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July 12, 2025
Marseille, France


Marseille, France

We don’t often get to cruise to France, as the country doesn’t have much coastline. (Paris is just about in the center of the country.) Russell speaks French, so he has greatly enjoyed our few port calls in this country.

Marseille is the second-most populous city in France, after Paris. It is a very modern and urban city. Though Gail is not fond of big cities, she accompanied Russell for a brief walking tour. Viking’s complimentary shuttle bus dropped us off near the waterfront after a 20-minute drive.


The symbol of Marseille is the Catholic basilica, Notre-Dame de la Garde (“Our Lady of the Guard”), also known as la Bonne Mère (“The Good Mother”). It was built at the highest natural point in Marseille on the site of an ancient fort.


Modern Marseille is a typical large, urban city


The Vieux Port (“Old Part”)


The flower market


The streets of Marseille

Gail is still trying to rest as much as possible to get her mobility back, so she didn’t overstay her welcome. After a walk around the waterfront, she took the shuttle bus back to the ship. Russell spent several more hours walking all over town, tracking down more French stores selling his two favorite pastimes: board games (jeux de societé) and comic books (bandes dessinées).


Russell spent hours walking all over Marseille, shopping for French comic books (“bandes dessinées”)


Another landmark of Marseille is the statue “le tango c'est à deux” (“It takes two to tango”), which depicts two sumo wrestlers lifting a shipping container

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