Getting my history on

So because of the strike, not only are the streets littered with garbage, stench, and disease-ridden creatures, but most schools are also closed. No really, the students are on strike too: I went to my middle school for the first time yesterday and the middle school students were setting dumpsters on fire. and the dumpsters are pretty big right now considering they're overflowing. My high school has been shut down for the moment because students blocked the entrance yesterday throwing eggs and firecrackers at anyone who came near. SO: instead of going to work, I have been enriching my knowledge of my new city.

What used to be a Greek port, Massalia (now Marseille) is home to a number of great archaeological finds. which I just found out today at the Natural History Museum and the Marseille History Museum (which is conveniently located in the mall, just under the Galeries Lafayette). And get this: I was walking around the Palais Longchamp park today and just paid the 1 euro to get into the Natural History Museum and out of the cold, not expecting to see anything but stuffed dead animals and fossils of mammoth teeth, when I stumbled upon the Venus of Brassempouy! That probably doesn't mean anything to most of you, but if anyone took prehistoric art history with Marie Watkins, you will know that that little 3 and a half centimeter sculpture is a big deal. She belongs to a museum in Paris, but is put on display other places and I got to see her today!

Now my next great find today was at the Marseille History Museum: the best preserved hull of a 6th century ship in the world. Yeah I thought it was pretty cool. They freeze dried the wood and they only keep it under blacklight in a sealed off room with 3 tinted windows because it's so fragile. Then after I was tired of trying to squint to see the boat, I explored these roman ruins outside in the Jardin des Vestiges (also just outside the mall). Except there were a lot of really shabby, mean-looking cats stalking around so I didn't want to stay long.

OH--one more fun fact: the very first cafe ever in France was opened in Marseille in 1680-something. I guess that makes sense, since Marseille is the oldest city in France.

PS this photo is actually a fake pirate ship in the Vieux Port that has a restaurant inside it