Cassis, France….
The first port on our 10 day Mediterranean Cruise was Marseilles, France. There were several excursions offered from the port of Marseilles, we chose to spend the day in the South of France at the seaside village of Cassis.
Arriving in Cassis was every bit like like opening up a package on Christmas morning. At first you can only see the village from a distance. On this particular morning it is partly cloudy and a bit overcast. After a few twists and turns the rolling hills come into view and you see the grapes on the vines and the terraced homes with tiled roofs and splashes of bougainvillea and morning glories over flowing the garden walls.
After a quirky tram ride and a brisk walk down the hill we emerge into the harbor of Cassis. It is filled with colorful wooden boats and surrounded by hotels, restaurants and shoppes and of course the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. The buildings are painted an array of colors; pale yellow and french blue, lavender and rose, salmon and green. The village is washed in the bright morning light that brings a smile to my face that will not soon fade away.
We wander through the narrow streets amazed at the simplicity and beauty of this seaside village. The entryway into every home is warm and inviting and I long for an invitation to an open house or garden party.
While getting lost in Cassis, we are intrigued by the number of cafes that spill out onto the streets…the tables are set for Sunday lunch. Of course each cafe is unique and has it’s share of local followers. How is a tourist to decide which cafe will capture the essence of France in one meal?
My husband and I enjoy traveling and we always eat local. We do our best to avoid the obvious tourist traps by choosing a restaurant off of the beaten path Which is very easy to do in a place like Cassis. My husbands bucket list item for France was to enjoy an authentic French meal that included the famous Bouillabaisse, fish soup. We were directed to Les Frangines. Our meal was everything we hoped it would be and more.
French perfection…
I have to say that we tried to slow down and enjoy the moment…dining alfresco in the quaint seaside village watching people strolling on their way home from church or the market or on their way to Sunday brunch with friends or day at the beach. However, do to time constraints that come with a day trip organized by the cruise ship we were rushed at the end. This in turn did not sit well with the owner/chef. C’est la vie! As you know the French are very proud of their culinary abilities and they have every right to be and obviously do not appreciate being rushed by Americans.
After lunch, we ventured out to the beach to dip our feet in the azure blue waters and spend a few minutes on the French Riviera. There was still a little time left for shopping; french soap, a beautiful bracelet, and a very french white on white outfit for my husband.
It was the perfect day!