Les Calanques de Cassis

Having taken an easy day yesterday to do housework etc., we were ready for another day trip. Cassis was a very ancient fishing village and is a popular tourist destination. It is about 20 km east of Marseilles. Our real interest in visiting was to see its cliffs and to visit the calanques - creeks or coves, steep-walled inlets. To do so, we took a boat trip (they cannot be accessed by car) to 5 of the 9 that are in the area. It is spectacular! They are certainly laid back in this part of the country. The boat trip was scheduled to leave at 11 am but when we were buying the tickets it was 11.20 and the boat was still there more than half-full of passengers. We got on, expecting it to leave immediately but they were obviously hoping for a full load so it was just after midday when we set off. The trip took us into the Port-Miou Calanque, the one closest to Cassis. Up above we could see lots of hikers. Alongside there were people climbing the cliffs to jump into the water from there. There were kayaks and lots of other boats, as well as people enjoying the view and the sun from the beach.

The castle at Cassis - cannot be visited.

Plage Le Bestouan - the best one! Actually it might be the nudist beach - can't see a thing!!

Port-Miou.

What do these trees hold on to?

"God's Finger".in En Vau calanque.

Below "God's Finger", "Devil's Hole"

Riou Island.

The Cathedral.

Isn't that a fantastic window!

Camel-shaped island.

Also camel-shaped but maybe not from this angle!

 Lunch was called for on return to Cassis. Very good food, very good value! Then, instead of our usual hop-on-hop-off, there was Le Petit Train which brought us through Cassis with a very limited commentary in English, or none when the driver forgot to turn it on! As a result we know little about Cassis but we did get to the carpark where on one side is Port-Miou
and on the other is Port Pin. We took some photos while we waited for le petit train and then during the mostly uncommented itinerary.

Cassis.

Frederic Mistral - poet, writer.

Sometimes I feel like this - in need of support!

What strange feet you have, my dear!

Jim liked this building!