Bella Scipione

I am a few days late in blogging about recent events from the past six days. Life with Jesse is always on the go, and I haven’t had the opportunity to sit down, reflect, and write about our most recent adventures until this Saturday night at 9:30 pm. The stress of not being able to write has been weighing on my mind for the past 24 hours. While I appreciate the energy Jesse brings to our travels, I am extremely grateful for the chance to enjoy my takeout sushi, listen to my favorite Spotify tunes, and relax on the balcony of our Airbnb in Cannes, France. This is me – protecting my peace.

I am overwhelmed with where to begin the recap of the last six days. In this short time frame, Jesse and I have visited eight different cities, both big and small, throughout the South of France. We’ve witnessed nature in its most incredible forms, encountered numerous ancient historical landmarks, and adjusted to being comfortable with just the two of us as travel partners. We’ve shared our energy and space, politely smiling and nodding to all the kind French people who indulge us when we ask, “English?”

Day 2 in Marseille was spent taking a tour of la Grotte Cosquer Méditerranée. Although the original cave is 36 meters deep near Cape Morgiou, the city has created a replica so tourists from around the world can experience what Henri Cosquer discovered in 1985. This prehistoric cave, dating back nearly 30,000 years, features over 480 artworks created by early Homo sapiens through paintings or engravings. These depictions belong to two distinct periods of habitation: the Gravettian (27,000 AD) and the Epigravettian (19,000 AD). It is also the sole decorated cave known to man whose entrance opens beneath the sea. Sadly, rising waters threaten to erase the cave and its artwork, but the city of Marseille has done a great job to ensure its history remains intact.

Seeing these ancient depictions reminded me of humanity’s enduring curiosity, sociability, and creativity. We continue to tell stories and leave our marks – quite literally- on the lives we touch.

In the weeks and months leading up to this trip, my Instagram feed was flooded with reels showcasing must-see places across the South of France. Although I’m always a bit uneasy about how much personal information my phone collects, I can’t deny that I take full advantage of the personalized algorithms, just like everyone else in our smart world. Les Calanques, or the coves, are a prime example of AI working to my advantage. However, I give all credit to Jesse and me for finding the most beautiful calanque, Calanque d’En Vau.

After hiking 8km over 1.5 hours, navigating the steep and slippery rocks, we found ourselves in a scene straight out of a Getty image. Seated on a rock away from the crowd, we absorbed the serenity of the crystal-clear blue waters. Despite our efforts to escape the noise, a group of boisterous Americans disrupted the peace, prompting a lone Frenchman to repeatedly shush and yell at them from afar. When they persisted, he calmly packed up his things and left. I commend him for protecting his peace. And as an American, I apologize for my compatriots’ behavior – I promise we don’t all fit this stereotype.

We returned to the city, packed our things, and set off the next morning for our 4-day road trip. Heading east, we stumbled upon the quant little city of Toulon. Despite its beauty, Toulon wasn’t quite our scene, with its plethora of shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. And while we didn’t do much here, it served as a good place to reset and indulge in carb-filled meals, a refreshing change from our microwave pastas in Marseille. We watched the sunset from the top of the city and mapped out a plan for the next day.

The days after leaving Toulon have been a whirlwind of exploration, spanning four new cities and landmarks, which has inspired me to save the rest of this part of the story for another blog post. Besides, who enjoys a lengthy read anyway? Even I am tired from reflecting on the week’s events. Consider this a check-in for now: we’re alive, well, and thoroughly enjoying the endless discoveries that travel brings. And although spending virtually every hour together isn’t easy, I’m proud of Jesse and myself for striving to preserve our independence and openly communicating our needs. This journey has just begun, and witnessing our friendship evolve and flourish has been incredibly rewarding.