Tourism takes many shapes

This was only the second visit to Marseille and the first one that we planned, since the first time, was a side trip, while waiting on Magnus' hip operation, in the nearby town of Toulon. Marseille is about an hour and a half from Rasteau, so a fair bit of the day was lost travelling leaving not as much time for sight-seeing as we would have liked.

The Discovery is a tall car, especially with the roof cross bars attached, and parking is not easy in underground car parks where heights are restricted. A car lowering function gives us more options, but it is always a heart in the mouth moment because the clearance is always so marginal. This time, we had a nightmare scenario because, while we should have had no problems in this particular car park, as we descended  and entered the second level, the angle of the car meant that we could not clear the entrance. This meant reversing up the slope and round a bend at the same time. Thankful for the rear view camera and automatic transmission! As a reward the car wash attendent pointed us to a reserved section on the upper floor where the ceiling height is higher.

We returned to the Maison de Ravioli for Chnese dumplings for an early lunch, but having enjoyed some Chinese for a change on our first visit and overlooked the lack of quality of the food, we were a little less pleased on this occasion.

Sightseeing started after lunch as we walked around the Old Port, which is now a huge pleasure boat marina, and made our way to the entrance of the harbour and up to the Fort Saint-Jean and MuCEM that guard the old port entrance and have views across the Old and New Ports and large parts of the city. Descending back to the Old Port, we caught the tourist train, really a light truck and passenger trailers that is made to look like a train with open wagons for the passengers.

The train took us back around the Old Port and we ascended into the upper Eastern reaches of the city past some of the nicers districts of the old town with grand houses, some with spectacular sea views. The train stops at the Cathedral of Notre Dame de la Garde, which has a dominating  hilltop postion on the eastern side of the city. It is a rich church, well endowed with funds and gifts, and is elaborately decorated and not a bare wall and ceiling anywhere. The walls are covered with dedication plaques, some in remembrance and some giving thanks. There is also a nautical angle, which befits the city's main function as a major port.