Marseille
Stayed with another old roommate, Marine, and her bf, Pierre Ortega (maybe my brother?) in Marseille. Marseille is electric and dirty, I've always felt that way. Marine and Pierre live behind Notre Dame de la Garde, tucked away in a quiet little neighborhood I didn't know existed in Marseille. (Notre Dame de la Garde is a golden statue of the Madonna, high atop a hill, and no one is allowed to develop higher than the statue; she protects and watches over the city.) They also have a beautiful view. Seems like everyone has a beautiful view nowadays (in my guest house, I have a view of the zen jacuzzi (nice) and the neighbor's junkyard (gross)).
We walked way up hill then way down hill to get to the beach highway. We walked along the road above the beach, it was beautiful. There were lots of people running, sweating a lot. I always find it surprising when the French voluntarily sweat buckets. But it exists now, "faire du sport." It's only a matter of time until some Frenchwoman ruins her manicure in kettlebell class.
