Marseille
& The Frioul Islands -France (2022)
We
flew from Istanbul to Marseille to fulfill part of my WWII Project
Following the locations my Dad described in his WWII Diary aboard the USS Philadelphia |
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Our
hotel was a few minutes walk from the "Old Port" (Vieux
Port) |
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It
was an overcast morning |
The
Cathedral was shrouded in fog |
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Local
people still were enjoying the morning |
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I strolled
the streets briefly but my goal was in a different direction |
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From this port I would board a ferry to the
Frioul Islands In 1944 this Nazi stronghold surrendered to my Dad's ship |
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This
day would not have been possible without the assistance of Bernard
Descales, whose interest & research about WWII Marseille provided a unique local perspective. He volunteered to be my guide as I remembered my Dad's experience |
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The
early weather forcast was beneficial to us since we were able to
easily book tickets for the afternoon ferry This is often difficult on a Sunday when the islands are a popular recreational destination for locals and tourists alike |
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The
sky was clearing and the fog had disappeared |
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As
we sailed out of the harbor Bernard pointed out sites of interest including defensive positions of the city dating back to medieval times |
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The
rectangular building is a museum, a destination for a future visit |
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 Our Destination is in Sight  |
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The
Frioul Archipelago consists of the islands of Ratonneau and Pomegues
connected by a long causeway (Digue Berry) and 2 other tiny islands |
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Bernard
and I were soon joined by 4 of his friends with detailed knowledge
of the historical significance of
the islands The woman is a permanent resident of the island (population 150) Click HERE for photos of our extensive tour as we explored the island |
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Our
Day on the Frioul Islands is over and it's time to board the
ferry back to the city of Marseille |
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A final brief stop at the Historical Museum
of Marseille where Roman ruins, ships and artifacts of the Roman Era are on display This site must wait for another visit to the city. Our cruise ship leaves tomorrow morning to continue our journey |
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The
next day we boarded the MSC Meraviglia
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A
good view of the causeway connecting the 2 main islands |
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