Marseille is neither a drug-choked hell nor a tourist paradise: it’s the city that captures France at its best - Really enjoyed Cole Stangler’s piece about this southern city. It’s got a dark reputation that I’m quite well aware of, but apparently in recent years it’s started to nevertheless become a bit of a hub for creatives, with an influx of artists, chefs, musicians and writers. And it’s multi-cultural and generally has quite a tolerant vibe about the place. His description reminds me of East London, in the early 2000s, like Hackney and Shoreditch. Just the right mix of sunshine and grit. Definitely going to keep an eye out for all things Marseille. www.theguardian.com #