One shot, two ways: Cassis, France

Cliffs of Cassis, by Penne Cole

Cliffs of Cassis, by Penne Cole

Journey so far

Route: Fontainebleau > Pamplona > Gavarnie > Avignon > Arles > Aix-en-Provence

Number of kilometers: 2,000

Highlight of the trip: Accidentally running with the bulls

Biggest disappointment: Coming all this way and not seeing the sea

Solution: Cassis, France

Known for its fabulous limestone cliffs, Cassis is just a half hour drive from Aix-en-Provence where we were spending the night. When you’ve driven 2,000 kilometers in six days, what’s another 50?

Driving into town, we are immediately rewarded with views of cliffs so tall that the tops are shrouded in clouds. It takes us a while to find parking. It is evening on a hot summer’s weekend, and the place is packed. When we do, however, we are lucky enough to be steps away from a beautiful bay. The rocky beach is dotted with sunbathers and the locals seem to think that the water is warm enough for a swim even though my toes shrivel on impact.

Rocky beach in Cassis, by Penne Cole

Wandering farther into town, we discover a huge marina, packed cheek by jowl with boats of all shapes and sizes. With the limestone cliffs in the background, the view is magnificent.

Boat parking, by Penne Cole

A little farther on, the main beach opens up before us, and this time, there’s not a spare inch to be found. The waterfront is clearly where the action is. A short wander through town reveals hauntingly empty streets.

Main beach in Cassis, by Penne Cole

The empty streets of Cassis, by Penne Cole

We think of lingering to catch the sunset, but with night fall only expected around 9.30 p.m. and another city still to explore, we move on with some reluctance.

This post was inspired by the Weekly Photo Challenge: One Shot, Two Ways.