Marseille and Bouillabaisse

Saturday.  Where to go during this cold snap?  How about Marseille?  First off it might be warmer there, and we might be able to sample the local Bouillabaisse.  And either way, the place should not be coated in tourists....except for us of course.  Marseille is the 2nd largest city in France, and the oldest.  We decided to go and explore the old port area.  Specifically there are two forts that guard the entrance of the port, Fort St. Jean, and Fort St. Nicolas.  We also hoped to see the former imperial residence of Napolean Bonaparte, the Palais du Pharo.

We drove the 30-40 min to Marseille - bad news, still cold here (around -2 but windy)  we try to walk the harbour to get to one of the forts, but instead go inland to avoid the wind.  However on the way we did get to see some of the harbour residents. 

 A view across the harbour to the Hotel de Ville the old city hall.  (Nice starter boat blocking half the view)

 Apparently if you boat has teak decks, there are special parking spaces just for you.

 Going inland to avoid the wind turned out to be a stroke of good luck.  On our walk we stumble upon the Abbey of St. Victor.  The abbey is a fortified church with origins in the 5th century.  A bit of research after the fact claims this is one of the oldest places of Christian worship in Europe.

 There was a mass going on in the main part of the church, so we head underground to the oldest parts of the church and the Crypts.  Every wall seems to have an abundance of sarcophagi, with lovely carved fronts etc.  It is fairly dimly lit, and quite humid.  With the sounds of the choir from above, one of the children claims "This place is creepin' me out"

 The carved and inscribed top of  the sarcophagus of Saint Ysarn who died in 1047

 Back outside in the wind, we find a cute little Fiat that would fit nicely in the back of our Volvo at home, Rachel is almost tall enough to put a roof rack on this thing.

We call it quits, too cold, and head indoors to find some Bouillabaisse.  We are successful, it looks something like this, except ours had the addition of mussels around the sides.

We will have to try again with warmer weather and get to more of the highlights of the old port of Marseille.