Hotel Best Western Bonneveine Marseille

... I stammer back
"Meguez?! How do you know Merguez?! Where did you first eat Merguez?"
"Canada"
He's shocked to hear that we've heard of Merguez in Canada. "Maybe the Algerian community is making it there" he guesses.

The places is packed, with a fun atmosphere. There's only the one man behind the counter, though once in a while a customer will go back to help themselves to a pop or more ketchup. There's plenty of banter, though most of it I don't ...

... a village called Le Tholonet, not far outside of Aix, one of the villages around the Sainte-Victoire mountain. The landscape was incredible, completely different to what we have on Exmoor of course, and views
were stunning. We walked up to the Barrage (dam) Zola, built by Emile Zola’s (a French writer living in the latter half of the 19th Century) father. The water was a turquoise colour, and it was there that I chose my spot to yodel and sing The Sound of ...

... 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 ...

Over the last months of travel, we’ve met and talked with many people about what we’re doing. As you can imagine, we’re greeted with many responses. Most can’t fathom a trip without end or adgenda. Some say they admire what we’re doing. Setting off onour own, turning our back on convention and creating an adventure. Others think we’re fools. Although the woman who said that ...

... it doesn't matter with the wide range of accents our country has anyway (scowne or scon? It's only scon once you've eaten it...). I'm finding Contemporary French History really interesting, especially as, for once, it's not about the French Revolution. The seminars should really help my written French too, but unfortunately us 'étrangers' stick out like a sore thumb when she calls out the register : Sharrlot Tooowinszend. And I know what you're thinking, a register ...

... yesterday, Saturday, and it is cooler but still nice. The trip here was spectacular with many olive groves and big mountains. Today we went on a tour to Les Beax - another medieval town with a castle - poor Graham and on his birthday too. Then we went winetasting and to the premier olive oil producers in France. The Mistrql was blowing on the tour and it was very cold but warmer back here in the camp. Tomorrow we explore Aix on foot then we go to Avignon.

... them? The what "what ifs"  kept coming as we both tried not to start the blame game. This little snag has pushed Michael's stress level off the chart, but he's playing it cool. After grabbing our bags, we walk towards the exit like a couple of lost children searching for their parents in a crowd of strangers. Is that him? Is that her? Luckily, a smiling woman approaches us and says, "Michel ...

... way back to town I found a crape café. I wasn't leaving France without a crape. It was slipping out of my hands with its contents much like a landslide. Yum! Not far from the pier was another pastry shop. There was a meringue the size of a small football. I bought it with the sales gal reply "just one?" Yes, just one and I ate every morsel. Glad to know people eat more than just one. I feel like I pretty much ate my way through France.

... over to me and said, in English, "French Gay Pride, it does not get better." We watched the half naked men dance on the floats and waited for the parade to finish. We continued walking up the main street and come up to L'Eglise des reformees. Like all of the churches and cathedrals, it was gorgeous. We went into the office of Tourism and found some pamphlets about what there was to do in Marseille. Ginger, Laura, and I ...

... faut dire que depuis quelques jours, on se demande vraiment ce qui se passe avec eux, et peut-être qu'entretemps Sarah a eu des explications, mais pas moi. On repart après que j'aie obtenu quelques réponses fragmentaires mais satisfaisantes (après tout, on s'est inquiétés, et puis le feeling que la gang s'est séparée pour rien, alors que tout le temps des stages nous étions déjà séparés, est frustrant). Aussitôt, Sarah, qui a finalement trouvé un tatoueur ouvert en fin ...