A Marseille!

The central port with boats moored.

Marseille is quite lovely. It is a beautiful old port town surrounded by mountains and the Mediterranean sea. The feel of the city reminds me a bit of New Orleans, both are warm French port cities, but Marseille is much larger than New Orleans.This was my first time seeing the Mediterranean; it really is as blue and clear as you see in photos!

A view of some calanques.

 I want to come back when it is warm enough to swim, because while the weather was nice and warm, the water was still very cold. The mountains are beautiful as well, they are good for hiking and rock climbing. You can see beautiful views of the sea and the city from them. Unfortunately, Marseille does not have many proper beaches, instead the coast is rocky. They have many calanques, which are long thin coves made by fingers of the sea reaching into the mountainous coast. The calanques often have small beaches in them, and are perfect harbors for boating or scuba diving.

The city is also quite interesting. Marseille is quite old, it was originally a Phoenician city, though most of the buildings are more modern than that, most seem to date from around the 18th century.

The Cathedrale of Marseilles.

A view from the cliffs, hiking above
the city is a great view!

The cathedral in Marseille is beautiful, and unlike some of the churches I have seen here in France, still in very good repair. Up high on the mountains over looking the port in Notre Dame du Garde. This church is also beautiful, and has a splendid view of the city and the sea. It is dedicated to the protection of sailors. The port is guarded by two massive and impressive fortresses.

I went hiking in the mountains with some others this past week.  It is beautiful though, the mountains over look the Mediterranean. It was crazy windy though.

I think I like the Mediterranean coast, I want to come back and go to the beach when it is warmer, it was pretty warm today and yesterday, but not beach going warm. Today I explored the city with wonderful guide. We went to an art museum and saw a couple churches. Everyone has been very nice here; they've kept me quite busy. Unfortunately the week end is over so soon!

A view of the Mediteranean shoreline.