Marseille is heaven for seafood fans. As well as the many fresh fish dishes you can choose between various versions of the traditional fish soup, bouillabaisse. Bouillabaisse du Ravi and Bouillabaisse du Pecheur are variations commonly served in the city’s restaurants. Ravi (‘delighted’) features six different fish while the Bouillabaisse du Pecher (‘fisherman’) has three.
‘Moules marinier’, another staple seafood dish of Provence, combines mussels with Provencal herbs and finely diced onion. Eat in the Vieux Port (the old port) looking out over the Mediterranean and you’ll see the bustling harbour at work. Alternatively, go into the quieter streets of the Quai de Rive Neuve. The dry local white wines suit fish and seafood very well but many people choose a rose wine – ‘pink’ somehow seems right in the heat of the Provencal summer.

Many holiday makers combine a visit to Marseille with visits to other towns on the Mediterranean coast. St-Tropez, Cannes, Cassis, Sainte-Maxime, Frejus, Antibes, Nice, Cap Ferrat and Monte Carlo all have distinct characters and charm. With their beaches and glamour they will definitely appeal to the committed hedonist.

Inland, the towns of Aix-en-Provence, Arles and Avignon will appeal to culture vultures. In particular you may want to visit the summer theatre festival in Avignon and the exhibition in Arles of Roman antiquities. The latter is on until mid-September 2010 and features a bust of Caesar and many artefacts excavated from the river bed of the Rhone.

In Marseille, some major sights to see are the 5th century Abbaye de St-Victor, the Old Port, the Romanesque Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, the former prison of the Chateau d’If, the famous street known as La Canebiere, the historical ruins in the Jardin des Vestiges, the old town square Estienne d’Orves and the 17th century building La Vieille Charite, now an exhibition centre. Museums not to miss are the Musee d’Histoire de Marseille, Musee de la Marine, Musee des Docks Romains (a Roman warehouse), the art Museum (Musee Grobet-Labadie) and the Musee d’Histoire Naturelle.

High-speed trains (TGVs) run frequently between Paris and Marseille and take just three hours. The local airport, Marignane, serves destinations around Europe and in Africa.
payday advance

When we arrived in Avignon on June 21st, to my surprise we were greeted by thick traffic and large crowds; not exactly what I expected. But there was actually a rather fortunate reason for all the hustle and bustle. It turns out that on this particular day in France, the national Fête de la Musique (Festival of Music) is held. People pour into the cities to enjoy free concerts held simultaneously throughout the streets.

After making our way down the Rue de la Rèpublique and winding through the narrow lanes past multiple performances ranging in genre from rock to what might be called French folk, the streets opened up to a tree lined city square. Around the edges, people watched from sidewalk cafes while a crowd formed around the stage set in the middle of the square. As our curiosity drew us closer, I recognized the distinct sound of Michael Jackson’s hit “Beat It”.

Despite the fact that many of Jackson’s hits debuted before I was born, I can appreciate his music. This particular rendition, however, was, shall we say… “unique”. The French accents coupled with the general difficulty of reproducing Jackson’s sound left me feeling as if I were at Friday night karaoke. No matter. Everyone was singing along and having fun.

Provence’s famous lavender fields tend to bloom in the summer months once the warm weather has set in. During this time, much of the countryside comes alive with color and fragrance. Organized tours of the surrounding lavender farms are available in Avignon.

The only problem with this form of ecotourism is that nature doesn’t always operate on the same time schedule. If you come too early, the lavender may not have bloomed. If you come too late, it may have already been harvested, so read the weather predictions and give it your best estimate when booking your trip.

One big advantage of Avignon is its proximity to other destinations in Provence. Other cities and towns in the region are accessible by train, bus, or car from the city. Day trips to Orange or Aix-en-Provence will certainly be worth the time.

The small stone-carved hilltop town of Gordes is only a bus ride away. After exploring the town and market, set out for the active Cistercian monastery, Abbaye de Sénanque, located nearby. The monks that live there still cultivate and harvest lavender on the grounds, which is then made into a variety of products that can be purchased in the cloister gift shop and all the proceeds go to support the monastery. When the crop outside is in full bloom, the abbey is nothing short of breathtaking.

Visiting some of the surrounding towns can be difficult if you only have a limited amount of time to stay because of the awkward bus schedules, so plan your day trips in advance to avoid missing your transportation. For those who love to get out and do some hiking or biking, the surrounding area offers the perfect opportunity with rolling hills, open valleys, and challenging ridgelines.

Avignon itself has plenty to offer as well. After all, it’s no coincidence that Pope Clement V moved the papacy there after leaving Rome in 1305, beginning an important event in European history creatively known as the “Avignon Papacy”. There on the east bank of the Rhône River, they built a magnificent palace. Its thick gray stone walls were erected to protect the pope and house the new church administration. Tours of the Palais des Papes are available inside the visitors’ entrance.

Just past the palace, a path leads up to a lovely tree lined garden perfect for an afternoon picnic in the shade. In the center of the garden is a little pond and, for those who forgot to pack their lunch, a small café with sandwiches, drinks, and ice cream.

Tables are set up next to the café and plenty of benches sit along the pebble path that meanders around the pond, providing ample opportunity to sit down and enjoy your food, feed the ducks, or just relax. After lunch, wander around a bit. Its elevated position provides excellent views of vineyards, castles, the river, and the gray tiled rooftops of the city.

Provence is a region with a famously beautiful landscape, plenty of history, and an easy-going, relaxed lifestyle. Being so idealized, it would be easy to build up great expectations that would be difficult for most destinations to meet. Avignon and the surrounding area, however, offer more than enough beauty, action, and relaxation to meet even the highest hopes.