Hotel Ile Rousse Bandol

... its agonizing end, and I hop off, ready to explore.

The first order of business is to locate my bus connection to Torino. Looks like I can add another entry in my file "life lessons I've learned while traveling". As it turns out the bus station is closed, and I was supposed to reserve my ticket yesterday. Well, I've also learned that one of my strengths as a traveler is my ability to handle sleep deprivation, so I book a train ticket for 5am tomorrow, and set out ...

... Argh! I tried to get him to go up into the town and explore, but I couldn’t drag him further than a few blocks - worry that we needed to be back in time…?!?!

Finally around 4, they opened the gate so we could drive in. Only to find the ticket office didn’t open until 6pm. While waiting, we talked with a lovely Frenchcouple who were completely unperturbed at our lack of language ...

NO MARSEILLE for us!!! The captain went by when we had 21 foot waves and winds of 50 gusting to 65. It was sunny but not good enough to dock in Marseille, so on to Barcelona we go. In spite of it, we had a great relaxing day and i had a 3 hour nap this afternoon. Naps are totally not my thing but apparently i was exhausted from our whirlwind schedule. Anyway, nothing exciting. We have seen numerous people in arm slings and just ran into a woman in a ...

... believe our luck. It was so nice. Still, warm and crystal clear water on sandy beaches. We had a quick swim but knew we had to leave to get to Avignon on time. We then decided that if we found a campsite that was open we would stay. The first 2 we came to were closed and we were sad...but around at st clair beach one was open! Woo hoo!!!! 2 very happy girls. That night we played in the sand like kids ...

... s how. From there I simply validate my account and I’m part of a network which allows me free access from many different parts of France. But I don’t understand; I still need a router and signal coming from this hotel. Why do I even need this network? And where’s my little blue ball down there? I ask too many questions. Sometimes it’s better just to take what’s given and be grateful. That ...

... where the man needs two women to scrub him down, rinse him off, then… hmmm, it’s starting to sound better. Every time I think of a bidet, I think of Henry Miller’s Tropic.

My hotel apparently even has a language test, which I barely passed. First she tells me she has no room, and then changes her mind when I inquire about the next day. The only problem is Internet. WiFi is not standard in anything less than $100/night and no ...

... simply because you are foreign, do not tolerate it. Take your arm, extend it, and push him back behind you or off to the side. If he attempts to break the line again (and he will), repeat as necessary along with loud English. Eventually he will see you are not a pushover tourist.

(2) If you approach a service desk and the clerk ignores you, wait about 60 seconds. He or she might be busy (highly doubtful but possible). If ...

... tourism industry. Arrival Information Docking in Marseilles Cruise ships dock at the Port of Marseille. The airport is only twenty minutes away, and there is road access to the rest of the city. Local Transportation in Marseille Metro subway lines run underneath Marseille, providing an easy way to get around the city. Buses also do a fairly good job of getting you around. However, taxis are relatively inexpensive, and most of your ...

... s forever. If you are really lucky, and you can find a rose from Bandol, then you have heaven in a bottle.*** We decide to take the scenic route back to Cassis and pass through St. Cyr Ser Mer. A definite beach town that I can see would be packed in the summer. (by the way its 75 degrees here and absolutely georgeous here) We sit on the pier and just relax a while. Heading back to Cassis, we discover this road that goes to ...

... been crazy lately. I finish my photography training at Speos on May 20 and then we move to NYC on June 5. I can't believe it's so close...I feel like my time in Paris has been a wonderful experience. I am ready to go to NY and put everything I've learned here to good use. I am finishing my new website this week and will be having another photography exhibition on May 19. I have a couple of things lined up in NY upon arrival. I will be assisting a couple ...