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Martigues as captured by Antoine  Ponchin, to be seen in the ‘Escales Mediterranees’ show

‘Escales Mediterrannées’ at the Musée Regards de Provence has been extended until 28th January – it really is a pleasure to step inside out of the wind and see a feast of sunny views of Venice, Naples, Alger, Dubrovnik, and closer to home, Cassis, Agay, Martigues, Saint-Tropez and Marseille itself.  Blue sea, palm trees, boats, fruit-sellers, mosques and souks animate these beautiful paintings.

http://www.museeregardsdeprovence.com/exposition/escales-mediterraneennes

The upstairs gallery is dedicated to the work of André Maire, a committed traveller from Marseille.  He produced sepia sketches from countries such as India, Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as much larger and more colourful works which combine elements of each country into a composition.  So you get not so much a view of Cambodia, as a composite of Asian vegetation, an elephant, a Buddha, perhaps a local girl.  Til 27th May. More here: http://www.museeregardsdeprovence.com/exposition/voyages-dandre-maire

This upstairs gallery is a lovely sunny space and it is always a pleasure to watch the boats across the road – yesterday two were setting off to Corsica and Algeria. Of course there is a roof-top restaurant and terrace café with similar views – and there’s a good shop downstairs with all manner of temptation.