Fresh faced out of the yard (if not a little worn out) we headed off along the coast for the short hop to Marseille where our summer season was to begin. Our berth was right outside the hôtel de ville which created a stunning backdrop at night along with the view up the hill to the Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica.
Concerto moored outside the hôtel de ville in Marseille
The next few days were spent doing a huge clean both inside and out before our first charter started. Provisioning in Marseille was great. The Galleries Lafayette gourmet food section served as a good base and then the amazing backstreet markets in the African quarter were perfect for fresh fruit and veg as well as some very good fish markets. There was also a very good fish restaurant near the port with a stall outside selling fresh shellfish so I bought a couple of crabs and some prawns which were delicious.
After just under a week in Marseille, we set off along the coast for our first stop, Cassis, for lunch before heading on the Isles de Porquerolles. Cassis is a magic little fishing harbour amongst the Calanques (lots of picturesque inlets along the limestone cliffs) with plenty of charm and little backstreets full of boutique shops. The Porquerolles are a collection of islands just off Hyères where one can spend a long time exploring all the little coves and beaches with crystal clear waters, the perfect spot for a BBQ in peace before joining the crowds along the Riviera
Clare