Hotel Belle-Vue Marseille

It is here, in the train station of Limoux, that I feel I can breathe again. I'm ready for the next leg of the journey. I'm done with WWOOFing for the time being, and it's time to cover some miles. Somewhere in all those layers of Tabby's house is a pair of old rubber boots with holes in the heels. I won't be needing those anymore. So its with a lighter pack, and a slightly heavier wallet, that I have my sights set on Italy.

My plan seems straightforward enough. I ...

... my first History assessment. Unfortunately they get harder as you go along. Especially as 19th Century France was quite manic! Revolutions, revolts, riots, Republic to Empire to Republic, wars, expeditions, misery and huge economic developments! All very interesting of course, keeps me on my toes. European Studies is still a bit all over the place, and a bit boring as we’re covering subjects we’ve covered many, many a’ time before, but hopefully that ...

... and instead went out to a great classic Provencal dinner, and got some good wine. But then, we started to see a couple kids in costumes, or rather just kids in sheets. I think one of them had a mask. But on our way back from dinner, we found the bar scene. Mostly it was just people out on a normal Saturday night, but we had to at least go check it out. We were somewhat impressed with the Halloween scene, and probably could ...

... The woman talked about the large mountains we would encounter and how the weather was supposed to be bad for the next week.

When discussing our trip, she said it was ‘beau’. Asked if we had a map - no, transaltion book - no, telephone - no. I said ‘je suis fou?’. But she confirmed, no ‘beau’, but offered us a place to stay at their home. As she started ...

... present was some cereal and kidney beans from Amy...we're waiting to experience her famous chilli con carne (hint hint). However, the French don't really 'do' birthday cakes in the same way that we do, so, instead of spending 15€ on an admitttedly beautiful patisserie cake, we've been sticking candles in madeleines and such like, so not all of our birthday traditions are lost!

As well as some of this quite blatant indulgement, we've also been immersing ...

... stained glass and is very impressive. After snapping some more pics time to head home and relax before dinner.

We head down to the port for dinner and you can totally see some of the African flair in the cuisine. We actually find a little Lebanese place and pig out, well I pigged out. Rest of the night is pretty quiet. Long walk home and relax to get ready for a couple more one night stopovers before we get some done time.

... he delivery charge. This is the moment I get FRANCED although I do not find out until much later. I leave with my new toy and have a few hours to kill at the Youth Hostel so I can play with my toy some more. Matt comes back he missed me at breakfast and we play with my toy. He is so going to get himself one so he can do his book. I give him a few more travel tips of things I have perfected on the way. He finds out he has got the job which is great ...

... go there to study their feeding and mating habits, if they still have any. Marseille just has winos, good old fashioned bums begging coins for booze. I don't know where they sleep, probably on the street. The cheapest hotels close their doors at ten, eleven or midnight latest. That'll keep the riffraff out. This is a part of Europe scarcely known or acknowledged anymore, the old Europe, mostly southern and eastern ...

Surprise, surprise! We ended up on the inaugural QF1 Qantas Skybed flight to London - what a treat! Best of all, the crew were very excited about the new cabin product, new menus & new uniforms, so there was a buzz in the air. Unfortunately though the actual aeroplane was not in the air until 5 hours after we were scheduled ...