A Taste of Provence and a Quiet Evening at Sea

3 days ago

3 min read

Marseille harbor title graphic dated 30 October 2026. — Marseille, France — my port of call on 30 October 2026, with an excursion to Aix-en-Provence.

30 October 2026 — Marseille, France

Excursion to Aix-en-Provence

I woke up at 6:30 this morning after an excellent night’s sleep, ready for a day ashore in France.

By 7:00, I was enjoying my Pinnacle breakfast. It’s always a great way to start the morning: sitting at a table by myself, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and taking my time. A quiet breakfast before an excursion gives me a chance to sit back and relax before the day gets moving.

At 8:00, it was time for “Taste Flavors of Provence in Aix,” my excursion from the port of Marseille to Aix-en-Provence. The outing was scheduled to run until 3:30 in the afternoon.

Tree-lined street with pedestrians and apartment balconies. — A street scene from my day ashore.

The excursion was designed around the food of Provence, with a guided walk among local shops and markets, followed by free time to explore. The advertised tastings ranged from sweet treats to regional savory foods—a chance to get acquainted with the area through its flavors as well as its streets.

There was plenty to photograph along the way, too. My photographs record narrow streets, fountains, architectural details, and a few smaller subjects that caught my attention.

Narrow street leading toward a church tower. — A church tower rises beyond the street, framed by autumn leaves and stone buildings.

Stone fountain in a narrow street. — A fountain in the foreground, with the street stretching away between the buildings.

Sculpted stone figure over a fountain against a yellow building. — A sculpted figure and fountain added another detail to photograph during the walk.

Building façade with shutters, a clock, and a figure. — Looking above street level: shutters, a clock, and details that are easy to walk past.

Not every photograph needed to be of a grand building. A colorful postcard display and a cat sitting beside a flowerpot also found their way into the day’s collection.

Rack of colorful illustrated postcards. — A playful postcard display offered a change of pace from the architecture.

Tabby cat beside a white pot. — One of the smaller subjects I photographed along the way.

The food was part of the excursion’s focus, and I photographed a tasting arrangement of bread and sliced cured meat on a wooden counter. It’s a simple image, but it helps tell the story of a day built around exploring Provence’s flavors.

Bread pieces and sliced cured meat on a wooden counter. — Bread and sliced cured meat laid out for tasting.

Wooden sign reading La Cave du Cours Mirabeau and Wine Shop Underground. — The sign for La Cave du Cours Mirabeau points the way to an underground wine shop.

Cured meat slices on a wooden board beside plates of topped bread. — A board of sliced cured meats alongside bread topped with cheese and an orange-colored spread.

My photographs also captured an outdoor café beneath red awnings, with people gathered at tables along the street. I took a quick self-portrait with the café scene behind me—a personal record alongside the photographs of the places I visited.

Outdoor café with red awnings and seated patrons. — An outdoor café scene during my time ashore.

Charly’s menu featuring an illustrated primate wearing a hat and holding a beer mug. — Charly’s colorful menu cover adds a little humor to the café scene.

Woman wearing a straw hat and dark jacket seated at an outdoor café. — Patty, A smiling café companion, with leafy trees and yellow façades behind her.

Pale iced drink with lemon and striped straw in a branded stemmed glass. — A close-up from the café table: an iced citrus drink in an Aperol Spritz-branded glass.

Joe taking a self-portrait outside a café. — A quick self-portrait to put myself in the day’s collection.

These moments—the food, the café scenes, and the small discoveries along the way—added to my sense of adventure today.

Back aboard, I rested in my cabin from 4:00 until 6:00. After a day ashore, a nap fit nicely into the schedule.

At 6:00, I went to the Vitality Spa for my bamboo treatment. It was time to move from exploring ashore to a quieter evening aboard.

At 8:00, I met Patty for dinner at Izumi, the ship’s Japanese specialty restaurant. I wanted something simple, something light, nothing too heavy.

It was good to see her. We hadn’t had a chance to chat in the last two days, so we caught up on our daily adventures. Patty had experienced several misadventures of her own that day, but overall, things had worked out. We had plenty to talk about.

Eight diners gathered around tables at Izumi, with red glasses and colorful chairs. — A group photograph at Izumi, with smiles around the table and the restaurant’s colorful chairs and red glassware.

Three diners seated at an Izumi table with menus, white dishes, and red glasses. — A closer look along the dinner table at Izumi as menus and place settings get some attention.

Close-up of the red-and-white Izumi menu listing small plates, signature rolls, and bowls. — The Izumi menu: plenty of choices, even when the plan is something simple and light.

Around 10:30 that evening, I went up to the upper deck and took my time looking at the moon and stars. I sat quietly, looking out and reflecting on how fortunate I am to be traveling and having these experiences.

For the next day, my plan was simple: stay aboard and relax.

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