Our day began with a lovely drive through the Provence area
from Toulon to Aix. A tiny little town surrounded by a circular wall and street
nestled in the hillside. We stopped at the north end of the city and walked our
way down through the winding narrow streets.
The street or walkway at our feet slopped from both sides to
the middle where there was a drainage type system. Back many years ago this was
where everyone tossed out their trash and sewage. An interesting tidbit that I learned was why did some homes
have court yards and others didn’t. It turns out that the courtyards were a way
for the upper class to avoid being close to the smell of the street. The
further away from the smells of the narrow streets and the more ornate the
decorations were on the front side of the home…the more you were believed to be
worth. You see the upper class actually lived on the opposite side of the
home…. near the garden, very far from the smells of daily life for much of the
areas people.
Passing high buildings and courts yards along the way we
continue down to the local market. Its Sunday in France and the market is busy
with friends, families, neighbors, church-goers, visitors and the like…all
shopping for their daily or weekly produce, meats, cooking oils, bath salts,
lotions and herbs. The coffee bars and café’s are busy with people and the
sounds of music in the background sooth the soul.
After a little shopping we continue on to the main street in
the little town where we meet our guide for lunch. Upon arrival we are greeted
with a plate of local cheeses, tomatoes, olives, breads, balsamic and oil as
well as a variety of wine. We savor the flavors as we laugh and talk about our
adventures thus far. The second course consists of lamb, mash potatoes and
savory gravy. Delicious!!! Followed by
dessert, chocolate melting cake and home made whipped cream…oh my how full and
relaxed we all are.
Finishing up our wine and conversation we head out to do a
little local shopping before we continue our drive to Marseille. The history of
the Provence area is amazing. The region was founded in 600 BC by the
Phoenicians but with the arrival of the Celts in the 4th and 5th
centuries BC, it became a mixed and blended society. The Greek culture slowly
infiltrated the area and by the 2nd century BC the nearby port of
Massalia ~ known today as Marseilles, became a powerful commercial city with a
number of trading posts.
Marseille is a bustling city. We pass lots of construction,
new buildings and old mixed together along the coastal front. We wind our way
up to the highest point in the city Notre Dame de la Garde Basillica…a
beautifully done basilica with green and white stone on the outside and red and
white stone on the inside. There is a drawbridge that leads to the main
entrance where people are busy lighting candles and saying prayers for their
loved ones. The view from this high point spreads along the coast and expands
along the countryside in all directions. We finish our day with a relaxing ride
back to the ship through the vineyards of local wineries. What an amazing day!!
