In and around Marseille - Wednesday and Thursday

We had a fab trip from Barcelona to Marseille leaving at 4.45pm - 1^st class of course.  Training is a great way to travel and the boys (bigger boys) organised a three-course feast for dinner and we had wine and port to boot - fabulous!

We arrived in Marseille and it was time for bed.

On Wednesday Karl went to work and we got sorted, relaxed and went up to the boulangerie for croissants and ate them in our local square with views of Notre Dame Cathedral delish......

Our great walk to the supermarket
 

  We then got baguettes and Dean and I went to the Carefour supermarket to get some supplies for lunch.  We then packed up and were ready to head to the Cathedral and our afternoon of exploring Marseille.  Just as we were about to leave Karl text to say he was almost done for the da.  y at work so we waited for him to go to Notre Dame where we explored and then had a picnic lunch.  We caught the bus up to the Notre Dame, this is an experience in itself as the bus was packed and it goes up and around little narrow streets.  We enjoyed exploring and particularly the views and in the cathedral Bub and the wee boys light some candles for dad, granddad Barry and Luke.

We had a wee walk down past the tank and to the Abbey of Saint Victor, a really cool old church that dates back to the 4^th and 5^th century.  It has a really amazing old crypt that we knew Karl, Bub, Dean and Emma would enjoy.  Me and the boys had been there previously. 

We then got navettes from the oldest navette store in Marseille.  Navettes are a local speciality which are shaped in the shape of boat and have a taste of orange and lavender.  Mum said they reminded her of “rusks” that she used to give us as kids.

Strolling along the waterfront at Vieux Port  toward home is always great and we explored the cool little district around us, La Panier.  There is some cool art, shops and the charite, a huge building that took over 100 years to built and was for the homeless. 

It was then time for home for drinks and nibbles and to get dinner sorted so the wee boys could get to bed at a reasonable hour.  

Some of the treats from the bakery ....mmmmm

Here are uncle Dean and Connor waiting for Bus 60 to take us to the cathedral

Some of the views from the cathedral looking out over Marseille

The beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral of Marseille, known as the Good Mother

Inside our Notre Dame

Walking down the path toward the port

Then we were off to the Abbey of St Victor - a church dating back to the 4th century

After strolling back we explored le Panier - just by our apartment - here is some of the artwork and sights that abounds..........................

The building that was built to house the homeless

And more artwork

THURSDAY: - Today was the day that Emma was hoping the train tickets she was getting delivered would arrive so that her and Dean could get from Paris to Switzerland.  There was some trouble in getting the address sorted and as this was a re-delivery she was a little stressed and we had to be home to get the package but we were unable to get a time so we had a relaxed morning getting washing down and the house sorted while Dean and Emma spent much of the morning chilling on the steps outside waiting………….one funny thing that happened was a parcel arrived and they were excited, however this diminished as they realised that it was not their parcel but one that Karl had been waiting for for a couple of months - his movie - the French connection. 

A wee bit of info about the French connection - it was a movie that Karl watching on the plane that was set in Marseille, primarily around our area, and he wanted to buy it.  I thought I had brought him the movie for our wedding anniversary however it was an old version and not the new one - bugger! Then Karl ordered it online and it arrived but it was all in French with no English subtitles and our French is not that good! So he then ordered it again online through an English based website and it was sent - but never made it and he had to get a refund and then re-order it.  AND TODAY IT ARRIVED! YAY!

My yummy lunch

Anyway, back to our day - there is a restaurant called Pasta Lala just down the street which we had been wanting to try as it is always busy and we thought we could go there and then we would see the DHL courier arrive.  We were just about to wander down when the courier arrived - yay - and luckily we had not yet gone for lunch as the courier driver came down the stairs to our apartment building and did not drive up the street! Would have missed him!

Anyway, we still went to lunch and we could see why it was always busy - it is a great restaurant and we will be back.  Delish! After lunch Bub and Connor decided to relax at home while the rest of us when exploring Fort St Jean, Cathedral Le Major and down to La Joiliette.  Amazing places right on our doorstep - 

Waving bye to Bub and Connor

Below are some of the pictures taken of Fort St Jean and the views.......................

Below is Cathedral La Major - a glorious old church

An example of the parking here in Marseille.

We then went home and Karl and Dean headed off to pick up our rental car - this was going to be an experience for Dean to experience Marseille in a car! They managed to pick up the car, extend the rental by a day and found a park right outside - amazing!

Tomorrow we are up early and heading to Monaco - Dean’s must see!