Day 14: Marseille

Slept in until 10:30. Maruchi and her husband Ianare are gracious hosts. They moved here a year ago from Miami and have adjusted well. Maruchi, from Ecuador, has perfected Ecuadorian-fusion cooking, complete with aperitif and digestif. Ianare's father is French, and he is bilingual and found a job after his second interview. They have a beautiful apartment in the city.

Maruchi and I went for Indian last night by the harbor. She is much like my friend Veronica -- open-minded and negotiating a world between tradition and possibility. She is a beautiful, strong woman, and it feels great to have such lovely company.

We had a French breakfast then returned to the harbor this morning.



Had lunch at a couscous place. I'm so glad there's diversity in Marseille.



For dessert we went to a Middle-Eastern bakery. Sooo delicious!



Then we hit the Arab market in preparation for a feast tonight. Maruchi discusses olives with the store attendant:



It's the most amazing market I've ever been to. Spices, nuts, dried fruits, fresh produce, soap ...



We even found a gun shop, where I purchased mace. Maruchi served as the translator. I told the store keeper I was biking across France and asked, if I was his daughter, what would he get me? He suggested a hand gun, which I can only imagine carrying in the back on my kit.

I got the mace, couple bottles of wine, and now feasting Ecuadorian-French style. I heart Marseille!