Where blue skies meet the azure water, where the blazing sun meets the golden sand, where rugged cliffs border the gentle Mediterranean Sea, lies the French Riviera – la cote d’azur.
Our travels started in Marseille. Once a hub for pirates and merchants of the sea, this is one of France’s biggest commercial ports today and the second largest city in the country.
Its Vieux Port was bustling with activity when we went there at night. People were strolling along the water’s edge – friends laughing, tourists sight-seeing and lovers staring out at the sea. Scattered around the dimly lit marina were little French café’s, bistros and restaurants overlooking the port. In the moonlight, standing tall on the top of the hill stood the Cathedral of Norte Dame de la Garde with its statue of Mather Mary looking out into the sea protecting its sailor’s and sea farers.
Marseille’s charm lies in its azure waters bordered with glistening golden limestone cliffs – les Calanques. As the otherwise gentle Mediterranean water crashes onto these rocks, the sea comes alive with vibrant colors. The waves have created interesting coves and rock formations. We kayaked around these cliffs. The intensity of the waves and the strong winds kept enticing us deeper into the sea, while we strived to stick closer to the shore. It was a fight between man and sea. Made me wonder how centuries ago, sailors must have braved these very waters for trade. From the sea, on one side, we could see the city of Marseille stretching far and wide on the coast and on the other side was the eternal Mediterranean.
After a beautiful afternoon spent kayaking in les Calanques, we headed back to Marseille. Its tantalizing food beckoned and we enjoyed a giant meal at the beach of Pointe Rouge. After a relaxing afternoon spent on Marseille’s sandy plages, soaking up the sun we felt rejuvenated, ready to move on to our next destination.
The town of Saint Raphael is tucked away on one of France’s legendary Cornices. We stayed in a small family run Auberge at the foothills of the mountains a few kilometers east of St. Tropez. This little town is almost alien to tourists but from here, starts one of the most spectacular drives of the French Riviera. The Cornices are winding roads, carved out through the mountains, along the sea – one of the gems of Napoleon’s regime. As you drive through these narrow, curving roads the scenery leaves you awestruck. On one side, the steep rugged Alps loom over you and on the other side the cliff drops straight into the sea.
The soil here is red, scorched by the burning sun. The water here is the purest shade of azure. As the sun shines onto the sea during the day, the water twinkles as though the very stars have descended onto the sea. The vibrant colors and the dynamic contrast left us amazed and marveled by nature. In the sea we could see the many jewels of the Mediterranean. The Iles des Lerins. These French islands belong to the sea. Only monks inhabit them, leaving them untouched by commerce.
As we descended down the mountains the scenery rapidly changed. In the distance, we could see the cities of Cannes and Nice stretching along the coast. We were heading towards our next destination.
Marseille’s charm lies in its azure waters bordered with glistening golden limestone cliffs – les Calanques. As the otherwise gentle Mediterranean water crashes onto these rocks, the sea comes alive with vibrant colors. The waves have created interesting coves and rock formations. We kayaked around these cliffs. The intensity of the waves and the strong winds kept enticing us deeper into the sea, while we strived to stick closer to the shore. It was a fight between man and sea. Made me wonder how centuries ago, sailors must have braved these very waters for trade. From the sea, on one side, we could see the city of Marseille stretching far and wide on the coast and on the other side was the eternal Mediterranean.
After a beautiful afternoon spent kayaking in les Calanques, we headed back to Marseille. Its tantalizing food beckoned and we enjoyed a giant meal at the beach of Pointe Rouge. After a relaxing afternoon spent on Marseille’s sandy plages, soaking up the sun we felt rejuvenated, ready to move on to our next destination.
As we descended down the mountains the scenery rapidly changed. In the distance, we could see the cities of Cannes and Nice stretching along the coast. We were heading towards our next destination.
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