Marseille in the Sun, Much Gentler Than Legend

There was none of the "mess and chaos" rumored online, nor the unease I’d anticipated. The cafes along the Old Port wafted with aroma, and people on the outdoor seats sipped afternoon tea leisurely. By the subway entrance, there was a flower market on one side, with various fresh and colorful flowers at reasonable prices—a bunch of yellow tulips cost just over 60 yuan. On the other side was a fish stall, where vendors shouted about the sea fish just caught that morning.​❤️ Strangers passing by often threw a kind smile, accompanied by a cheerful "Bonjour" 😊.​ 🟤️ Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde on the Hill​ Hopped on the cute little train and swayed along the coastline to the top of the hill. Standing at the highest point of the city, you can overlook the sails in the Old Port and the layers of red roofs 🏰.​ 🔵 Parc national des Calanques​ This is Europe’s only urban national park. The hiking trails are indeed full of wildness. I trekked 20 kilometers in a day—though exhausted, standing on the edge of the fjord and listening to the wind howling through the rock crevices was amazing. Even on a cloudy day, you can see the blue sea. Highly recommend coming here 🥾!​ 🟠️ Hidden Charms of La Vieille Charité​ Almost missed it! La Vieille Charité, with its low-key exterior and just a small sign, is no less than a local museum. You can visit with a free reservation. Due to time constraints, I only chose a few that interested me: ancient Mediterranean pottery, mysterious totems from the American continent—all fascinating. The Egyptian exhibition hall, with mummies, painted coffins, and scarab amulets... The richness and exquisiteness of the exhibits surpassed the special Egyptian exhibition I specifically went to see in Shanghai 🎉.​ In the evening, I still couldn’t resist craving Chinese food, so I ran to a Lanzhou noodle shop run by Chinese people. The moment the spicy oil hit my mouth, I was finally satisfied 😋.​ Marseille in my memory is just like this: real, vivid, and full of layers. It’s worth visiting again.​ #Marseillelove#PalaisLongchamp#SouthernFrance #Marseille #Hiking #FranceTravel