Marseille 2 : Le Tour de Marseille? Plus Notre Dame de la Garde

After the delicious lunch, Guy had to go back to his work and Michele had planned to bring me around Marseille by CYCLING!!!! Just love the thought of it and I'm very excited with the plan. And of course, thanks to Pierre because I'm riding his bike.

Second largest city in France after Paris and 3rd in terms of metropolitan area after Paris and Lyon Marseille is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Lived up to the Azur... the sea is breathtakingly blue.

It was the end of summer and school holiday hence there's still quite a crowd at the beach area. Michele and me rode along the long coastal line and it's a nice exercise for me as well. The weather is hot but not humid making the ride more tolerable.

Armed with my camera and a bottle of aqua.

The view with the Callanque at the back....

Thanks Michele!!!

Nicely "trimmed" right?

汪洋中的一条船?

I forgot the name of the coastal road. Michele and Guy mentioned it lots of times. Sorry Michele and Guy.

The Belle

The garden next to the beach

Evening time, when Guy's back from work, we went for a drive as they wanted to show me around Marseille.

Where else to start other than the iconic Basillica Notre Dame de la Garde? It's highest natural point in Marseille and the view from the top is stunning.

Don't be mistaken this for the Santorini Greece. It's Marseille!!! Note the gold statue at the top of the structure. It's Mary and child.

The Isles in sight is the Frioul archipelago consists of 4 islands; one of which is called If where the famous Chateau d'If is located, made popular by Leonardo DiCaprio's movie Men in The Iron mask and the famous Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo. Michele mentioned that a lot of Chinese tourists take it as the "must-go" destination due to the DiCaprio craze.

Sans the heavily populated structure, it can be mistakenly assumed as Greece. Love the blue color.

Still the Basillica

More Basillica

Abstract anyone?

The Vallon des Auffes off the Corniche I guess....

The Corniche I think.....

The famous Chez FonFon famous for its bouillabaisse; a legendary restaurant in Marseille which needs reservations very very much ahead.

Another view from the bridge of The Port du Vallon des Auffes

Pics from the Calanques followed......