1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 131 First Impression of Marseille

There is too much to do on this trip to Marseille, and I can't finish it all in one day, so I have to stay there for a few days.

Before leaving, Ronan sent Xiao Hei to Louis's house and asked them to take care of him for a few days.

Afterwards, he went to find Theo, who lived closest to his home, and asked Theo to help look after the vineyard when he had time.

After settling everything, Ronan drove to Marseille.

Ronan's first stop in Provence was Marseille, but he didn't stop at all and had no impression of what the city looked like.

Without Zoe, the "encyclopedia", by his side, Ronan did a lot of homework in advance.

Marseille is the second most populous city in France after Paris, and the third largest metropolitan area in France after Paris and Lyon. It is also the capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, close to the Rhone River estuary, the city is an important cultural center in Europe. More than 400 important events are held here every year. It is also known as the 'Marseille of a Thousand Faces'.

Marseille is the oldest city in France and one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. The ancient Greeks called Marseille Massalia and the Romans called it Massilia.

This ancient city has another interesting story - it was built on a romantic love story.

In 599 AD, a Phocanian sailor named Protes came to the seaside to attend the grand banquet held by King Nanni.

At the banquet, the king's favorite daughter, Gyptis, fell in love with the young and handsome Proteus at first sight and decided that he was her prince charming. The two soon fell in love.

The king gave the young couple a large piece of land by the sea as a wedding gift, to build a home for them. Marseille was born in this way.

After that, the two people fell in love with each other, had children, and more than 599 centuries passed. The population here increased from 2 people in 1986 BC to more than 54 in .

Marseille has been a trading port since ancient times, especially during the colonial period and especially in the 19th century, it experienced a considerable commercial boom and became a prosperous industrial and trading city. It remains the largest port in France, the second largest port in the Mediterranean and the fifth largest port in Europe.

As summer approaches, the port of Marseille is bustling with yachts and sailboats.

Looking at the scenery outside the window, Ronan couldn't help but fantasize - when would he be rich enough to own a boat of his own?

A Marseilles-style boat like Lucas's would also be fine, so he can go sailing in the summer.
"Ah, these are all hobbies that burn money."

First I was fascinated by antique guns, and now I am fantasizing about yachts and boats. I am getting more and more daring.

Ronan shook those unrealistic fantasies out of his head and continued to move towards the hotel address.

He will be staying near the Old Port of Marseille these days. The residence was recommended by Theo. That guy comes to Marseille more than a dozen times a year and is very familiar with the city.

Theo said the area was lively and convenient for going everywhere.

Ronan drove into the eighth district of Marseille, which is a hilly area with narrow roads and old streets, but it has a unique charm.

At noon, he made an appointment with Lucas to have lunch. After checking in and registering, seeing that it was still early, Ronan went to the Notre Dame de la Garde, a must-see attraction in Marseille that Theo strongly recommended.

Ronan lives at the foot of Notre Dame de la Garde and can be reached on foot.

Notre Dame de la Garde is a Catholic church in Marseille, also affectionately called 'the Good Mother' by local residents because it is built on a huge piece of limestone and guards Marseille like a 'mother'.

It is a popular pilgrimage site for the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady and is the most visited attraction in Marseille.

The construction of Notre Dame de la Garde began in 1853 and took more than 40 years to complete.

Initially, Notre-Dame de la Garde was a planned extension of a small medieval chapel, but was converted into a new building at the request of the priest, Father Bernard.

A famous French architect drew up a detailed construction plan for this purpose, and on June 1864, 6, the cathedral was consecrated before it was completed.

In Catholic tradition, consecration is a sacred ritual. A consecrated church has a higher historical status and cultural value, and it also represents that one can communicate directly with God.

Notre Dame de la Garde consists of a Romanesque crypt and a neo-Byzantine upper basilica, above which a bell tower supports a colossal statue of the Virgin and Child, made of bronze and gilded with gold leaf.

Ronan stood on the observation deck guarding Notre Dame and looked back at the blue Mediterranean Sea behind him.

There are yachts moored in the old port, and as far as the eye can see, there are densely packed white masts pointing straight to the blue sky.

Moving your eyes further away, you will see a beautiful island on the blue sea. That is the Ile d'If, where the legend of Alexandre Dumas's masterpiece "The Count of Monte Cristo" takes place.

It is now a tourist attraction. On sunny days, you can take a boat from the Old Port to visit. However, Ronan’s trip to Marseille was too tight, so he did not go to the island to play. He will go there next time he comes to Marseille.

"Well, next time I come to Marseille for vacation with my family." Ronan said, looking at the Mediterranean Sea in the distance.

Ronan grew up in an inland city and has a natural "fascination" with the sea. He believes that he will visit this city often in the future.

After leaving Notre Dame de la Garde, Ronan walked down the mountain to the Old Port Pier, where he and Lucas agreed to meet at a restaurant.

On one side of the pier are old street-style cafes and restaurants, and on the other side are fishermen's small boats moored at the pier.

