Marseille

 

 I took the optional tour to Marseille to see another famous city.

Marseille is a beautiful city  with many parks and fountains, but the Old Town is compact and very walkable.

Our meeting place when we had free time was by these two "naked men" who seemed to be holding up this balcony.

The street corners give the name of the street in French and in the local dialect.  This square is the Square of the 4 Dolphins because of the fountain.

This square was once the courtyard for a rich Citizen.  Then it changed hands.  Since it is close to the sea, some of the "commercial establishments" advertised their services by the design of the balconies. 

This clock never needs batteries!

We saw  a couple of markets selling local goods.

I am afraid I will have to give up on pictures today.  The internet connection is way too uncertain.

Eggs are sold by the half dozen.  6 eggs cost 3 euros (about $3.50)

We saw the city hall with 5 flags hanging in front.  The French flag was in the middle with its 3 vertical stripes of dark blue, white and red.  To the right of that is the flag of that region of France, a horizontal half of light blue and a lower half of gold.  On the other side of the French flag was the European Union Flag, dark blue with a circle of gold stars.  On both ends was the flag of Marseilles, vertical strips of red and gold.  There is a story behind the flag.  The king of Marseilles was dying on the battlefield.  They asked him what his flag looked like.  He weakly raised his bloody hand and made 4 red stripes on his gold shield.  Thus the flag of Marseille was born.

 euros