aixcentric

Starting with Marseille shops, the opening of Les Docks has been announced: 10th October.  This is the long line of historical docks buildings that are opposite the new Terrasses du Port shopping centre.  It’s taken 30 months to renovate the buildings and also excavate down to form a large atrium (see Photo).  It will have 80 boutiques ( marques chics et tendance) and a covered market.  There will also be 22 companies in the upper floors.

Meanwhile the vaults beneath the Cathedral are springing into life with new shops.  There’s a lovely branch of Fragonard, and a sign there announces the imminent opening of Habitat.

This will all be proving stiff competition for the stores in town, and the existing centres commercials.

But hopefully all the local economy will be boosted by the increase in the number and size of the cruise-ships.  This is the massive Allure of the Seas which we saw in port last week, all 25 hectares of it.  It carries 8565 passengers and crew…lots of potential punters for the new La Joliette development!

An update on Night Markets.  Thanks to Caren for letting me have the times for those in La Ciotat – they are daily from now until 30th August – 20:00hrs each evening.

And the final update on Electric Bikes from the Cassis Office du Tourisme: