Approaching the Port of Marseilles
The BDI improved its position with 51 plus points, now standing at 1,333; Geopolitics still the same in all fronts and AllAboutShipping’s second day crossing into Europe is more than a success, coupled with good weather and luck. John Faraclas and Anny Zade report with live coverage too:
The Capers’ BCI 2014 with a triple, that is to say 145 points, now reading 2,765 figure high up, but knowing its volatile …character I wouldn’t be excited…
The Panamaxes too with further gains saw the BPI up 53 at 1,306 – surpassing the 1,300 points threshold. Our favourite size at least maintains a good position…
Supras’ BSI fell two points – now at 893…
Handies’ BHSI gained five points – now standing at 835…
The Wets continue to fall; the last published BDTI (Dirties) and BCTI (Cleans) lost five and three points now at 799 and 803 respectively… Tough but there you are… patience is a virtue here…
The WTI gained ¾ of a dollar now standing at US$ 48,38…
As said above and yesterday, nothing changed much in Geopolitics being pretty much the same in all fronts.
One of the exceptional Raynaud’s makes…
Our second day of …expedition had an earlier start than anticipated given the minimal time available to visit Raynauds porcelains – but it was well “executed” as Lady Luck …offered us a down town parking, a few yards off Raynaud’s magnificent and historic porcelain show-room… Being the first customers of the day delighted M. Raynaud and his team; interesting porcelain objects in honour of craftsmanship and tradition including maritime ones! A recommended place for all porcelain enthusiasts and collectors too.
Off now to the highway for our …pilgrimage to Montpellier which is well known for its famous University with its unique Medical faculty; a city interwoven with the Greek War of Independence of 1821 given that one of its leaders Adamantios Korais was based there following his medical studies.
A Greek humanist scholar, Korais was credited with laying the foundations of Modern Greek literature and a major figure in the Greek Enlightenment. His activities paved the way for the Greek War of Independence and the emergence of a purified form of the Greek language, known as Katharevousa. Encyclopædia Britannica asserts that “his influence on the modern Greek language and culture has been compared to that of Dante on Italian and Martin Luther on German”…
The Discobolus
Our visit in Place Antigone and the statue in his honour coincided more or less with the 196th anniversary since the uprising of the Hellenes against the Ottoman yoke on the 25th of March 1821! From the picture and video by Anny Zade you can observe why and the reasons of our visit to honour a Chiot, a Greek, a true European in the entire sense; given what today takes place in the entire Middle East and the Turkish aggression in the region, first and foremost against Greece in the Aegean and the Greek Islands by sending over Migrants and the claims against Greece and its territory, a sovereign state, a member of the EU and NATO!
It was also a rare opportunity to address a message / reply to Turkey’s current president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who …flirts with the Greek Aegean Islands and wishes to change the status quo in the Aegean Sea rejecting all international treaties which his country is a signatory!
We were well advised and informed by Constantin Kastoris of Sciofest on Korais and at Place Antigone were there are other interesting Greek statues in its periphery close at the shopping mall… testifying for the unended Greek story…
Montpellier; the Greek classic architecture and ideal is more than evident…
Montepellier like the entire of France – and particular the south of France is very closely interwoven with the Hellenic ideal – see the picture on the left as well as its caption and get the message.
Next door Marseilles, a great ancient Greek colony with a substantial number of Greeks and Greek shipping flourishing there for centuries has also influenced French and European business, trade and commerce for many centuries and at a time greatly contributed in the transformation of the region’s civilization. Per the historians and recorders “Pytheas Massiliensis was a Greek geographer and explorer from the Greek colony of Massalia (modern-day Marseille). He made a voyage of exploration to northwestern Europe in about 325 BC, but his description of it, widely known in Antiquity, has not survived.
In this voyage he circumnavigated and visited a considerable part of Great Britain. He is the first person on record to describe the Midnight Sun.”
Our visit lasted two full hours and we must admit of the high security measures all over the central of the city – in the parking, the main mall, the streets and pavements; good to see this but on the other hand wonder what’s next following these measures to deter the Terrorists!!
Approaching Marseilles docks…
Marseilles, one of my favourite city-ports for all intents and purposes, one of the most important ports in the world adequately covered over the last six years in AllAboutShipping together with Fos, offered us a unique scenery given our late afternoon arrival. Amazing weather and the best views from the Passenger Terminal Building – Les Terrasses du Port with its super shopping centre and exceptional restaurants. Nothing though can match the views of this port from top balcony veranda-deck as you will see in the video that follows- what a sunset that was:
In an Octopus’ garden…
Le Roy René seafood restaurant was ideally situated there on the …top deck with its super service familiar only to us in the shipping industry, on par with that on board a cruise ship and its cosmopolitan clientele – some who were involved in trade and shipping – overhearing discussions is the norm today and a pleasure as life continues with the same tone 24/7– the sea-breeze too adds a lot to bring same closer…
A…bird’s eye view of the Port of Marseilles whilst at The Terrasses du Port
It was good to expedite the social atmosphere too as we visited a few shops within the Terrasses du Port and verified the situation financially prevailing now in France at such a central place – very few, minimal sales denoting the good time the place enjoys… France is in an election mood given the forthcoming presidential elections…
Pleased too for the extra security measures in place, a round the clock multi security service relaxing visitors from their anxiety, something quite norm these days in France which has been the target of Terrorists in many cities with the known despicable outcome. We felt much secured!
Did I hear you say: Its all Greek to me… The Cassiopee pier
Our trip continued during the early evening hours for Cannes, the famous multi-usage international resort synonymous to holidays, arts, casinos, high life and to the Belle Époque.
Whenever in Cannes I always have in my mind the Posidonion Hotel in Spetses, a part in my and Anny Zade’s life as well as for over a few million people on Planet Ocean who have the chance to visit, stay or just see same as passers-bye, the jewel in the Crown of Greece’s Belle Époque – check the pics and architecture and you will see the resemblance and what I mean!
What a sunset that was…
We were a bit lost going at the wrong direction at the lovely waterfront just after the moonlight… and when stopped outside a closed petrol station to recheck our …GPS’ ability to take us at our hotel, in less than a minute we were surrounded by two policemen on duty patrolling / monitoring the area following nearby Nices’ recent atrocities and in Paris too.
Fast cars for the Police is a great asset today!!!! We were given the all clear and followed their directions in reaching our hotel, Le Gray D’Albion part of the Barrière just before 23:00 hrs BST and midnight …here … hence our late night reporting… Tomorrow is another …full day…
Have a nice evening wherever you are and take care from Pirates and Terrorists!
