Travelogue of Marseille, France

Marseille, a port city in southern France with the blue Mediterranean Sea spread out before you. The first impression of this city was a more vivid and free atmosphere, different from Paris. Marseille, with its unique charm created by the mixture of long history and diverse cultures, seemed like a huge story in itself. Our first destination was the symbol of Marseille, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Garde. As we climbed up the towering cathedral on the hill, we could see the entire city and the blue Mediterranean Sea at a glance. At that moment, as the wind blew my hair, I could feel the rough charm of Marseille with my whole body. As expected from a place that worships the guardian deity of sailors, this place was open to the sea. Le Vieux Port, located near the port, was bustling with people, and it was full of energy with markets selling fresh seafood, open-air cafes, and street artists. I tasted the city’s specialty, ‘Bouillabaisse,’ at a small restaurant near the port. The rich broth, which was a mixture of various types of fish, seafood, and spices, was the very flavor of the Marseille sea. After that, we took a boat along the sea route to Château d’If. This prison island, which was the setting for The Count of Monte Cristo, had a more dramatic atmosphere than the novel and stimulated the imagination of travelers. On the way back, the coastal cliffs shining under the sunlight and the flight of sea birds caught my eye. Marseille was a city that was sometimes rough, sometimes romantic, and always felt real life. It was great to be able to briefly soak in the honest and free air of Marseille, which was different from the sophistication of Paris. This was not just a place to stay, but a city that gave me the experience of ‘living’. #HawaiiFlightEvent