Marseille

Getting to Marseille was stressful. Like i said, we felt like we nearly missed our flight. After getting on the flight we ate the awful tiny mini pizza since we wouldnt have time for dinner. On the flight, we finally were able to understand some of what was being said. Especially because Clarissa speaks French. When we landed, there was no Customs. Oddest thing ever. SO if you ever want to illegally come into a country, go to Marseille, France. You literally just walk off the plane, get your bag and walk out. and we were definitely flying in from a different country. weird. Anways, we got in pretty late, so there was nothing open to try and help us find our way. We had a phone number and directions but we couldnt figure it out, so next best thing, or so we thought, we got a taxi. this was by far the worst mistake I have made while traveling so far. We get in, and at first the guy isnt even positive where were going, talks to the other fellow cab drivers then gets in. As we start driving, I start noticing his meter.... it is 100percent charging us 10 cents per second. By the time the fare passes 40 euro, were starting to freak out. The total time in the cab was probably 15minutes and the total fare was 60 euros. Now I dont speak French, but I noticed the Fare sheet on the side of the window and had Clarissa relay to the driver he was supposed to be charging 1.70 per km and that it had been being charged by the second. He claimed it was a 20% night fare charge (that was not listed on the fare sheet btw). I was straight up pissed and refused to pay that much money. I gave a 20 and said that was all I was paying because this was beyond ridiculous and that 20 was a reasonable amount for the distance we had just gone. We could have gotten away with it but Clarissa just gave in and paid the other 40. We left to check in and I was fuming. Later that night, I googled Marseille, just to see what to do the next day and see if we could find the beach, under a section called Taxis, I learned that there are the "occasional rogue taxi drivers out there that rips tourists off. If this happens to you, get the number of the cab and go to the tourist office, you will get your money back and get the cab driver in a lot of trouble". SO if only I had read this BEFORE taking the cab, I would have gotten the number, i was just too angry when i got out to process that as I knew he was ripping us off BAD.

Anyways, trying to move on after the frustrating entrance into this country, we tried to make the best of it. Our room was adorable. It had a mini kitchen in it, which was perfect, a big bed, tv, and a window that fully opened. After the taxi event the first thing we did in the morning was figure out the metro system. it was pretty easy. We began our wondering and just got off at the main port, walked around and had a lovely lunch at this small little restaurant. We came across a small market type thing where we bought some souvenirs and looked around. it was fun, although it was windy and we were both dressed like tourists, shorts/skirts and tshirts, while everyone else was still in scarfs and jeans. After spoiling ourselves to lunch we decided to save money and buy food at the grocery store and use our kitchen! We started by buying bread and cheese with balsamic vinegar and oil (So french). Cooking was a lot of fun, we had some experiences and made a couple weird things but it was a wonderful experience. The picture here was what happened when we tried to use the microwave to heat instant rice.... the heater part of the microwave was on the top, so it melted and burnt the plastic until I realized we were nearly causing a fire. we saved the rice and reverted to heating it up in a pan, but it was pretty funny.

Once we figured out where we were a little better we began to venture out further. we walked all the way down to the La Plage (the beach) which was a super far walk, but it was beautiful. We returned down there the following day after we figured out the bus system as well. it was lovely out. we ended up just walking along the waters edge until we got to one of the last bus stops of the line we needed, along this way we found an adorable French bakery where we bought a box of the french style Macaroons (or were they Meringue?) and baguettes. They were AMAZING!!!! After a long day of doing touristy things we just stayed in at night, also because we had been warned about the bad neighborhoods and that it wasnt particularly safe to wonder around at night being two girls. We also discovered this once in the day light when we were trying to be adventerous and got off the metro at a stop we hadnt tried before, Colbert. We got off and there was nothing around so we started walking up the hill. We found ourselves in the middle of a square that was FULL of clothes and garbage. All on the ground, people picking through it... Clearly it took us about 1 minutes to realize we were not in a tourist area anymore and that this was super sketchy. we flipped a Uturn and headed right back to the port where we knew we belonged.
On our last night there we decided to treat ourselves to dinner since we had cooked every other night. As we were walking around Vieux Port we found this cute alleyway that was lit by lots of dim outside lights. It looked appealing so we began to walk down it. True to french fashion it was beautiful and romantic. All the restaurants had terraces (mostly covered because it was still considered winter here), lights, and delicious sounding menus. Unfortunately for us broke college students most of these plates were 20-30 euro. But then we got lucky! we chose to walk to the left a little of these fancy restaurants and found this small place with a sign out front advertising a plate, a drink and dessert for 10 euro. We were stoked. We went in. The server was adorable, and the menu had tons of options. I chose the Mussels, fresh seafood from the Mediterranean! It was DELICIOUS! It was so good and beautiful on the plate i took a picture. The whole time i was eating it i kept thinking of my mother and how jealous she would be. We have always been the ones to enjoy seafood together like that. After having a small appetizer, and main course, we got our desert, then they brought us a free shot, and then some jelly candies. it was like a never ending meal AND it came out to being exactly 20 euro for the two of us. It was the best night so far and I wish I could go back and eat there again. We also had a funny family next to us that found us very entertaining and we found them just as entertaining. we would know they were talking about us because the one word in French that's hard to mistake is American. lol That, and Clarissa could understand them. We went back to our room that night and realized that we were actually leaving the next day, always a sad realization. I tried for the 100th time to try and watch TV but only the first night was i lucky enough to find one show in English, CSI. Every night following I would hope for an episode to be on so I could watch it, but no such luck. Instead I finished my book The Lovely Bones and we went to bed. The next day Clarissa and I figured out the train station together since I would be loosing my translator. We got there super early so we wouldnt have to stress out. Finally when it was time, we said our goodbyes, she got a bus to head to the airport, and I figured out how the heck to get on a train for the first time to head to Nice. I must also comment here and mention that while I was struggling to read my ticket and the signs around me to figure out which car to get in and all that, I kept having flash backs to sophomore year in high school staring at the chapter in our french book about being in a train station, even remembering the stupid images and captions that were supposed to help you figure out what was being said. Clearly, I remembered none of it, but the thought made me laugh and realize i should have paid more attention when I distinctly remember telling my teaching "I never take trains, ill never need to know this".