Marseille

[mctorset]

Hi DPK and Dopameen,

Me and my husband were able to visit La Ciotat and Cassis last April yhis year. It was still fairly cool then but the sun as it was spring was starting to get warm. Yes, Cassis is definitely picture perfect!! Cute small area, like you are inside a painting or postcard. Truly wonderful view. Would love to go and visit it again soon...

Have never been to the calanques, even on a boat trip to the small islets near my area...but when I find the time, I will do it.

Am following this thread though to get more ideas for cool places to sightsee soon...

best regards,
Carmz

[DPK]

Hi Dopameen

The Calanques were just incredible, and it was a perfect day to see them.
Lots of people were out in kayaks, and I would love to do that, totally different perspective on them.
I was reading about the walks, and some of them seem pretty hairy, you actually have to be roped together to cover some stretches! I think I will try your suggested walk in the Autumn when it is a little cooler.

Rocquevaire is just above Aubagne. There is nothing here really, it is just a very nice house, which I took as a late deal on a holiday let, and very convenient for exploring the area.

Aubagne is an interesting place, and had a really large market earlier in the week.

Went to see a long term rental last night, just outside Le Ciotat, but did not like the location which was straight off of the busy main road running through to Bandol.

Took the dogs swimming off the rocky area just after Le Ciotat at St Jean, and noticed that some signs were being put about "No swimming - pollution" is that a frequent occurance?

Hi Carmz,

Are you living in this area now? It would be good to hear about the places you have explored as well, there is just so much to see and do here.

Might go to Aix this afternoon, if it is not too hot.

Denise

[Dopameen]

Hi DPK

Yes actually, when you walk in the calanques you must stretch quite a bit sometimes. I'm a rubbish at all sorts of sporty activities so it may be less hard that it seems?

Kayak is a great idea! I'm more used to use Kayaks on rivers (such a great thing to do .... if you have the occasion!) but why not to visit the calanques? I will definitely do that next time I go!

In terms of the pollution sign you saw, to be honest I haven't see any. But sometimes, when it rains a lot, a lot of rubbish gets washed off on the beach, so they sometimes put a sign up temporarily. There is a beach to avoid in Marseille for that reason by the way, it is nicknamed "epluchures beach", just opposite the Hippodrome Borely.

By the way did you come to Aix? Did you like it? I'm in love with Aix

I didn't see your previous message (I read sometimes on my phone ... it's quite small!). I leave near wealdstone station, so this is the "**** hole area" of Harrow unfortunately. Wealdstone high st seriously could make you believe you ended up in the third world. But there is great access to transports and we have a lovely flat which is pretty cheap in comparison to most flats around.

We will go to Lyon as soon as possible. I can't wait! We are saving money and my partner learns french. We watch a french movie nearly every night and he is making good progress. Lyon is lovely, I believe the best city in France. Beautiful architecture, very accessible with bikes and public transport, fairly easy to find a job, and many many things to do (and cheaper than Paris, and South of France). Unfortunately no beach and the weather is not as nice as in the south. But hey, can't have everything.

I do view France differently and some things bother me. No shop similar to boots or superdrug. You must buy you hygiene products in the supermarket, your make up directly with the brands, your perfume in a Perfurme shop, and they will certainly not see you magazines and food over there! I love boots to bits!

French people can't queue, and believe me I now have a fierce aversion for that kind of behaviour and any french idiot trying to jump the queue will remember my voice from now on haha

Customer service isn't the best in the UK but it is still better than France. Simply due to the culture of being so polite here. So many pleases, thank yous and sorrys! I don't mind, better having too much of it than not enough! The french ar unfortunately not like that.

I know I will enjoy my holiday trips to the UK

Unfortunately I have no clue about the up and coming areas of Marseille :/

[DPK]

Hi Dopameen,

I did very briefly get to Aix on sunday, but it was crazy busy there, every one was double parked, and there were a lot of tour buses around, I did not do it justice at all, and will go back in the week, when I have more time.

We used to do quite a bit of kayaking, but I am not so fit now, but that is certainly something I am aming to rectify, I can just imagine sitting at the bottom of those inspiring cliffs and gazing upwards, thats how I would really feel the power and majesty of the Calanques.
I did visit the first one on foot, it was really crowded, and I cannot believe how many boats they had jam packed along the sides of the cliffs, it looked so commercial and quite tacky actually, and I was disappointed that commercialism had taken over.

You really worry me now! If you can brave that end of Harrow, but find Marseille scary??? Help!

What have I missed in Marseille so far?

I find France has changed so much in the last ten years. The shops have become very "Americanised" but without the good service, the service in the supermarkets here is terrible, so slow, totally disinterested, and I stopped going to on supermarket in Thuir because I felt I was just interrupting their conversations at the desk.

The sevice always used to be good in France, but that is going back a long time. I do miss all of the smaller, more personalised shops that were around, but that is globalisation for you.

Today I saw the worst rental property I have ever seen!
Fortunately I went to see it ahead of the owner, and did not have to go inside, as I phoned to cancel.
This was in La Ciotat!
I am quite certain it was an old peoples retirement block. Tiny little houses, all very gloomy and neglected. She had said that I must be careful of the garden with the dogs!Well I do not think they could have turned around in the garden it was that small, and it was totally bare earth, not sure what there was to be careful of!
Saw two people there both over 80, and the absolute silence was deafening. In fact I think it was a morgue, not an old people home! It was also no where near I was told.
If I had arrived for an annual holiday to that, I would have cried.

It is so difficult to monitor standards for holiday rentals, anyone can take great pictures put them on a site, and until you arrive you really cannot be sure what you are getting.

I still love La Ciotat though!

[DPK]

La Ciotat is beautiful, really liked Marseille, but I am too darn hot!

I am not sure if I can cope with the heat in the summer months, or even if I want to!

[Dopameen]

Well Marseille is not the UK :P

Have you found yourself a place for long term stay or are you still in roquevaire?

[DPK]

Originally Posted by Dopameen

Well Marseille is not the UK :P

Have you found yourself a place for long term stay or are you still in roquevaire?

I had been staying in La Ciotat, could not find anything long term I liked and was getting very very hot!

So off I went for a little trip, weekend in Montpellier, gosh that has changed since I was last there, the building works are immense!

Night in Perpignan, and a few days in Toulose!

Having some time in Port Leucate, which was a bit cooler than Marseille and La Ciotat, has been a lovely breeze, today no breeze and its just too hot for me!

Think I need to spend summer months further north

[Dopameen]

You gotta find some place with a swimming pool!

[DPK]

Originally Posted by Dopameen

You gotta find some place with a swimming pool!

I have the sea outside my window! Its wonderful when you are in it............

But I am dripping, and the dogs are miserable.

I really had forgotten how hot it can get in the South of France in August!

[Thom1085]

Hate to tell you, but there is a heat wave on the way for next week. If you think it's hot now...