All and the Other

Hot, hot, hot Thursday night. In fact, summer has officially kicked in with the heat this week. I thought instead of sitting at my desk I would take a little stroll and cool down around 11. Since I live within walking distance of the Vieux Port I would take a stroll with the aim of the new 24hour mart that just opened up downtown on rue Breteuil (across from the 81 bus stop and Sainte Saens. Well I didn't get that far since I got caught in a game of boule on the Rive Neuve boule park and frittered away two hours hanging out and enjoying the breeze.

There is a rather large graffiti-painted globe in place Alex Jany, the square I peer down daily at from my apartment. On the platform base credit goes to coolglobesmarseille.com and happens to be a city-wide art project which grew out of the "Clinton Global Initiative in 2005". Marseille, being selected as Water Capital of the 6th World Water Forum in 2012, plays perfect host to one of the first European stops in this tour for 2010. 

this iis a test to see if I can blog. A story about living in Marseille, learning French and It has to be at least 25 words long.  nxile

Sitting here this morning trying to shake off a late night with a double expresso I am reading an article on LaProvence about squatters. It makes me think of the homeless in general, sans abri, sans logi, sans domicile fixe or SDF...these are names given to the people without a fixed residence. It reminded me about my mother hosting these "homeless Thanksgivings" and the subject has always been something I have thought about. She would supply her bathroom for cleanups and a feast for the day.

Trying to make a habit out of blogging each morning giving that the site has a section only for blogs now. Thought a place for all ramblings and rants might be better than the front page... fitting into Marseille community was the subject between a friend of mine recently, our neighborhood which we agreed can sometimes be difficult for newcomers and doubly so if you factor in the language barriers that many foreigners wrestle with.

Halloween is quickly approaching and I am planning my celebration in Marseille, last year being my first one here. Normally, I and my sister-in-law make a party in Le Tholonet with all the kids and visit the neighbors who know the game plan. Even though the candy is usually of the vintage date and the costumes of the french kids are slap-happily put together with black-facepaint and torn clothes, I get a little nostalgic for the days when pumpkins and ghouls abounded in every neighborhood and the competition for best costume was fierce.
Last year, after Caroline (my sister-in-law) started a big move to Poland, I resorted to putting together something similar in my neighborhood. Pumpkin, check, Ghoulish sweets, check, knocking on my neighbors doors....erhhh....there was the problem.

Afternoon tear gas festivities were at hand in Marseille today and I was informed  that one should always coordinate your strolls around football gamedays. Leaving rather late in seeing the "De La Scene au Tableau" exibition at the Cantini, I walked into the fray on the Vieux Port. I didn't take note, thinking just another protest like many monthly parades across from my apartment at the Palais Pharo.

Logging onto the New York Times account awhile back, I read an article on the Marseille-based and produced soap opera phenomenon Plus Belle La Vie. Yes, I am sure many have while flipping through the stations come across this drama, and I can even say, paid a little attention. What I found so interesting it is a big thing all over France. To read the article, Plus Belle La Vie

A few of years ago when the riots hit Paris in 2005, I received many calls from concerned friends and family all worried that the same would occur in Marseille. Given that we are the french city currently with the highest unemployment and history for social unrest, I too waited with baited breath for the likelihood that we would receive a backlash.

All the factors were there if you do a historical comparison in similar situations. You could almost hear the city hold their breath in anticipation of the imbending outbreak of violence and from my apartment overlooking the Port I watched as the city went into strange early slumber at night. Then, nothing.... That unexpected outcome is what makes Marseille still such a mystery to me to this day. Its mix is both old and new, multi-cultural and set in a village-like experience within the neighborhoods knitted together under an urban umbrella. And yet, they all work together somehow, against reason.

Found this great video of Marseille scored against Massilia Sound System. For those not familiar with this homegrown band, most of their reggae influenced music is infused with cross-cultural traditions from the various transplanted and local cultures.  Many of their songs are sung in Occitan, a language often referred to as Provençal, the old language of medieval Provence. Read more to get a some great views of the city.