We took the hour and twenty minute train from Nimes to Marseille on August 15th. I was surprised by the size of the city. I didn't realize it was such a big place. After getting over this initial shock we made our way to the very large Marseille HI Hostel. From there we took a short walk down to the beach.
We hung out at the beach for the rest of the afternoon. We took a swim and made plans to go to Les Calanques which was our main reason for coming to Marseille.
These beautiful steep-walled inlets surrounded by limestone cliffs are found along this area of the Mediterranean coast.
We were told at the hostel reception that going to the Calanques depended on the weather conditions from day to day. At 6 pm each day they get the report on the accessibility for the next day.
Access is classed according to three levels of risk: Orange: access for hiking is authorised for all day . Red: access is limited between 6 am to 11 am, along a 200 m coastal strip
Black: hiking is prohibited all day. Apparently this system has been put in place for safety and sustainable tourism reasons.
Anyway the colour coded report came back orange so therefore we were cleared to go.
The next morning we got up early, had our hostel breakfast and headed out to try to make our way to Calanque de Sormiou.
After two city buses, the second one took us to the last stop. From there we followed the road, which was about a 45-minute walk to the entrance of Parc National des Calanques.
This is where the real fun started. We were out of the city. A break from crowded cathedrals, museums and castles. It was just us, fresh air and incredible scenery.
At first the hike was fairly straightforward and also fairly up hill. When we finally reached the top the view was spectacular.
From there we started the 4.6 km trial along what is basically a cliff and eventually down to Sormiou which is considered one of the most beautiful Calanques near Marseilles. The trails were quite rocky and not always the easiest to negotiate. There were a couple of times when we started to wonder if we were lost or maybe had bitten off a little more than we could physically chew.
The altitude combined with the heat, wind and dry conditions gave us a challenge that took us pretty much to the limit of our middle aged capabilities. Luckily we had lots of time, good shoes, sun cream and plenty of water.
Eventually we made our way down, at times quite awkwardly to the brilliant-turquoise Mediterranean water. There we once again joined up with other people many of whom had made their way by boat.
There we were rewarded with lunch on the beach and cooled off by taking the most glorious refreshing swim you could ever imagine.
After a nap in the sand it was time to make our way back to the city.
Without a doubt it was a very long day, a day of spectacular trails and incredible views. It was a day we pushed ourselves both figuratively and literally to the edge. It was a day we will both remember as one where we lived life to the fullest.
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