I proclaimed that I would return to Aix Sunburned and pickpocketed. Yes.
We were going to Marseilles, the second biggest city in France, where the sun beats down strong
and the pickpockets are savvy. While I was sitting in the back of the speedboat on the way to the island
depicted above(more about that later), I was completely mesmerized by the Marseilles cityscape.
I wish I could include a picture but I didn't bring my camera out of a fear of gypsies.The Marseilles landscape
just featured so many different "époques" (eras) of architechture. There was a sleek, iridescent building next to
a huge, florid mosque next to a terra cotta mideival castle. And then next to all of this were a bunch of the
"south of France" style houses depicted above. Another idiosyncrasy of the city of Marseilles is the
incredible diversity. While walking through it's busy streets, I noticed groups of people wearing tradition
African garb - colorful and rich. Then, you would turn around and see women vailed from head to toe. I couldn't
believe it, but I found myself experiencing another culture shock! Aix and Marseilles are polar opposites.
Now about that incredible island. All I wanted to do was meditate. Where was I? I wasn't quite sure. Some island off of the city of Marseilles, all I know, is that I was in heaven. Honestly, if you were to look up "paradise" in a dictionary I think that one would find the above picture - the beach on which I sat like a happy Buddha. While I was writing about the city of Marseilles I couldn't get my mind off of that island. Words don't come to mind when I think about my time on that island - I just think about that happiness that I felt while there.
