Marseille is an interesting city. The French say, Marseille is in France, but it’s not really French. Some Algerians joke, Marseille’s the 39th Algerian city. So, what exactly is Marseille and how can you get to know it from a local experience? Here are 10 unconventional ways to get you started.
1. Join a demonstration on Saturday.
The Yellow Jacket movement is still going strong even after more than a year. The French are very hot-blooded when it comes to politics. They say the French Revolution is in their blood. The demonstrations in France are one of the most exciting demonstrations I’ve been to. It used to be extremely violent, at the beginning and peak of the yellow jacket movement. It is now considerably gentler. Often, the demonstrations come with music, fire crackers, association marches, a lot of police, occasional tear gas and chase game with police (depends on how aggressive protestors are and how long into the march you are in). However, there is no need to worry as it’s generally safe. Join the start of the march and leave before things heat up. It doesn’t always escalate. It’s quite a sight and also, a great way to start conversations with locals. (The French have a lot to say about politics.) Just ask questions!
2. Crash parties.
So, Marseille works like this. It’s a big city, but also a small village at the same time. It’s very strange but often you meet people who are invited to parties by someone they have just met a couple hours ago. Or, if you stay in Marseille long enough you end up inviting people you’ve had good conversations with to join a party with you. This is arguably the best way to meet locals and to expand your circle. I got to know many people through parties and that opened up doors to many other local events, activities and initiatives in Marseille I never knew about. So, just remember to put on your best smile, be open and ready to mingle.
Refer to subsequent points 3, 4, 5 and 6 on how to get invited to parties.
3. Join language exchange events
This is a great way to meet people who speak English and all other languages. Locals who come to these events are also really open. I used to organise a language exchange event called Kafé Calangues with other volunteers in various NGOs. It happens twice a month, every second and last Wednesday and it’s great fun. You play games, do activities, chit chat and learn different cultures and languages. Most importantly, it’s like a little community and it’s so easy to get invited to other events or even projects once you meet people. I personally invited people I met from Kafé Calangues to parties, hikes, film projects... Also, as it is organised by a group of volunteers from different organisations, you are immediately connected to a network of many different young people who are on their volunteering mission in Marseille. In other words, great fun.
For more information, check out the Kafé Calangues Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/kafecalangues/
4. Join couchsurfing events
The great thing about these is that it's often very international. This means, people speak English. Through such events, you will get to meet international locals, people who have installed themselves in the city, for months or years. It's a gateway to local events, house parties and new international friends!
5. Join associations' apero and opening events
There are many NGOs and arts organisations in Marseille. They often organise Apero in the evening which involve games, activities, drinks and food. When I was working in an NGO, we were always looking for people to join cultural exchange events. Also, galleries and exhibitions often have opening events that attract a lot of people. Mucem hosts openings pretty regularly but also do check out Manifesta which opens this year 2020. It’s a huge European biennial of contemporary art that changes its location every two years.
Check out Facebook events near you to spot them.
6. Sing your heart out at Karaoke night!
Check out 'Sing or Die Karaoke' on Facebook. It's a very local karaoke night with fancy lighting, French oldies and lots of good cheer. It's in a small venue and features old school lyrics display aka lyrics written on large cardboards which are switched at every verse. It's pretty hilarious and the atmosphere is great.
7. Join local action: Cook together!
Now, this is an amazing way to get involved with some meaningful work and to meet locals. I used to volunteer with Food not bombs, we would collect unsold vegetables and fruits from Castellane on Saturday and cook together on Sunday to be distributed on Cours Julien in the afternoon. Food is free for all though people can donate if they wish. It is a pretty heart warming activity as people who come to eat often stay around and chat with us. It becomes like a little community. Food not bombs does this twice a month, check out their Facebook 'Food Not Bombs Marseille’. The volunteers are all very friendly, many of them are taking a break from work and giving back to communities through such initiatives and local action. (Several are also into permaculture, community gardening, Eco-villages etc. If you are interested in alternative living, that’s the place to be!)
8. ArteMigrante: Showcase your talent!
ArteMigrante's soirée is one of the most moving experiences I've had in Marseille. It's basically a massive potluck and open mic performance event for all migrants and immigrants in Marseille. They would start with some warm up games to get everyone to mingle and then there would be a board that goes around in which you can write what you would like to contribute. Music, dance, poetry, anything you would like to perform on stage. It's organised by a couple of friends of mine and one evening we brought some refugee minors to join the event. They were really shy at first and kept to themselves but after my cajoling, they put their names down and damn, their performance was magical. One of them played a traditional drum, one rapped, one danced and bit by bit, everyone stood up and danced along. In the end, the entire space transformed into a brilliant mix of different dance and movement that ebbed along with the music the boys were playing. Everyone in the space became one.
It was such a beautiful night with very open and embracing audience. Also, it's a big mix of people who care about the world. Do check it out and you will definitely be able to make a friend or two from the event.
P.S. They host the event in both French and English so don't worry if you don't speak French!
https://www.instagram.com/artemigrantemarseille/
9. Go hiking
The thing I love about hiking in the South of France is that everyone says bonjour to you when you pass them. Go for a hike in the Calanques, the waters are clear and sparkling, the view is magnificent. Get there and ask for directions. It’s a useful way to break the ice and find yourself some hiking companions.
10. Go to La Friche
La Friche is a major arts hub. As the founder says, it's like a little village in a big city. It features exhibition spaces, theatres, concert halls, skating park, kindergarten, playgrounds, restaurant, market... It is situated near train station Saint Charles and is right beside a poor neighbourhood. La Friche made the arts a lot more accessible to people and also offered many local engagement activities that people can take part in. In summer, they do free movie screenings at the rooftop. One section has a large projection of the film, the other has a play pen for kids and another has a dance floor with live DJ. You can also buy food and drinks at the rooftop though it gets a little pricey. Be sure to go early to get a seat!
To end the list off, I have to say that Marseille has really beautiful sunsets. Sit outside Mucem or go to Prado beach with a cup of hot chocolate.