LA CIOTAT, AUGUST 29-30

DAY 1

La Ciotat, on the southern coast of France, is small but beautiful. It is also the birthplace of Petanque and one of the first places to show a projected movie thanks to the Lumierie Brothers.  

It does have an industrial core right in the heart of the old port, but it makes the city interesting. And once you walk uphill away from the port, you are immediately embraced by nature. 

We walked through Parc du Mugal, with its bamboo and formal gardens, up stone tiled stairs and pathways.

And looked out over the Mediterranean Sea at the expansive blue water and sky.

Walking down, we detoured onto a less trodden path only to find a stunning view of L'ile Verte.

As promised, after the hike the girls spent some time at the pebbly beaches. 

The water is surprisingly clear and perfectly calm - wonderful conditions for rock collecting. 

Dinner. We walked up and down the strip of the old port searching for food that would make everyone happy. In the end, we settled for a Pizzeria, fearing the girls might not eat otherwise. How pleasantly surprised Ori and I were, when the girls looked through the menu and decided they did not want pizza. Rivi ordered Canard Naturale  (Roast duck without the honey sauce) and Kyri ordered Friture de mer (fried seafood). 

Two butterflies fluttering back to their hotel after a long day of exploration.

 DAY 2

 

Another day at the beach.

Unfortunately, the water was swarming with jellyfish.

But we still had fun.

KYRI IS 6!!!

Happy Birthday to my little girl. 

AVIGNON, August 19-21

Avignon is a beautiful walled city in Provence. You might know the song Sur le Pont d'Avignon about the famous bridge there. We saw the bridge, but somehow didn't take a single picture of it. 

Within minutes of arriving, we found a lovely cathedral courtyard. 

And then another courtyard where we counted 21 bells.

You can't miss the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) because it takes up a huge chunk of the city. Although very impressive from the outside, it was rather disappointing when we toured the inside - empty and cold. 

Rivi remedied this by putting on a shadow puppet show. 

The palace, like many of the ancient structures in Provence, is built on and into the natural rock.

Just beyond the Palace is the Rocher des Doms (Dome of the Rock), a wonderful park that made up for the lack of playgrounds in Provence. 

The girls climbed up and around the rocks

and the trees.

 

Our favorite street, Rue des Teinturiers, is lined with broken water wheels.  

The water wheels were used in the process of dying textiles.

Unlike the Palace of Popes, Fort Saint-Andre, was fantastic. It is across the Rhone River in the town Villeneuve-lez-Avignon. The fort has amazing views of the Rhone region and a maze of halls, staircases and turrets to explore. 

We loved it.

Because we showed up at lunchtime, the fort was closed. This happens sometimes because a lot of establishments in Provence (and much of Europe) close for one to four hours mid day for lunch.

 Fortunately, we had snacks with us and the grounds around the fort had worn paths for walking.

So we walked through the olive and almond trees 

searching for Cicadas.

We found one!

And then another. 

I suggested keeping one, but Rivi said absolutely not because it was still alive. 

Kyri walking through Villeneuve lez Avignon picking flowers that grow through the cracks in the wall.

Final adventure in Avignon - climbing the escalators near the bus station. It has clearly been overlooked by the city maintenance team for a very long time. 

Monster High

My little monsters

THE GREAT CAPRICORN BEETLE

This is a Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo). 

Rivi found it under a tree at Parc La Torse. 

Kyri picked it up and we brought it home for examination.  

Our Great Capricorn Beetle is 5 cm long and is the first specimen in our Aix insect collection. 

We're hoping to add a cicada soon. 

ORI TURNS 41 in MARSEILLE

For Ori's Birthday we spent three days in Marseille. 

Carry le Rouet (one of the Cote Bleue Beaches)

Kyri as Queen of the Calanques

The beaches are small and pebbly, but have great trails to explore.

Rivi studying the Dr. Suessish vegetation

The mermaids of Niolon

At Vieux Port

Looking out over the Mediterranean from Fort St. Jean

Framed

Kyri studying the art at MuCEM

 

A walk through Cours Julien

Macho girls

Jump

Rivi's decorated shirt to her Dad for his birthday

VASARELY

We went to Fondation Vasarely - a museum of optical illusions just outside of the city. 

It's a fun museum, but unfortunately in need of serious repairs.  

Victor Vasarely designed the building, which houses his art exclusively. 

 The girls really liked the museum. I think it would do well to add an activity center for kids, but I think this is true of all museums. 

 So colorful.

And very clever.