Cassis

Have left Nimes behind.
Am now in Cote D’azur proper – Cassis, as in Crémé de Cassis.

Just south of Marseille between the mountains and the sea. For those that don’t like the town of Marseille, don’t worry, the mountains have acted as barrier keeping out the smells of the city.

the fogCassis Town Centre
The town centre is focussed around a small port area which is surrounded by shops.

I am staying in the hotel Centre Ville & at 71e per night is almost double what I was paying at good old ‘Cat’ hotel.

Location is good, right on the front and the rooms are quite and clean.

Seems to be an amount of Americans, verbalising at different points through town. Would have thoguht the GWB stuff would have kept them in the ‘homeland’.
Haven’t seen any other backpackery, travelly, youth types. Maybe later.

The Fog. There is an eary sea fog on town today. I’ve captured it in the picture below, this may attract those of you who are interested in natural weatherographic conditions or cloud watchers (i know you’re out there).

Nimes Town

Nimes is a town much like any other in France, Tours, Poitiers etc. French atmosphere and culture, plus, with Nimes, you get few historical sites thrown in for good measure.

The Pont-du-Gare, is easily accessible from regular buses from Nimes, and due to its status as an UNESCO site, entry is free to most of the site.

Nimes also has an amphitheatre which you can get in for 3e. They still hold concerts there.

Nimes Town

Nimes town itself has character.

An old town centre with many shops, I found it relaxing. The old town circled by a ring road, and the central district pedestrianised. This meant that travelling was easy.

Navigating the variety of shops and resteruants was possible from the station, or my ‘Cat’ hotel without any difficulty, everything was close.

Meals

One was good, at the Irish pub oposite my hotel. The other I found a gaint cockroach lurking behind one of the French posters, just it’s cockroach tentacles flailing around. My unwelcome guest put me off and i left without pudding.

Port Bou – Moving on

Call it Port Boo, it annoys the locals and can be used to confuse border officials.

The sort of mentally symbolic gateway between France and Spain.

Wait
Rather than wait for 2hrs in Port Bou, I felt the 5 minute train journey over the border could easily be taken on foot.
Alpha male like myself would not find this a problem, and I set off through the Boo heading for the French border.

Aside from treading on a prickly pear on the Spainsh side, and avoiding lumps of dog turd on the French side, a hot, tiring and worthless journey was had.. amended slightly by a cool glass of lager and an ice cream in a beachfront Cerbere.

Next is Nimes, where excitiment, entertainment and a three hour train journey follow.

Here’s a movie of the beach in case you’re as bored as I am..