Marseille, impressions.

Marseille, France’s second city, spreads along 47km of the riviera coastline. In terms of weather and geography, it’s already North Africa: warm and dry. With its origins dating back from the Phoenicians that established initially a port-city, it became the largest in the world at the opening of the Suez Canal in the last quarter of the XIXe century. As a consequence it has accumulated enormous wealth both culturally and financially. Ports being ports and Marseille being one of the largest ones on the riviera, it has been a gate of entry for people from around the world, growing a very mixed population. And of course the sea is very much present. When ones cannot see it, the blue sky reminds you how close you are. Life in Marseille is centered around its old port and basin where life is vibrant. It has a daily fish market, a ferry boat that prevents you from having to walk 20 minutes to go from one side to another. Since 2013, when the city was named European Culture Capital , major investments have been made in museums, architecture and urban redesign of the old docks quarter. Tourism has been expanding. The Marseillais are the most mediterranean french, think vocal, outgoing, warm, hospitable, relaxed and slow-paced while being proud and easily getting carried away all at once. The aim of this series is to share a glimpse of the many facets of Marseille and the life that happens there.