Les Calanques in the South of France

Rue_Estelle_&_les_Calanque___2706

Photos by Chelsea.

The calanques, (a Corsican word for inlet) between Marseilles and Cassis are a hidden treasure that you can access only by boat, or by foot…or by car if you know about it…  Well, Chelsea and her good friend from Marseilles drove there only to find the road closed for summer. They decided to hike to the calanques hoping to find a place
away from the crowd.

Along the way they encouraged each other with the
idea that they would be alone once at the isolated beach. Trust me when I say going by foot is long and dusty, though with views that make it worthy of every aching step.

Encouraging each other they hiked, and hiked and hiked…. and once they arrived they noticed half of Marseilles had driven there before them! How did they get there with their cars was the main subject that haunted them for most of the day.

I asked Chelsea when I saw her photos, "Hey what's up with the purse? Why didn't you take a backpack?"

Chelsea rolled her eyes at me and replied, "Mom, we thought we could drive there. The purse was the least of it, I had flip flops on."

Solitude… No.

Swimming… the best.

Sun and shine…. burnt to a crisp.

Sweet friends… always.

________________

Happy Fourth of July!

Note:

The music on yesterday's slideshow:

Artist: Charles Trenet

Song: Douce France

A video with Charles Trenet singing "Douce France" with subtitles can be found by clicking here.




Comments

20 responses to “Les Calanques in the South of France”

  1. Gail Sullivan

    Beautiful photos.
    xoxo

  2. ~~ a hidden treasure ~~
    shared
    is
    Sweet Perfection.
    🙂
    at what age does
    Inconvenience stop us
    from going
    from doing
    from enjoying
    why….
    NEVER!
    i do hope.

    {{ fortunate You
    to have this daughter }}

  3. Linda C.

    Just loved the music from the “Doux Provence” post Corey, could you tell us who it is and if it is on a CD. How could anyone stay grumpy after humming along to that for a while?
    How techno clever are you now, giving us that that great slide show on top of everything else you do!

  4. But no photos of the beach!!

  5. So lovely to awaken to on this, our 4th of July! Magnificent photos and journey. Did Chelsea and friend have to hike all the way back after a day of sunning in such a lovely spot?

  6. littlebadwolf

    being a cultural illiterate in more languages than just english, i must add my request to cheryl’s that you tell us about the score you’ve added to this post.
    loved it!
    merci, bien.

  7. I listen to French Cafe every morning and I starts my day with a skip and a smile. Happy 4th to you as well Corey. And Chelsea and Friend. Beautiful photos.

  8. Your daughter looks like she’s following in her mum’s footsteps.

  9. Happy 4th July to you and your family and all american readers out there!

  10. Do you think Chelsea would buy the cliché that it’s the journey more than the destination?

  11. P.S. Farmboy Husband picked the first apricots of the season from our trees yesterday. It was like being back in California for a few minutes while we ate them!

  12. Beautiful day..and oil slick free! Nice!

  13. I love Chelsea’s pictures! My 21 year old is at Virginia Beach with her BFF this weekend. Virginia Beach The Calanques. Virginia Beach The Calanques. Sounds like the difference between the Red Roof Inn and the Four Seasons!! lo
    Dana in Arlington, VA
    Oh and my daughter would also be carrying her big purse just like Chelsea!

  14. And the water looks so inviting.

  15. Looks like your daughter is going to be a documenter of events, as her Mother. How wonderful the pictures are and how nice she has followed in your foot steps.

  16. Jean(ne) Pierre in MN

    Beautiful photos and music (Charles Trenet)-a great way to start the day. We walked down once with our 10 & 12yr olds (1982) and found many nude Scandinavians enjoying the calanque. It was an eye-opener for our kids on their first trip to France! The water was great.

  17. I am in love with Chelsea’s handbag! Is it a Gerard Darel? (My forever obsession, holding a permanent spot on my wish list!)

  18. Corey, how does your Franco-American family celebrate Independence Day in Provence? Bear in mind that it was the French who gave us the Statue of Liberty! And how does your family celebrate 4th of July in Willows?

  19. Gorgeous photos! Evidently, your daughter has the same gift for photography as you do, Corey. And what a beautiful setting!!! Is it possible to take a bad photograph in the South of France? C’est impossible?!
    Happy 4th of July, Corey!

  20. It seems as though your life has come full circle with both children going to Northern California.
    Maybe it’s time for you to spend more time in Willows with your family.
    ~elaine~

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