Fishermen wearing waterproof boots appear here at eight o'clock every day, standing behind low cabinets the size of dining tables and hawking their wares.

The fish in the low cabinet was still alive and kicking, constantly twisting its body in search of a chance of survival.

The fish scales sparkled in the sun, and the colors of the fish were also varied, silver, lead gray, azure blue, bright red, and orange. They stared with their huge eyes at Ronan hurriedly leaving them.

Ronan didn't dare to stop for a moment. If he slowed down a little, or couldn't control his eyes to look at the fish, enthusiastic men and women would immediately hold the fish and put them in front of him.

"Buying fish, sir? They're all fresh."

“Smell it. Isn’t it delicious?”

"Fish nourishes the brain, fights disease, and brings love!"

Ronan wiped off the cold liquid on his face that he didn't know whether it was sea water or something else:

"The Maasai have a different kind of 'enthusiasm'."

When Ronan entered the restaurant, Lucas was already there and was looking at the menu.

Lucas had lost weight again. Perhaps it was because he had been exposed to too much sun, but Ronan thought he looked even more "older". But he was in good shape overall, and he was as energetic as when he last met him in the old tavern, arm wrestling with a young man.

Lucas didn't exchange any pleasantries with Ronan, as if they had just met yesterday, and said naturally:

“Some Maasai specialities?”

Ronan also joked with him like an old friend:

"I didn't even have breakfast for this Marseille special."

Lucas laughed twice, waved to the waiter, and said in a loud voice:
“Order!”

Ronan laughed along.

Seeing Lucas like this, he felt relieved. He had been worried that Olivier's withdrawal would be a fatal blow to Lucas.

But this man is more powerful than expected.

When in Marseille, the food will definitely revolve around seafood and fish.

The most distinctive dish, and the one that Ronan looks forward to the most, is the famous Marseille fish soup.

Authentic bouillabaisse can only be found in and around Marseille, and most 'bouillabaisse' found in other parts of the world is fake, as the fish in this dish must come from the Mediterranean.

The fish soup must contain at least three very fresh local fish: usually white fish such as red sea bass, sea bream, European conger eel, gilthead sea bream, scorpion fish, red mullet or bream.

If you can't find it, turbot, monkfish, sea bass or cod will work fine.

But bouillabaisse contains more than just fish; it also includes shellfish, other seafood and vegetables.

For example, sea urchins, mussels, velvet crabs, spider crabs, as well as potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

The most authentic way to eat Marseille fish soup is to serve the fish and broth separately on plates, and serve it with a mayonnaise made with egg yolk, olive oil, red bell pepper, saffron and garlic. It is delicious whether paired with Marseille fish soup or with bread.

The fish soup you eat in Marseille not only has different ingredients from the one you eat in Paris or Lourmarin, but the taste is also very different.

Ronan tasted more spice.

"It tastes good, but it has a strong taste." Ronan made an objective comment.

Lucas put down his cutlery early and started smoking:
“Marseille tastes like the city itself.”

Ronan smiled knowingly:
"Extremely 'exaggerated'?"

Many people have a 'stereotype' of the Maasai, believing that the city's residents are cunning and exaggerative.

Fishermen claim that sardines in the waters near Marseille can grow as big as sharks, and fishermen who catch sardines here deserve to be dubbed the "Dragon Slayer".

But when you want to see this "natural miracle", they will give you even more bizarre reasons such as bad weather, wrong date, today is not a full moon, there is no solar eclipse this year, or your arm is suddenly dislocated.

“Isn’t it?” Lucas pointed at the bouillabaisse. “It has a lethal dose of spices in it.”

"Then you drank it all too," Ronan raised an eyebrow at him.

Lucas stopped talking and continued smoking.

Ronan lowered his head to eat and asked casually:
"You haven't been back to Lourmarin recently?"

Lucas nodded:
"I'll go back in the winter."

Ronan sighed half-truthfully:
"Making money in the winter and taking time off in the spring, summer and fall, what an enviable life."

Lucas exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at Ronan through the smoke:

"You don't have to push yourself so hard."

Truffles are his only livelihood.

But Ronan has to farm and set up a stall at the market, and he will definitely have to go into the mountains in winter.

Are you too busy?

Ronan looked up and met Lucas's gaze:
"I will also give you this sentence."

I’m just physically busy, but happy.

Are you happy, Lucas?

Lucas didn't want to continue this topic, so he took a few deep puffs and put out his cigarette, then asked a strange question:

“Did you drive?”

Ronan shook his head:

"I walked here."

"That's great, you can take my car later." Lucas finished his cigarette and continued eating.

"Where are we going?" Ronan asked puzzledly.

They had only arranged for lunch over the phone, and Ronan's plan for the afternoon was to walk around the Old Port to see if there were any stores selling outdoor equipment.

Lucas took a big bite of bread:

"I'm taking you on vacation. Eat more. You'll have to use up a lot of energy in the afternoon."

　There will be another chapter later

　　
　
(End of this chapter)