Jul 29, 2011 - Wednesday 27th July - Marseilles

Wednesday 27th WOW, it will be a month tomorrow that we have been away! It’s gone so fast!! Got up reasonably early (8am) and headed down for breaky. We are off to Marseille today via train and need to work out where the train station is etc. We ended up walking to the train station which was about 20-30 mins away but it was good cos it was through an area we hadn’t seen yet. Got on the train and it was a first come first seated basis but we were one of the first on so were fine in our own little booth. I spent the whole time catching up on...

Jul 5, 2011 - Marseille (Day 3)

Up early today and caught the first 'hop on hop off' bus, jumped off at stop 4 and walked all the way along the coast line along the longest park bench (a shaped concrete seat) with many joggers as well, enjoyed the sparkling water lapping the rocks, people sailing, kayaking, swimming and sunning themselves on the rocks. At the beach areas there were volley ball games and table tennis as well as many families having fun in the sun. We then jumped back on the bus and enjoyed the narrow roads on the double Decker bus just missing house walls...

Jul 4, 2011 - Marseille (Day 2)

Awoke to roadworks outside our window and on inspection the police were involved with several tow trucks removing cars illegally parked over the road work area!! Yeh well its normal as we have discovered in Europe that locals park where ever. Chat with Kenan on skype, great to catchup! Good luck Emma off on your own European trip, have fab time see you in London!! Enjoyed a great 3 hour boat cruise out to the many 'Calanques' around Marseille coastline. Beautiful scenery and amazing history (thankfully cruise operator had an English...

Jul 3, 2011 - Marseille

Arrived in Marseille today and drove through 'old town' to our city apartment. People everywhere a very busy place with traders all along the roads, cars and people all over the place obviously the place to be but we were keen to find our apartment and organise a park for the car. We eventually after finding the correct underground parking and checking in enjoyed a walk to the Vieux Port (only 5 mins) wow what a sight! An amazing place with the city and port so close, you can touch the water and thousands of boats, yes I'm not exaggerating...

May 18, 2011 - Princess Grace of Monaco

May 18: Started the day getting our train tickets to Monaco, found a really cool guy to stay with on CouchSurfing and decided it was fate that we spend a bit of time there, not to mention my burning desire to visit the late home of Grace Kelly. Once all that business was sorted we set out to the beach, Maria was a little concerned at our lack of towels and other somewhat neccessary beach equipment, but I tried to tell her we'd make due, and so using our shirts, bags and soft white sand we laid out all afternoon soaking up the sun. Grabbed a...

May 17, 2011 - South of France, why don't mind if I do!

May 17: Ok so I seriously need to do something about this pack, I nearly wanted to cry on the way back to the train station today it was so heavy. Sending some unneccesary shit back to England asap! The French trains are really posh, nothing against the Spanish in terms of transportation, but this is some serious Grade A stuff they got going on here! Will arrive mid afternoon in Marseilles, spending only a night and all day tomorrow. Haven't fully decided on stopping in Monaco, may just take the night train straight to Milan. Met Maria...