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| The day started with a bus tour of parts of Marseille that seldom see a bus! Finally, this man (Lu Lu - that's what he said!) got on the bus and helped us find the basilica of Notre Dame le Guardia |
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| Notre Dame le Guardia sits high above Marseille and dominates the skyline! |
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| Quite a hike up a zillion steps to visit Notre Dame le Guardia |
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| Interesting Stations of the Cross |
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| Pieta |
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| A beautiful crucifix on the church front |
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| This wonderful sculpture evokes great sorrow |
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| Inside Stations of the Cross |
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| Mass was in the Crypt Chapel |
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| Atop an observation parapet, a beautiful view! |
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| A man played Marian hymns just outside the gate |
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| The bus was on the curb and slightly tilted - Bob clowns holding it up |
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| Theresa near the zillionth step |
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| The front has a unique drawbridge entrance |
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| Mass with Fr Mitch |
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| This statue of Mary & Jesus is one of the oldest in the basilica |
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| The upper church is magnificent! |
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| This is the view that greets you as you ascend from the lower (crypt) chapel. Note the reliquarium above |
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| Many "votives" testify to answered prayers to Our Lady by seamen |
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| The ceiling included imagery of ancient things ascribed to Mary - here the Ark |
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| The old harbor (now a yacht basin) from the church. Our hotel is the U shaped red tile roof near the center of the photo |
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| Some of the churches visible from the heights of Notre Dame |
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| Theresa on the drawbridge |
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| Amy, Katie, Emily, and Mary - three generations |
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| Notre Dame sat high above the port in medieval times as depicted in this drawing |
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| Photos of photos depicting restoration work |
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| A very unusual statue of Mary |
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| In the harbor is a group of small islands providing a natural defense for the harbor. The small island nearest is Chateau If, fabled prison of the fictional Mount of Monte Christo - we'll visit later this afternoon |
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| Isaac & Olga - Mother & Son |
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| The back of the bus is all smiles! |
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| Turned loose for lunch, we found this nice little place. Luis, Patricia, Joshua & Annie joined us for lunch |
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| After lunch we board a ferry and headed for Chateau If |
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| Before we cast off, we were entertained by a "living statue" - they come to life when you drop a coin in their container |
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| As we head out of the harbor, this church caught my eye |
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| "Row On Fair Harvard" |
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| The view back from the boat |
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| The Cathedral from the boat |
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| It was a beautiful day for sailing - warm, sunny and breezy! |
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| A few more steps to enter Chateau If |
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| Jeff & Allison in the center courtyard |
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| A cell with a tunnel - and they said the Count of Monte Christo was fiction! Then who dug the tunnel?! |
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| Another cell |
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| Katie "shoots" Amy while Bob shoots them both! |
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| Some of the cells weren't all that bad - they housed high up dignitaries |
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| Katie |
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| The tiny cell of death for condemned prisoners |
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| Annie & Joshua - you can see Notre Dame in the background |
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| Lizards and drawings of lizards are all over the place! |
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| The island near Chateau If are expensive vacation homes & condos |
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| Amy relaxes in the sun |
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| Chateau If |
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| I'm not sure what caught Kathleen & Bill's attention! |
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| Fr Mitch seems reflective |
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| Deirdre sketches |
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| Katie has unbounded energy! She runs everywhere! Ah, to be young again! |
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| Jeff, the "Sniper de Chateau If" |
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| On the boat back to Marseille |
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| Chateau If |
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| Mary & Amy - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! |
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| After the cruise, we had a few hours on our own. We went looking for a grocery and happened on the beautiful Marseille Chamber of Commerce building |
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| And this statue on a large pedestrian area with many sidewalk restaurants |
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| "Our"fouled anchor |
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| More statues |
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| The restaurant where we dined had seating outside near a fountain - it was a spectacular setting |
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| Olivier, our host, was part host. part waiter, part entertainer |
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| We enjoyed the company of Ann & Mike, Deidre & Judy |
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| Our driver "Willie" is the only one not "hamming it up!" |
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| Olivier, Veronique, and Bob all the same height? - except the Bob is standing on the ground, Olivier on a 6" step and Veronique is on a chair! |
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