A weekend in Marseille and Cassis

We have just returned from a weekend trip to Marseille by bus. We were with the 3rd Age club with which we went to Italy in June. We have passed through Marseille on several occasions, but had not spent any time there.

We set off from home before 5am - fortunately, the car wasn't blocked in our garage this time! Everyone was on time at the bus stop and we were soon greeting old friends. Some of the older people find a week away with the group too much, but can manage a weekend, so we were pleased to be able to spend time with them again. The bus left on time and we were soon in Beziers, picking up more people.

We stopped for breakfast in Salon de Provence and the continued through Provence. Our first appointment was at a factory making 'Santons', which are figurines made by hand and typically include items for a Christmas crib. The crib figures come in all sizes: smaller santons for home use and the larger version for church use. The 'factory' is really a family business with a small number of family members - a couple, their son and daughter -in-law were all on duty, demonstrating their art.

One of the three kings:

The son of the family who introduced us to their work

An angel

Dad was busy painting beards

 

Then daughter-in-law dressing the baby

Mother was also there working on non-crib items - this a a lavender harvester

There was a very good museum of their work

Next on our list was the all important lunch. We rejoined our bus and set off through the Provençal countryside to the Moulin de Gemenos, a splendid restaurant with a lovely garden, mill race and rocks towering above it.

 

 

 

After lunch, we were driven down to the port of Cassis where we boarded a boat to take us on a tour of the Calanques (inlets) along the coast. The coastline between Cassis and Marseille here is very similar to that off the south coast of Corsica that we saw on a previous trip with the Third Age.

 

Cassis is a lovely, busy seaside town with many boats in the Harbour, craft markets and busy shopping. We stopped in a park where it looked as though the Christmas planting had only just happened.

Then we drove across to Marseille along the rocky, picturesque coastal route, arriving in Marseille in time for another meal.

 

Our hotel was conveniently in the centre of the city, an Ibis. After eating, we went out for a wander, leaving all valuables behind, other than a camera - Marseille doesn't have a good reputation, think Naples. Tram lines are currently being installed in the city centre, so there are plenty of traffic free streets at the moment.

Marianne, the symbol of France

From the Prefecture, the church of Notre Dame de la Garde can be seen on top of a hill.

The next morning was a visit to Mucem, the museum of European and Mediterranean culture. We had looked at it on the internet, but the photos had only indicated what it once was, not what it is now. The area around the old fort has been transformed. The fort still exists, but is itself, part of the museum. The entrance to the museum is impressive with the fort and modern parts.

 

Nearby is the cathedral of Marseille, Sainte Marie Majeur.

We had a tour of the museum, which was quite intense, the philosophy behind the exhibits was explained in detail (and with questions to make sure that we were keeping up).

After an hour or so, we had had enough and John wandered off to take photos of exhibits.

Others had also had enough and found a sit down and other entertainment

 

The next part of the tour was the building itself with wonderful views across the harbour. You can only reach these areas by entering the museum and it is well worthwhile.

The tea room with views across the Harbour.

Looking towards the sea.

The walkway from the old fort to the museum.

 

After lunch in the old port, we had our final visit of the weekend to the church on the hill which we had seen the previous evening, Notre Dame de la Garde. We went up the hill by la petite train. The English version of the audio commentary had us in stitches - how about "The Madonna and kid"?

 

As we left the old port, we passed this 'shelter' with its mirrored ceiling

Notre-Dame de la Garde, the "bow" of this "ship" was a military observation post for many centuries

 

The view from the hill over the Endoume part of Marseille, the Mediterranean and small islands

The view towards the port with a number of cruise ships in port

The interior of Notre-Dame de la Garde

 

 

Here we are at the end of a very enjoyable and tiring couple of days. We had superb weather that added enormously to our enjoyment.

 

 

 

 

 

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Another trip to Broadstairs

We are just back from another trip to Broadstairs. The main reason for this visit was to look after Ernie while Helen and Nick to go to a 10th anniversary party and to have their first night away from him since he was born. The visit also coincided with John's birthday.

As we arrived at the house, there was Ernie at the window waiting for us to arrive.

On our first trip on the loop this time, we stopped at Ramsgate where we went down to the port and Ernie wanted to see the seaweed.

Ernie is very fond of the local bus which drives round in circles (both clockwise and anti-clockwise) connecting Broadstairs, Ramsgate, the shopping centre at Westwood Cross and Margate. It so appropriately called 'the loop' and Ernie can recognize it by sound.

We stopped off at the Westwood cross shopping centre briefly and Ernie was fascinated by the Haloween items. We came away with a bat.

Then it was back on the bus where Ernie nodded off. We sat near the bus stop in Margate until it was time for him to wake up.

On another occasion, we went all the way round the loop until he woke up. Here he is at the Turner gallery in Margate playing hide and seek.

 

And then with the ball on the steps of the Turner.

Jim came down on Friday evening, so we left Nick and Ernie at home while we went out for a meal. The next day, we went for a walk on the empty beach with Ernie playing hide and seek between the beach huts.

Our night alone with him went reasonably well but he was looking out of the window for Mummy at 5am

On our last day, while John cut the hedge, Pat too Ernie on the Loop to the Hornby visitor centre. There were plenty of train layouts. Some are available for everyone to play with and others are 'hands off', being rather more complicated.

Ernie hasn't really got the idea of Scalectrix yet.

So now we are back at home with a couple of events before our next visit to Broadstairs. Meanwhile, here is a lovely shot of John and Ernie with John's new iPhone

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