During a visit to a restaurant at the Vieux-Port in Marseille, we sampled “charter” Bouillabaisse. Bouillabaisse is a seafood soup with pieces of fish and crustaceans. The soup is so special that in 1980, eleven of the top chefs in Marseille created the “Bouillabaisse Charter”. Ginger and Nutmeg’s original blog post: The Real …

They never appreciated a luxury holiday but now my girls (the whirls as I call them – because they are always whirling around) have really started to enjoy a touch of 5 star……..  Ooooh!  they exclaimed as we were shown to our room at the stunning Villa Gallici Hotel in Aix …

A quick hop, skip and a jump down the A8 and the A52 and we are in Cassis. Forty minutes to be exact. An exquisite town too small to cope with the thousands that visit. Mid October and its quieter……. Lovely.  Am I really here?   This is one of the …

Easter is a holiday period in France when children have a school break. It is a chance for families to gather over meals and enjoy some downtime while hiding chocolate treats. Below are some traditions and celebrations surrounding the Easter period in France and beyond. I have written the text …

Deciding to go to Marseille for 24 hours, one night, we landed on November 1st as the best date for our schedule, but it is La Toussaint (All Saints Day), a public holiday (jour férié) and a busy time. However, we were lucky: the place I wanted to stay was …

This article is about the traditions surrounding La Toussaint by a student who participated in a French immersion holiday with Virginie Van Der Wees. The text is written in English, followed by French text. Please keep reading for those interested in improving their French and learning about the holiday traditions …

Not helped by its setting for gangster and crime movies, France’s second-largest city – Marseille – used to have an image problem. However, ask any local; this city is pure magic. Situated on the Mediterranean, Marseille residents can swim at their favourite beach before work and watch the sunset over …

Here is our collection of articles on Marseille in one page covering the city’s highlights. Marseille is a city its residents adore, and visitors need to explore. Why Visit Marseille? Because Marseille is unlike any other city in France or the world, and at 2600+ years old, there is no …

Access to the Calanques National Park is controlled again this summer due to damage to the ecosystem caused by the burgeoning number of visitors and increasing fire risks.  The Calanque de Sugiton, which used to attract up to 2,500 people daily, is limited to 400 entries. Pre-booking one of the …

Few books capture my attention in the first paragraph, but Double Cross: The Second Crucifixion of Solomon Lunel certainly did. At almost 90 years old, Solomon Lunel prepared his Shabbat eve meal of aioli paired with Provençal rosé, evoking memories of his days in Marseille as a younger man. He …