July 11, 2004
I've now made it to Marseilles. Nimes ran out of attraction for me, after I realized that there were about 10 people in the city limits who both could and would have a conversation with me of over a dozen words, and that the hostel, while pretty, is full of vacationing families and their bratty teenagers (curse you, HI hostels!). At least I found some more Brits who were interesting to talk to. We agreed that no one knows who the prime minister of Canada is. At least I knew the captial. One of them is reading a book called "Clarissa" which is supposedly the longest novel in the English language: the "short" first edition is 1500 pages.
Before Marseille, I must mention that the trains in France are totally rockin'. I took the regional rail and it was better than anything I've seen in America, both regarding speed and comfort. (And cost! Oh, curse you, Amtrak!)
I haven't been long in Marseille yet. The most interesting thing I've found so far is the Cathedre de Major. It's got stripes on it: greenish on the outside, pink marble on the inside, with nice lavender-toned stained glass. The youth hostel I've found is one of two in town, both very far away from the interesting part of the city (again!). Luckily I chose the one close to the seashore! I think I will spend some time longing on the beach tomorrow, or indeed maybe tonight too. Two of the guys staying in the room with me are there already; they're Austrian, and they seem to be satisfied enough with my German not to switch to English on me. (When I first introduced myself, and they found out I was American, they asked if I knew where Austria was, and did I ever confuse it with Australia.) Unfortunatly, the hostel has no kitchen (curse you, HI hostels!), and the Marseille public transit system completly shuts down at 9:30, so it's time I found some dinner and got back.
Eye to the future: I am trying to plan a rendezvous with a couple friends in Florence (!) within the week, so I think I will hop over by way of Nice in a few days.