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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.

It wasn't until the beer bottles started being thrown that I knew I should try another route, I never am the one that stands around gawking while major disasters happen....I am the one running away. Many like-minded others also started to walk in the same direction as the riot police took their stand and started shooting tear gas into the crowd of black-hooded men who by that time were throwing chairs and breaking glass. What I didn't seem to fathom, being a block away by then, is that tear gas travels and I and my companion were crying burning tears and drooling all over ourselves....not my most attractive moment. At that moment, I thought all for football???

Walking across to the other side of the Port to wait out the squirmish and catch the #83 home, I was informed by a very friendly elderly lady in a blase tone, that of course there would be upset...the game was cancelled. As many of you already have heard, it was the Parisians who had the nerve to get the flu and cancel the match*note of sarcasm. Noticing that most of the rioters were dressed in black, a local OM fan in my building informed me that it was hooliganism since all the participants were organized...and color-coordinated. Those involved have been put back on train to Paris by the police this evening. I am sure the plot will thicken by tomorrow morning when someone will have to clean up the mess. For more news visit La Provence