Today began horribly. Knowing I had a train to catch at 9:20 am I set my alarm for 7 to give me enough time to shower, pack and get to the station.
Yet karma, not content with having me cancel the Italian leg of my trip, decided to curse me once more.
At some point during the night my phone froze. My alarm didnt go off. I woke up late and rushed to the bus stop unable to get my phone to respond.
Panicking that i’d have to spend the next 8 days without my translater, map, camera, communication with friends and family, I managed to get to the train station in time.
Thankfully with the issue of making my train sorted I could bow focus on the other problem at hand. After what seemed like an age I figured out a way to get my phone to work. Everyone at the train station must have heard my sigh of relief.
Things were now back on track. I arrived in Marseille and proceeded straight to the hostel. The journey involved a brief walk along the old harbour where some fisherman were selling the last of that morning’s catch.
Arriving at the hostel I was unable to check in until 2pm so I filled the time doing my laundry and catching up on the days news.
Once settled in to my room I went out to explore. I walked down the eastern side of the harbour towards Fort St. Nicholas before making my way up a very, very, very big hill to the Basillica Notre Dame de la Garde.
In twenty degree heat the walk was almost unbearable and involved many stops to catch my breath. Yet the journey was worth it. At the top I was greeted to panoramic views of the city. The church itself was outstanding, the ceilings were decorated in paint and gold leaf. With sunlight streaming through the Windows, everything glittered in the golden light.
Returning to the waterfront, I spent well over an hour walking slowly around the harbour, sitting occassionaly to stop and take in the views. After this morning’s nightmare, I was in a dream.
Dinner was good old fish and chips in the Queen Vic, an English style pub and restaurant on the water front. Filled with a bit of England in the heart of the Mediterannean, I went back to the hostel content with life.
All Aboard The Backpacker's Express 