The tourists will love it

I was in Provence in May. Part of me is still there. Towards the end of our 2 week travels, upon leaving Avignon, our home base for 10 nights, and enroute to Marseilles, we visited Cassis. 

Post-impressionist Paul Signac captured the light of Cassis in five important pointillist paintings. Here's a sample and a list so you can search out the others. As the morning progressed the early cloud lifted and I could begin to see the impression it would have made upon an artist seeking the light. 

Enough art history. Back to our visit. One of the things I love about organized tours is that someone does the organizing.  Cassis is very tiny, parking is very limited, and the road down into the centre is steep and twisty. Our coach stopped above the town and we enjoyed an electric train (no, really) to a spot just above the harbourside promenade.

A few steps further, and we entered the yacht basin. On a hill stood the medieval Chateau de Cassis. An array of awnings promised we would have great difficulty making lunch decisions. A lovely promenade led to a small beach at the far end. And the boules ground! 

We had a bit of a walkabout before the cherished free time, when I am able to process what I see and what I have heard and make it part of me. And part of that is taking some well-considered photographs.

Moving about with my (lovely) group, I am always very aware of being a tourist. Wandering on my own, not so much. 

As I walked along the front, I discovered a perfect Cassis photo. A brightly coloured traditional fishing boat among the pleasure craft, gleaming bright blue in the misty rain. Perfect. Iconic.

But as I was stalking my perfect composition, it hit me. One of my favourite kinds of humour. The self-deprecating type. For of course, this perfect shot was a set-up. Too perfect. Probably a tourism association decision. For the day-trippers.

My tourist self laughed out loud. And took the snap.