Since I was living so close to the Port and Cathédrale La Major, I decided to wake up early so I can do my morning yoga practice by the waterfront without any tourists. Having a perfect weather with cool breeze and sunny skies was exactly what I needed to warm up into my yoga routine.
After some asanas and meditation, I felt energized to jumpstart my day. I headed back to my flat to shower, have a light breakfast and figure out what I was going to do today.
I felt that the combination of prayer and beach time would make for an ideal day. So, I hopped on the bus from downstairs that took me to Jesus’s home which has the best vantage point and is perched on top of the hill. Yep, it’s the Basilique Norte-Dame de la Garde. It might sound cliche, but a visit to Marseille is not complete until you have paid homage at this pilgrimage and spent some quality time here to get an idea about how big Marseille is and admire the spectacular 360 degree views. Well, I prefer to see what’s going on in people’s life and home.
After getting my quota of hail merry blessings, I was excited to go to the Corniche and explore the sea front and fishing ports. I took the bus back to the center from the cathedral. Since my chest has been congested due to smokers everywhere in France, I’ve been drinking a lot of water to keep myself hydrated, which also means I have to pee often. When we got to the center, I really had to pee, so I went into the building of commerce. I’m so glad I took this pit stop because along with relieving myself, I got to checkout the cool architecture of this building. It’s always these unexpected stops on my journey that has seemed to impress me. This is one of the lesson I want to take back with me ~ go with the flow and take unexpected risks because that’s how life will surprise you with amazing experiences.
I hopped on the bus outside the building of Commerce and was driven through the scenic route. In fact, this route is named “Corniche du President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.” So, cool! Will we ever get a President like JFK who was loved all over the world?
The bus started getting jam packed but I was glad to have found the best seat on the right side of the bus, so I could watch the sea and sun bathers having a good time, which made me really happy. I decided to take the bus all the way to La Plage and then made my way back to Endoume area to checkout the plaque that honors President JFK. From there, I crossed the street and got into – “Vallon Des Auffes,” which is a tiny fishing port, which still exists in this urban city. The over priced restaurants now dot this area, so I grabbed a spot on the rocks in the cove, just like the locals minus the cigarette and bier in hand.
Headed back home in the evening and just got in time to watch the sunset. Also, there were dancers and fire performers practicing, watching a free performance is always a plus in my book.
Was time to pack my bags again as I headed to Aix-en-Provence next day before going to Nice.
This is what I can say about Marseille, it’s a nice city to visit if you can avoid the bad areas. The restaurants, parks, architecture and Mediterranean Sea are all the pluses but I don’t see it making to my list of places I can retire one day. It just doesn’t have the vibe I’m looking for.
