Martigues
I finally made it to Martigues. It is called the Venice of Provence and now I know why. Here you can wander the canals that are bursting with so much color that it almost looks like a vision from a children’s book. Both the boats and the houses that line the canals are painted in vibrant shades and it truly is a feast for the eyes. I found that the best way to wander through Martigues was to start in town and then follow the canal around to the left. I was lucky enough to bump into a very nice lady who was walking her dog. Once she filled me in on her dislike of the garbage situation in the town, she very graciously helped me on my way by suggesting a little route. The town is very small so basically, if you follow the water around, you will eventually come to the prettiest corner which is really the “jewel” of the city. On one side you will find the Church of Sainte-Madeleine and on the other side you will see the most beautiful canal where there are a few restaurants and a spectacular view of the boats and homes that line the canal. It is so quaint and peaceful. From here, you can go left, down a small street which leads you into a little square that is as typically Provençal as you can get.
I kept bumping into my new friend and each time she saw me, she smiled and waved her hand in the direction that I should go in. Very cute. She was so sweet and I really appreciated her kindness. When I’d made my way around the whole town, I walked over to the waterfront where I sat on a park bench and watched the world go by. Here, there was a nice Tiki bar where I could hear reggae music playing, which created a cool vibe. Otherwise, there were fisherman in the water and kids running around enjoying the sunny day.
I really enjoyed Martigues and I know that you will too.