Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Mystery in Marseilles and Provence

It's THE year for Marseilles which has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture. New and expanded museums, a spiffed up 'panier' the old town, and large doses of Provençal culture.
What is so cool - and there are many things ranking this year high in cooldom - is that there's a literary mystery component. The newspaper Le Marseilleise has commissioned and is hosting eleven writers and a photographer to explore Les Mysteres à la Capitale. Which means that every Friday for a year each author is publishing a short story in the paper (they each get a month). These local writers of the region highlight the 'other' Marseilles and Provence - not the
 St Tropez of yachts,  or expat vision engendered by Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence. The real essence of the region will explore mysteries "made into literature” as the program announces.
The short stories will be compiled into a book highlighting Marseilles. But get this - during the year the authors are giving readings in venues such as old convents, fruit orchards, on the streets in old Marseilles and here in the calanques - those rocky clear water inlets. I've only swam down there, but can you imagine doing a reading in this venue?
.
All I can say is

 And sign me up!

So inspired I called my friend Laurence who lives in la Roquefort la Bedoule - no it's the cheese but a small village near Cassis who gave me her delicieuse recipe again for tomates à la Provençal. Mine came out like this.
Not too bad but they would taste better by a calanque
Cara - Tuesday

4 comments:

  1. Sounds like an exciting year, Cara! Sign me up for the reading (or anything else :-) in the calanques! Beautiful!!!

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  2. And I expect that in those idyllic surroundings folks will find more than enough time to wine, wine, wine.

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  3. et voilà Jeff, I'd go with anything from nearby Bandol. Everett we can snorkel to the reading, ok?

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  4. what a remarkable idea, and how I envy you guys those venues. Recipe for tomatoes Provencal or is that too cozy for MIE?

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