If you are in Marseille today, lucky you! There is to be a grand opening of the Vieux Port and the new l’Ombriere with lots of music, entertainment, food….I particularly like the sound of the ‘piano sur l’eau’ and the ‘fanfare a roulettes’. I have just read about this in La Provence which posted the story last night at 19:47. No advanced warning that I’ve seen – and I checked the MP2013 site a couple of days ago.
It all sounds great fun – what a shame they don’t communicate these things – or did I miss something?
Here is the article from La Provence: http://www.laprovence.com/article/actualites/2233907/a-marseille-lesplanade-du-vieux-port-attend-son-premier-rendez-vous-cultu
Please email aixcentric@yahoo.co.uk if you see any good upcoming events!
Have a good weekend.
Last week l’ombrière was still under construction with no sign indicating its purpose nor its name. I guess you have to buy La Provence to know what is going on or simply read Aixcentic! Thanks Lynne
We actually checked on the Vieux Port website and there was nothing mentioned! No wonder the hoteliers are fed up with the patchy communication – the event last weekend would have given them a super hook for a customer-promotion.
http://www.designboom.com/architecture/foster-partners-vieux-port-pavilion-marseille/
Here is some info – I think it looks pretty amazing! I love his Millenium bridge in London – what an inspired designer he is.
Hiya Lynne,
Just read this mornings article about the finally completed Inox sun shade at the vieux port. It looks cool. But, last paragraph in La Provence says the sole regrets are the elevated cost of the project and the fact that no benches were installed so one has to bring a folding chair in order to enjoy the spot. For pete’s sake! What are tourists supposed to do then?
Speaking of shade, the plane trees around town have really been cut back, on rues gambetta, victor Hugo, rotonde, etc. Its going to be brutal in August unless those leaf out nicely.
I finished the Last Waltz and am now reading an even more extraordinary book about Austrian (and French) Jews. Much for the art lover here (I think you’d really enjoy this piece of it and the author’s quest to know the history of his family’s roles and residences in Paris, Vienna… like your explorations in aix). also, beautifully written. The hare with the amber eyes, by Edmund de Waal. Anne
No benches? Classic! Actually I was talking to one of the waiters in La Samaritaine and they don’t like it because it is so bare. They were hoping for some trees and vegetation. I’m looking forward to seeing it all finished. We did read ‘The Hare’ in our book group and it was much liked.
They took the construction fences down for the celebration last weekend, so after watching it being built all winter ( it’s under my window) I got to walk under it. This is completely different from walking beside it- it’s surreal. One floats!
A terrific work of art. Will they name the artist, I wonder? (fences are back up as they finish the covering roof.)
I can’t wait to see it! I believe that Norman Foster, the architect responsible for the project, designed the Ombriere too. Some details http://www.designboom.com/architecture/foster-partners-vieux-port-pavilion-marseille/