Shades of Blue

Provence, France: the southeastern corner of the country, famous for it's coastline, artists (Van Gogh and Cézanne, for example), colorful markets and beautiful weather.  Jenna and I have been here for about a week and a half now, and I'm finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that we must leave this beautiful place soon.

The ubiquitous pastel-colored shutters, doors and trim, combined with the chalky white-and-grey bark and turning leaves of the trees (which I was later to learn are called "plane trees") produce an incredibly beautiful, almost dream-like aesthetic.  Sometimes I get the feeling that I'm walking inside a massive painting..






Our couchsurfing host in Marseille, Emmanuel, took us out to the little seaside town of Cassis.  The color of the sea there was the most vibrant blue I had ever seen.  Jenna and I spent a while just watching the waves beat the rocks.

We decided to take a bus from Aix to visit Cassis a second time.  Our plan was to pay for a boat ride through the so-called calanques (large, canyon-inlets carved into the rocks along the coast.  When we got there however, we were disappointed to learn that, due to rough seas, the boats were not running.  That little hitch didn't get us down, though.  We spent the day exploring the beautiful town, and seeing what the street market and coastline had to offer.

The cliffs above Cassis are the highest point along the entire Mediterranean.  They offer absolutely breathtaking (and vertigo-inducing) views of the town and coastline below..