Marseille!!!!  It sounds so…..so French!

Tucked away on Southern France’s beautiful Mediterranean coastline, Marseille was a destination I was bound to find.

I’m spending two weeks here….I’m just gonna wander the streets and see what I can find, who I can meet and what’s to discover.  Like most of my visits, this isn’t hitting the high tourist spots although I’m sure to hit one, maybe two.

To me, exploring this once seaside ‘village’ is my tourism.

Thus far, this is my only French visit.  I’ve multiple cities in Portugal and Spain but these seems likely to be my only city in France until Spring.  Italy will be next followed by Croatia to spend 90 days outside the Schengen countries.  It’s the rules.

Just as all the previous stops, English is fairly wide spoken so, my little French isn’t of much use to me. Although I think in some instances they let me try for their friendly entertainment purposes.

After surveying a map, I feel overwhelmed!!!  There’s so much to see!!!!  Lucky for me I’m in the old bay are of Marseille…it was at one time a fishing village and many today carry-on that long time tradition.

The marina is lined with restaurants in a horse shoe pattern, so finding something to eat isn’t very difficult.  And for some with a more Americanized palate, there’s McDonald’s and Burger Kings there too.

It’s Marseille…

Interpreting the menu was a formidable task.  Even though I had my translator with me and wifi is readily available free (not very good, but none the less free) the connectivity and lack of cooperation from my cell phone did me in far too many times.

Here’s the risk!  Ordering clumsily and not being sure as to what I’m getting and it’s expensive (even on the low end), whatever it is, I’m eating.  So, I try to be careful.  One time I ended up getting a hamburger and fries minus the bread and I thought I was doing the ‘French’ thing!  Well, it did have French Fries.

I left the picture large so you can see the shops in the background.  The most notable is the pharmacy. I just noticed that it’s spelled different than all the rest here….Farmacia is they way it’s spelled thru Portugal, Spain and France, but her it’s spelled Pharmacie.  Odd.

Always something new…..

I like to shop and I like to talk with the shop owners and the shop tenders.  Much like that Food TV Show where he would travel the world and eat with people….I think, I’ve never seen the show.  I just know from what I’ve read in the news and people familiar with his show.  By the way, that large chunk of white isn’t cheese….it’s a cut boiled egg….the sandwich was different and a fine surprise. Definetly not American.  It’s a cut piece of fresh baked bread with something like a smothered potato, then some shredded tuna (I think it was tuna), roasted green pepper and the boiled egg.

I ate it, and it was filling.  But, I didn’t buy another.  There was more food to challenge my fearful curiose taste buds.

Marseille

Time for some more exploring!!!!

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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