Flames and soap! I dare you to give me a better combination!

I see how it is. No one comments when I don't put up pictures. I have bad news for you, unless I can find an internet café in Paris that has computers new enough to have drives for my camera's memory card, you're out of luck. In fact, you'll be lucky if I update in Paris. Oh, take that. Don't worry; you'll get at least one letting you know I'm still alive.

I think it's about time I introduce you to my favorite road sign in the world: The French Construction Sign.

The first time I saw this sign was on the tour bus four years ago as the bus was driving around CDG airport.

Naturally, I had to get another picture of the sign. I also have a picture of the English equivalent. I hope to see some in Poland, too. I guess I'm going to collect pictures of construction signs.

As I said, last night there was a big fire in the center of town. Who wants to see a video?!
Everyone likes a good fire. Yes, that's me saying "OK". It was painfully hot, and my friend was informing me she was moving back.




To go along with the video, I must include a picture of the pre-fire mound of flammable things.

Please note the outfits in the picture. Before the fire, the costumed people danced their way down the Cours Mirabeau. When they arrived at the Rotonde they proceeded to dance for around an hour more before there were some speeches, which I couldn't hear.

After much waiting, there was a great fire. Here you can see the fire behind one of the Rotonde's lions.

Naturally, I had been standing too close to the fire. I think it actually gave me a little bit of a burn. I still like fire anyway.

So today was the day to see how soap is made. It is a simple, but time-consuming process that takes nearly a month for completion.

My host told my friends and me that his family's soap factory is the last such soap factory in existence, where the soap is made the old-fashioned, natural way. He gave us a bunch of free bars of soap. Some smell, some don't. The coconut overpowers everything; and it's all I can smell right now. My favorite is the bottle of olive oil soap that I've been using here. It's fantastic. He was very generous with the free soaps. We probably got 25€ worth each.

This is my favorite machine.

Yes, I have a favorite machine. It was loud and old (like the rest of the machines in the factory). It cut the soap. First, it pushes the block of soap from the back and then from the side through some wires that slice the soap. It makes cubes of soap out of slabs.

After the soap, we were taken to the Palais du Pharo for a lovely veiw of Marseille and the sea. I have some pictures from the outside of the palace, too. However, they are not as impressive as the view.

We then were taken to Notre Dame de la Garde, which rests on the highest point of Marseille. The view was equally fantastic, but pales in comparison to the inside of the basillica.

Ridiculous, isn't it? Ridiculously fantastic.

This is the ceiling above the alter. The rest of the ceiling was a group of domes held up by gilded walls.

It's absolutely fantastic both inside and out. I was not expecting the inside to look like that at all.




Here's the outside. It's all white and grey with a glorious view of Marseille and the sea, naturally. It's also much larger than this picture lets on. I don't think it's possible to photograph the whole structure when on its hill. Anyway, this is the bell tower (there is a DRAWBRIDGE, too!). On the top is a gold statue of Mary holding the baby Jesus. They watch over the harbor and Marseille.

We then drove through the vieille porte section of Marseille (the old port, I put pictures of that up last time...we also didn't stop, so no pictures this time...the ones with all of the boat masts).

As for the rest of the week, I have no idea what I am going to do. Three days.