IntrepidFromDC

The train ride from Marseille to Nice was interesting. First thing out of Marseille mountains started popping up. Then mountains to the left, scattered palm trees to the right. Finally as we started to hug The Mediterranean we could see Cannes. The police were following a conductor in a hurry, I'm guessing to boot someone without a ticket.

Changed trains in Marseille, grabbed a yummy baguette with jambon and fromage, now waiting for the second leg to Nice. Coming in to Marseille I either saw a Costa ship or Venezia. Went under a tunnel before getting a pic.

😆 OMG I'm an idiot! Now you're gonna have me googling his chest and the FBI will take notice!

Saint Greg, when is your next cruise? It would be awesome if you started a LIVE right when I get back!

Those little pickles were really great. I thought they were cornichons but I was corrected.

Last pics of Arles, makes me a bit sad because I'll leave a bit of my heart here. I wish my daughter had been with me the whole trip, but especially Lyon and Arles. On to Nice tomorrow morning.

Found a place open late and the server didn't really want to bring the ketchup. It was gooood. Fries were good too, not crispy but not oily either. Potatoey flavor and skin on like I like'm. And the limoncello spritz was good. Finished with a cappuccino instead of dessert and it was great.

And then there's this thing I've only seen a few of, two-seater. Less than 4' high. I think the wheels are about 9".

And so it came to pass.

First the young maitre d tried to tell me they don't accept reservations from The Fork (a reservation service used by most of the restaurants I booked at). I told him The Fork reservation was a link I used on their website and he got huffy mumbled something in French and called the manager. The manager said "I'm sorry Messr, we haven't used The Fork for 20 days. I showed him the confirmation, showing the reservation was confirmed May 4. He apologized and said "we are full" so off I go.

I'm off to find an alternative if the bars don't suck me in from my quest.

So tonight ended up being a crap shoot for dinner because the restaurant wouldn't accept my confirmed reservation...

I have no idea how much chest hair seals have. But I googled seal and see a bunch of back hair. Did he have really long whiskers?

I had the same thought.

And concerts, like Simple Minds. I think bullfighting started when Iberia was the country that is now Spain, but the borders were different then and included some of South Gaul (now France) and the culture and people stayed the same even after towns like Arles became part of France. European history is one of those things where the more I learn, the more I realize "the less I know".

This guy is gonna have a good time.

Apparently in France it's a fun occasion to have your car towed.

One of these pics show the double walls from medieval times. You can see the earlier-built wall right-side and the more modern wall added centuries later, left-side. The paella looked great but I read too many reviews of that place saying the food is mediocre and overpriced.

Lunch today, jambon sandwich. It was ok, not enough ham but the quality was good and the whole grain bread was great.

Here's a French market that is more like the French market back home. Not as farm-fresh, more packaged goods.

No, seeing bulls put in a no-win situation and tortured while bleeding out is not my idea of sport or fun. But once in a while I enjoy foie gras so I'm a conflicted hypocrite. It just tastes so amazing. There was one last night and it was a hit with the locals in the sports bars.

It's high on my list of must-dos when the cutbacks are restored- right up there with eating in the MDR when they add tablecloths back (like MSC).