Spring in the South of France

We recently returned from an absolutely lovely vacation of ten days in France. I really think the trip could hardly have gone better! The weather was beautiful, except for one overcast and slightly rainy day, and it was a treat to be able to introduce Owen to my favorite country (I think he liked it, too :) ). Here are loads of photos and some stories from the first half of our trip, spent in the South of France. 

Marseille

I had never been to Marseille before, and had had the city in mind as a place to explore since I first lived in France years ago. I'm happy that we decided to make the trip there! Marseille is rough-around-the-edges, gritty, filled with history, and quite beautiful in being enveloped by all of that. When walking around the Vieux Port, you can almost see and hear the chaos of the port 150 years ago - sailors, fishermen, big sailing ships, small boats, merchants, and travelers from near and far. Seeing as Marseille plays a major role in one of my favorite novels (The Count of Monte Cristo), it was quite cool to experience the city and glimpse a bit of that world, with a modern context. 

Our first afternoon and evening was spent exploring the Vieux Port and the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (MuCEM). The architecture in Marseille is gorgeous!

A view of the Vieux Port

French buildings are the best!!

Old and New combine at MuCEM

Vallon des Auffes

That evening, we took a quick bus ride along the coast to Vallon des Auffes, a small fishing inlet (I can't even really call it a port) on the edge of down that boasts some excellent views of the Mediterranean. It was the perfect place for dinner and sunset! 

Our view from dinner.

Château d'If

The next morning, we decided to hop on a boat and check out the Château d'If, an old fort and former prison that is located just off the coast. This is another prominent location in The Count of Monte Cristo, so it was fitting to visit and be carried there by a boat called "Edmund Dantes"!

Welcome to the Château d'If!

Prisoners' graffiti from hundreds of years ago.

The view from the tower

Leaving If Island

Cours Julien (Marseille)

In the afternoon, we decided to wander around several different main parts of town, including the Cours Julien, which is known for its artists, street art and cool graffiti, and funky shops. Definitely a colorful neighborhood! 

Cassis and the Calanques

On the Wednesday of our visit, we made a day trip to the nearby coastal town of Cassis. Cassis came highly recommended by a good friend of mine, and I was excited for the trip. The town, port, and environs definitely didn't disappoint! This was one of our favorite days of the trip. 

As part of our explorations that day, we hopped on a boat to tour some of the nearby Calanques and the affiliated national park. These ancient 'fjords' into the coast from the Mediterranean were stunning; the contrast of limestone, blue Mediterranean water, and green scrub on the hillsides were a brilliant, and particularly on a sunny day. There is a hiking trail that goes along the sea coast between Marseille and Cassis - if we had had more time, I would have loved to hike part (or all!) of it and stop in at the various Calanques along the way (there are a lot of them). Some of the Calanques have incredible, secluded beaches that look like paradise!

The capitan let me drive the boat for a few minutes! That was fun. :)

Re-entering the port at Cassis.

Picturesque

To top off the day, Owen and I stumbled into the most amazing little Italian restaurant in one of the side streets a few blocks away from the port. We sat in the sun at the outside tables and enjoyed what was arguably the best meal of the trip (and one of the best meals either of us could remember having had in a long time). It was the perfect afternoon! 

Me, a happy woman in the sunny South of France.

The South of France treated us very well, and we were a little sad to leave on Thursday. However, more great adventures (and more delicious food) awaited us in Paris. Stay tuned for Part 2 of the trip, coming soon!