SuperDave's Adventures in Eastern France's Wine Country COMPLETE!! 6/13 - Page 29 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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The story of moving the car is hilarious! But what a memory, too! The views from Notre Dame are gorgeous. I like the interior of it as well.
Glad you enjoyed that story! It was quite funny and wasn't expecting it! I won't forget that any time soon!
The views are quite something from up here!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Last edited by SuperDave; 05-17-2014 at 05:41 PM..
Oh my goodness, what a classic story about moving the car! You've brought back great memories of our stop in Marseilles on the inaugural Med cruise on the Magic in 2007 - we visited the cathedral too and I remember how beautiful it was.
That story is certainly something! Glad I could bring back some good memories for you!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
After that interesting ordeal with our bus and the Peugeot, we arrived shortly at our hotel, the Grand Hotel Beauvau on the waterfront harbor of Marseilles. It’s a very large hotel and not like the family run European style ones, we’ve been staying at on the other stops on tour. It was more like one of those big chain hotels, but still quite nice. Lot of amenities in the hotel with a nice restaurant and bar and the rooms were nice, comfortable and quite spacious as was the lobby.
After settling in my room a bit, I went downstairs and meet up with my group to take a walking city tour of Marseilles. A few of our group decided not to take the tour and just do their own thing. I think about ten of us went.
We started in front of our hotel on the harbor, which has a great promenade with lots of shops and restaurants lined up along it.
Lot of boats are moored in the harbor, but you don’t have as many of those large yachts like you would get in Monte Carlo or Portofino.
This is pretty cool and is a mirror, right above you in front of our hotel.
This opera house is just a block or two north of our hotel.
Love the look of this building! Reminds me of many of the buildings in Paris with that style. It’s La Samaritaine, which is a Brasserie in Marseilles and quite well known.
View of Notre Dame Le Gard from the harbor. It’s not that far away, but it’s just the drive through those narrow uphill streets, that makes it seem so distant.
I like these and think they’re pretty neat with the variety of colors.
This is the Hotel Intercontinental Marseille. Looks quite ritzy and what a lavish design in the building.
After walking along the promenade of the harbor, we walked down some narrow hilly streets in Marseille like this one and below.
Forget exactly what this building is but I think it was a museum of some kind.
Like the Romanesque style of this building with the columns and arches. Nice courtyard too. Same building as the one above.
Famous bar and restaurant in Marseilles in a lovely and peaceful square.
Another cathedral in Marseille, Cathedrale de la Major
Port area of the harbor in Marseille
The many boats in the harbor and a few fancy hotels
Like the backdrop of the mountains
Notre Dame de la Gard
Restaurants and cafes along the harbor promenade. Is it me or doesn’t this man want me taking his photo?
Soon we were back to where we began this walking tour of Marseille and in front of our hotel along the harbor. We got back to the hotel around 6 pm.
We would be meeting downstairs in the hotel lobby to go out to a local restaurant for our farewell dinner at around 7:15.
I went upstairs for a bit and get my bags ready for the flight home to New York City tomorrow. Couldn’t believe that this trip was coming to an end as it’s been such an enjoyable one!
NEXT: The Last Supper!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Last edited by SuperDave; 05-25-2014 at 04:30 PM..
That's a weird effect from the mirror above the walkway! Marseilles has some wonderful architecture and charming squares, but it's such a busy city. So sad that it's time for your farewell dinner.
That's a weird effect from the mirror above the walkway! Marseilles has some wonderful architecture and charming squares, but it's such a busy city. So sad that it's time for your farewell dinner.
It is quite a busy city and would have preferred Nice to end the trip as I've always wanted to go there. Perhaps, on another trip! Overall, I did enjoy Marseille, in our short time there.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Beautiful photos from around Marseilles. Very different to your other stops, as it's so much bigger, but I love the various architecture - lots to see and photograph. So sorry this is coming to an end.
Beautiful photos from around Marseilles. Very different to your other stops, as it's so much bigger, but I love the various architecture - lots to see and photograph. So sorry this is coming to an end.
Glad you've come along for the ride as I've really enjoyed sharing my TR with you and everyone else here! Been a bit slow at times with the updates, but get around to it, when I can and mostly on the weekends.
Good to know you enjoyed my Marseilles photos. It's is quite different than the other French towns I visited!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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Marseilles is such a beautiful city. Your walking tour took in so many aspects of the city, too.
Marseilles is quite beautiful, but you head in a bit away from the city center and harbor it becomes quite gritty and not too safe! The walking tour was a lot of fun and got to see a lot!
Glad to have you back Cam!!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
In my last update on the Marseille's city tour a couple of the photos taken from those narrow back streets were quite dark. I was able to brighten them up with photobucket. So photobucket can be cooperative at times! If any of you enhance your photos with PB, make sure you resize them correctly (480w X 640 L) at the end as PB makes the photos larger, when making changes. These photos will not fit in these TRs and you'll be asked to resize them correctly!
