“Marseille is, and always has been, the port of exiles, of Mediterranean exiles, of exiles from our former colonial routes, too.  Here, whoever disembarks in the port is inevitably at home.”
-an extract from Garlic, Mint & Sweet Basil by Jean-Claude Izzo

The old port (above) has been tidied up considerably over the years, but that mix of peoples and cultures is still felt strongly here in this city that most clearly sits between Europe and Africa.  For me, that vibrant mix is one of the reasons I adore this city, and probably one of the reasons I, too, feel at home there.

The author, Jean-Claude Izzo, is a Marseillais and is a son of immigrants himself.  In this book, he captures beautifully the sounds, smells and tastes of this vibrant, heterogenous city.  His love of the city and his tactile way of writing is equally present in his fictional works.

Part of Friday 56.

Copyright Debbie Smyth, 10 April 2015