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| A different view of the Harbour - from the other side |
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| Finally found it - Notre Dame Cathedral, Marseille |
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| Our local beach...........yay we can walk to this |
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| This is where I needed to head to from home |
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| Sidetracked - or lost! |
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| The views from Notre Dame of the city |
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| Sunday lunch - perfect! |
Saturday morning was damp but the rain started clearing
quickly, so about 10 o’clock I decided to put on the walking shoes and try and
find my way up to the impressive cathedral that overlooks the city. JC
refers to it as ‘the good mother’ looking over the city. Anyway, after about
10 minutes walking I realised I had left the map at home, never mind, it must
be easy to find, it’s the only big hill around. Well after 20 minutes I
think I had missed the turnoff, so decided to explore the park on the other
side of the harbour from our apartment. Huge big lawn for the boys to
play on, a playground, great picnic spots, and great views of the city and
sea. After exploring around the big building I spotted a bus that had
Viex Port on it, so now knew where I could catch a bus from if I got
tired. Decided to carry on around the coast and within a couple of
minutes came across this little beach. Cafes nearby, beach volley-ball
club nets on the beach. I walked down and felt the Mediterranean sea.
It was cold.
I then decided to head up some streets where the cafes were
for a look, thinking it would take me indirectly back to where the bus stop was
anyway. At the end of the street was a sign pointing the direction to the
cathedral, so onwards I walked, stopping into a Boulanger on the way to buy a
pesto scroll and practise my French. The lady behind the counter was
great, but then at the end she said, I speak English. I said it was OK, I
was trying to practise my French and she replied ‘but I prefer to speak
English’. Who knows eh?
After much climbing I made it up to the cathedral. The
views are breath-taking, and you get a real feel for the city and the islands
off-shore with more forts on them, and the Calanques (mountains close by, it is
a national park). The cathedral was beautiful, I’ll let Wendy take some
pictures with the good camera to better show it off. It will be one of
the first stops when the family arrive.
Well, legs weary now after walking about 2 hours so I
decided to catch the bus back down the hill. Was no faster than walking
thou, the traffic jams are something to behold. Will be one heck of a
city to drive in. Apparently it is rated the 2nd worst city in
all of Europe for traffic!
Last photo was of my little stroll today (Sunday).
Most shops are shut on Sundays in France, even the supermarket, and it seems
that people cruise into the city for lunch and coffee and stroll around.
So I joined them, lunch is pictured…..mmm Heineken J
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