 

Au revoir,

Betsy