Marseille....it was wonderful!

While the owner of the property was home for a few days I decided to travel to Marseille and stay for a few days.  Took the train from Nice which took approx. 2.5 hrs.  Lovely scenery as you are traveling along the coast.

This is the train station in Marseilles.  Pretty easy using the train and from here I walked to the apartment that I rented for 3 nights.  It took approx. 1 hour to walk there and it was well worth it as the city is bustling and the weather was great.

First thing I did after dropping my suitcase was head out to explore with the few hours of sunshine that was left.  Ending up climbing the hill to the famous site in Marseille which is the Notre-Dame de la Garde.  This sits on the top of the hill overlooking all of Marseilles.  Built in 1853 by Napoleon III.
Was well worth the climb!

What a view!  360 degree view of Marseille. 

This is the Cathedrale de la Major built by Napoleon III

Treated myself to a "real" meal...white local fish done in a great sauce complete with une verre de vin blanc!  Found the restaurant while wandering the seaside.

 A little seaside residence that Napoleon had built for his wife...and what a view they had!  It's now used as a conference center.

Don't suppose you recognize this but I was in this bar called the Bar de la Marine.  This is where the part in the movie 'Love Actually' was filmed where Colin Firth proposes to the waitress who is at the top of the stairs.  I had a long talk with the bartender as he spoke English! and this bar had such character!  Not to say that Colin Firth had actually stood there!!!!

Okay I'm in France but I found an Irish Pub and just had to stop for a cold Kilkenny!  It tasted sooooooo....good!

Took a little ferry ride out to two islands that are off the coast.  One of the islands has this castle on it called Chateau d'If.  It was used as a prison and was the place that the Count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned (fiction).

And last but not least, is the Marche aux Poissons or the fish market that takes place every morning down at the Vieux Port.  Amazing selection of the catch of the day....some fish I don't even recognize!