Giselle
the Goat Goes to Marseille
High on a sunlit cliff overlooking
the blue Mediterranean Sea lived Giselle the Goat—a clever, curly-horned
explorer with hooves made for climbing and a heart full of wanderlust.
Giselle had traveled all over
Europe, but there was one place she kept coming back to again and again…
Marseille, France!
“It’s the perfect mix of mountains,
ocean, and magic!” she’d bleat. “Every time I visit, I find something new!”
One bright morning, as she nibbled
on wild herbs near the port, a cruise ship pulled in. From it stepped two
wide-eyed children—Leo and Lila—ready to explore.
Giselle bounded down the rocky trail
and stopped right in front of them.
“Bonjour, kids! I’m Giselle the
Goat—your Marseille mountain guide!” she said cheerfully.
Lila blinked. “Did that goat just…
talk?”
“She sure did,” Leo said with a
grin. “Let’s go!”
Their adventure began at the Vieux-Port,
the Old Port where fishing boats swayed gently in the water. The air smelled
like salt and sunshine.
“This harbor is over two thousand
years old,” Giselle explained. “It’s where Greek sailors started Marseille!”
A fisherman waved as they walked
past colorful stalls. Buckets overflowed with shiny fish, and the calls of the
market filled the air.
“Marseille’s a city that grew from
the sea,” Giselle said proudly. “Everything starts here—stories, songs, and
even supper!”
Next, Giselle led them through the
winding alleys of Le Panier, the oldest part of town. The walls were
painted with murals and dotted with flower pots.
“People have lived here for
centuries,” she said. “Every stone has a story.”
They paused in a sunlit square where
children played soccer and grandmothers chatted over cups of tea.
“It feels like everyone knows
everyone,” Lila said.
“That’s the spirit of Marseille!”
Giselle bleated. “Warm hearts and open doors.”
Their climb to Notre-Dame de la
Garde took time, but Giselle led the way with nimble hooves.
At the top, the basilica stood tall,
decorated with mosaics and guarded by the giant golden statue of Mary.
“She’s called La Bonne Mère,”
said Giselle softly. “The people here believe she watches over the city, the
sea, and everyone in it.”
The children looked out over
Marseille, where the red roofs stretched like a quilt, and the sea shimmered
like glass.
“It’s beautiful,” Leo whispered.
After their climb, Giselle treated
them to a snack.
“Try this!” she said, handing them
boat-shaped navette cookies, flavored with orange blossom.
“Mmm!” said Lila. “Delicious!”
They also sampled bouillabaisse,
a fish stew that tickled their noses with garlic, herbs, and lemon.
“It’s a little weird,” Leo admitted,
“but really good!”
Next stop: the Château d’If,
a fortress on an island.
“This place was once a prison,”
Giselle explained. “And it inspired the book The Count of Monte Cristo.
Pretty spooky, huh?”
Inside, the kids wandered past stone
walls and dark hallways, imagining tales of hidden treasure and daring escapes.
As they sailed back to the mainland,
Giselle pointed toward the rocky Corniche road, curving beside the sea.
“Let’s take the scenic way,” she
said.
They walked along the coastline,
watching waves crash and artists paint by the sea.
“Even goats love a good view,” she
giggled.
Finally, they arrived at the Palais
Longchamp, a grand fountain and museum surrounded by gardens.
“Art, history, and nature—all in one
place,” Giselle said.
They sat by the fountain, dipping
their toes in the cool water and watching pigeons dance nearby.
As the sun began to dip, Giselle led
them back to the port.
“Marseille is more than just
buildings or boats,” she said. “It’s a city that welcomes you in, feeds you
well, and sends you off with stories.”
“I’ll never forget this,” said Lila.
“Me neither,” Leo added.
Giselle smiled and gave them a
gentle nuzzle.
“Come back anytime. I’ll be
here—high on the hills, watching the sea, waiting for new friends.”
And with a flick of her tail,
Giselle the Goat trotted up the trail, leaving a trail of hoof prints and happy
hearts behind.
Poem
to the Story:
Giselle the Goat, with hooves so
light,
Guides you through Marseille's sunny delight.
From markets and ports to castles and stew,
She’ll show you a world both old and new.
With stories and sights that make hearts sing,
She proves adventure is a wonderful thing.
💬 Thoughtful Questions for Kids and Parents:
1.
What part of Marseille would you
most like to explore and why?
2.
How does Giselle the Goat help the
children learn and have fun?
3. What do you think it would feel like to live in a city by the sea?
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