Looking for a private beach in Marseille...

I'm looking for a private beach around here. Since last week end, it's summer here in the South of France. And with the sun, comes the crowd. Not sure I like it...

Thomas Dutronc. Concert in Marseille.

Three weeks ago, we watched and listened to Thomas Dutronc. Son of French icons Jacques Dutronc and Françoise Hardy, Thomas Dutronc fell in love with Gypsy jazz music during his teenage years, starting with Django Reinhardt's works. 

Gifted with impressive learning capacities, he began studying Gypsy guitar at the age of 18 and has since collaborated with a wide range of artists, from the jazz community with the likes of Bireli Lagrene but also including his father, mother, and Henri Salvador from the pop world.

Here is a video of him in the train with his musicians.

Ferry boats go by. From le Pharo. Marseille.

Five minutes from the appartment, at the end of the day we like to sit in the gardens of le Pharo to watch the ferry boats leave for Corsica or Morocco.  

La Cagole. Marseille.

On the Old Harbor last night, many sailors were ending their day with a beer... 

Firefighters on Cours Estienne d'Orves. Marseille

Special fish on the old Harbor. Marseille

It was Easter in Marseille as well this weekend. We found some special fish for the occasion. 

Chocolate fish anyone?!

Rock Climbing in les Calanques...

Saturday was perfect to go rock climbing. We met up with Raph's friends and spent the day at the bottom of a cliff, or against it, or sometime on top of it even... Breathtaking view. We just need to remember to take more water next time. Still haven't swum in the Mediterranean Sea... 

Vallon des Auffes. Marseille

 

We stopped by the Vallon des Auffes for our Sunday morning walk. Not too shabby!

Rock Climbing. Marseille.

We went rock climbing this week end. I really didn't know what I was doing but for a first time, I had fun. Marseille is one of the preferred spot for rock climbers in France. There are thousands of places to climb right by the water. I think it's good to go now because soon it will be really crowded. 

Les Calanques. Marseille.

This Tuesday, Céline B. and I went for a 6 hour hike in Les Calanques. 15 minutes away from Marseille. What can I say but that it was just beautiful, quiet and peaceful. We even got sunburnt!

Villa Valmer. Marseille.

On Sunday as we were walking in Marseille, we stopped by la Villa Valmer. Built in 1865, it has a Renaissance style and it was owned by Charles Gounelle, oil manufacturer, as a vacation house. It's surrounded by a large garden overlooking the mediterranean sea. The garden is open to the public but not the villa.

Marseille. Nice spot to draw.

About fifteen minutes from our appartment, as we went for a walk yesterday, we stopped in a lovely garden by an old villa right along the Corniche Kennedy and Sam decided to draw. He hasn't done it in a while. We sat on a picnic table. I read and he started drawing. Sam likes to use the famous Caran d'Ache's color pens from Switzerland. He prefers the kids color pens.

No. it's not a box full of chocolates!

Away from a large strike in France...

While I'm trying to become an american, France is on strike...  Here are some pictures from the BBC. The one above is in Marseille, Old Harbor.

"...More than a million protesters in France are taking to the streets today in the country's biggest general strike in decades. The so-called "Black Thursday" job action is bringing together public and private sector workers, along with students, who are angered by President Nicolas Sarkozy's handling of the economic slump. The strike has shut down railways, airports, schools, post offices, and even some medical services..."

Les Îles du Frioul. Marseille

I look at the pictures we took yesterday and think about how warm the day was... It's just really hard to believe we had 18 cms of snow this week in Marseille. We took advantage of the weather and the lack of tourists to go to the islands accross from Marseille. Les Iles du Frioul. After a short ride on a small ferry boat, we get to the islands. Perfect quiet and beautiful getaway. It was fun to see Marseille from new angles. I added a slideshow from the pics we took yesterday.

De Marseille, Joyeuse Année 2009 à tous!

Students on strike. Marseille

I just walked back from lunch and as I reached the Old Harbor, I ran into a strike. The students had taken over the street right by the water.

I took these pictures then crossed behind them to see the street... empty, no cars. Something that never happens!

Notre Dame de la Garde. Marseille

We took these pictures in October. On this one from le Vieux Port (Old Harbor) you can see far away, perched at the top of a hill, Notre Dame de la Garde. The basilica (XIXth century) dominates Le Vieux Port of Marseille. 

In Marseille, Notre Dame de la Garde offers a unique point of view of the city. When we tell people that we live in Marseille, the first thing they remember from a visit they might have made to the city is Notre Dame. Many people hike up the hill to the church mainly for the view.

This is where we realize how Marseille is so spread out. So many neighborhoods left to discover. 

Built by Esperandieu between 1853 and 1864 in the romano-Byzantine style, it replaces a chapel which dated 1214. Later, in 1524, It will be fortified by François 1st. I stole this picture from the web since we haven't found a way to fly above the town yet!

Everyone in Marseille refers to the church only as la Bonne Mère, the Good Mother. The habitants see the basilica as a real pilgrimage. They ask for the support of Mary for the fisherman, the protection against wars, diseases… and it seems to be working. The basilica survived mysteriously to the World War damages.

The inside is taken over by ex votos. In commemoration of Mary's protection, they include paintings, plaques, model boats, war medals and even soccer shirts given by players and supporters of l'Olympique de Marseille, the local soccer team. 

L'Hydroptère. Marseille

As we walked by the Old Harbor when I first arrived in October, Sam showed me l'Hydroptère. I went back yesterday and took some pics.

This trimaran has set two world speed records. I found a picture on the net while it's sailing... or flying!

Les Navettes. Marseille

Opened since 1781, the Four des Navettes, is again right next to our appartment. Rue Sainte. It's famous for its speciality biscuits called Navettes They are some kind of cookies flavoured with orange flower and they keep for up to a year. They are really dry and I can only eat them dipped in a cup of tea!

Paul Valery's house. Marseille.

A picture I took yesterday. This house used to be owned by Paul Valéry. It's right next to Saint Victor's Abbey and 100 meters from our appartment. Paul Valéry (1871 - 1945) was a French poet, essayist and philsopher. He is known for his poems le Cimetière Marin et La Jeune Parque. His poem Palme inspired James Merrill's poem Lost in Translation in 1974.