It’s been a few days of being back in France now. I’ve missed the place! I’ve been deciding whether to restart the holiday blog from our last visit over here. It seems I will. I guess it’s good to look back on these adventures. The flight out was long and tiring. Three and a half hours to Melbourne, nine hours to Hong Kong and finally the twelve hours to Paris.
On the plane to Paris.
Belinda sleeping on the plane.
We had two, one hour stop overs between each leg. Arriving in Paris in the late evening we went for a wander into the city. The Paris Plage Festival was underway along the Seine and we mingled with thousands of locals who were drinking wine and picnicking along the riverside. This was interspersed with bands playing local music.
Vege shopping in Bastille.
More veges and fruit.
The following day Donna and Belinda headed to the local vege and fruit market while I hit the Metro underground railway. I visited the Arc de Triumphe, the Champs de Elysee and a few galleries. Donna and Belinda joined me after lunch and we continued on our touristy activities.
Cafe time in Paris.
It was then time to leave Paris and meet up with Justin in Marseille. Through good planning, we were staying just a few hundred metres from the Gare du Lyon train station, where the TGV trains leave from. The station was very crowded because it is holiday time in France. We finally boarded and suddenly we were rocketing out of the city. The drive by car would take over twelve hours, but on the TGV it takes only three traveling at 320km/h. We sat with a lovely retired school teacher who once taught English to her French students. She said it had been a long time since she had spoken English and we enjoyed entertaining conversation along the way. Justin greeted us at the train station in Marseille and we walked the few hundred metres to his accommodation on the top floor of an old housing block in the heart of the city.
View from Justin’s apartment at night. The Bascilica in the background.
Apartment view at night.
French Rose wine time.
Justin’s room is amazing! Very bohemian and full of character. He has a balcony apartment overlooking the rooftops and the bustling streets below. In the distance the local basilica, Notre Dame De la Garde can be seen on the hill.
Calanque de Sormiou.
We have spent the last few days down on the beach with temperatures over 32 degrees every day. Yesterday we took the ferry to a small island just off-shore from Marseille port. It was beautiful. We swam, then ate lunch, then swam some more! At 4pm we returned home.
On the boat to the Iles for the day.
Last night we visited a friendly wine cave and ate tasty food. It’s now day five of the adventure and it’s been perfect so far. We read of snow storms in NZ and are very upset at missing that freezing weather (sarcasm). I’ll start blogging regularly now that I’ve got going.
Swimming in 32 degrees.
Out for dinner in Marseilles.
Strawberry patisserie and Coke for breakfast.
Down to the Calanque for a swim.
Tony and Donna in France 
Great you’re doing the blog Tony. Abientot:-)
So jealous. Looks amazing. Really enjoyed the extra photos especially the one of bind on the plane. Priceless. Yes a high here yesterday of 4. So definitely with you in spirit xxx