After making sure everything was packed for tomorrow and checking that other things like my airline reservations were all set and had my passport, I went downstairs to the fourth floor, where our hotel had a nice lounge. I had some time before I would meet my group downstairs to go out to dinner for the last time, so I think this was a good option and have a glass of wine. Even though, it was indoors there were some nice views of Marseille’s harbor by the window, with some nice lounge chairs and tables. I think I had a glass of a Rhone red of some sort, but not exactly sure which one. Anyway, I did enjoy it! I took in the views for a while and headed downstairs to the lobby to meet everyone about 7:10 pm.
By about 7:15 pm, everyone was gathered here, so we headed out to dinner. We walked along the harbor a bit and made a stop at those mirrored covered canopies. Not sure what else to call them. Perhaps, there is a better word? Here, we took a couple of photos with our entire group.
I think, the first one is better as it’s more focused and closeup.
It was a short walk to the restaurant and for some reason, I can’t remember the name of the place. I’m usually good about writing this stuff down, but overlooked this! On the way to the restaurant, I mentioned to our tour director Toni, that it was my birthday, so she could make note of this during dinner.
The restaurant was quite nice as was the food and service. We started with a Kir aperitif, which if you remember from earlier in this TR, it’s made with white wine and creme de cassis or another variety of black or red currant liqueur. It was quite good and a good way for our group to begin our last meal together. Even better, was the wine was free tonight! We had regional white and rose wines to choose from and of course I had some of both!
It was at this time, Toni mentioned my birthday and said that I wasn’t the only one from our group with a birthday on May 17th. Jim from Montana, also shares a birthday with me. Pretty strange with a small group of 14.
We had the usual unlimited bread, which seemed like it may be baked on the premises. It was quite good. For the first course it was an onion tart, which was enjoyable. It was followed by the main course, which was baked Sea Bass with various vegetables including squash, carrots and zucchini. It was very good and was accompanied with a light and quite flavorful Provencial sauce with butter, olive oil and various herbs.
For dessert it was a raspberry tart with raspberry cassis and vanilla ice cream. The raspberry sauce was quite incredible and a good way to end the last big meal on my trip!
Our group at the final dinner in Marseilles.
After the meal, we hung around for a bit drinking some more wine and talking about the trip. Toni thanked us for being such a great group and really enjoyed having us on this Rick Steves’ Tour. We also thanked our coach driver Hilde for being so good and navigate some of these difficult streets, like an Marseilles earlier today.
So upon leaving we said our goodbyes and Toni went over with us regarding those needing taxi transportation to Marseille’s airport in the morning. I returned to the hotel at about 9:30 pm.
I went down to the harbor promenade, where some cafes are located. I decided to sit outside, even though some sprinkles were starting to come down. A waiter came to my table pretty quick and told him I wanted an espresso and a cognac. Loudly, he said “I’m not making, no coffee!” That was quite rude! He wasn’t French either. He was of Middle Eastern background, not that it matters. I’ve never been a believer of the stereotype of rude French waiters. Never had a problem once in all my travels to France. This isn’t the way I wanted to end my trip!
So, I got up and left and looked for another place. It was starting to rain a bit harder, so I returned to my hotel and went to the lounge that I had earlier before dinner on the 4th floor, which was quite enjoyable. I sat by the window and ordered an espresso and a cognac. I enjoyed the views by the window with the promenade and Marseille’s harbor all lit up. I returned to my room around 11 pm as I had to get up a bit early tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. for the taxi ride to the airport.
NEXT: Back Across The Pond!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Last edited by SuperDave; 05-25-2014 at 06:17 PM..
What a shame to see this coming to an end, as I've loved reading it. It looks like a nice sized group and it's nice to finally see everyone together.
Glad you've enjoyed it Cheryl! Although, it's been a bit drawn out than I would have liked. Just, can only find the time to do an update on the weekends unfortunately, Probably, only two more posts, with my departure home and a bit of a summary!
Next, will be my Disney TR from this year! I have some Holiday time coming soon, so I should be able to get going on this one shortly! I went crazy with the camera as you suggested.... so it should be good! Wish, I had taken more photos in France, but I think my trip was well represented for the most part overall!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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But what a memory, too! The views from Notre Dame are gorgeous. I like the interior of it as well. 
I won't forget that any time soon! 
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You've brought back great memories of our stop in Marseilles on the inaugural Med cruise on the Magic in 2007 - we visited the cathedral too and I remember how beautiful it was. 
Glad I could bring back some good memories for you! 
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Perhaps, there is a better word? Here, we took a couple of photos with our entire group.
I’m usually good about writing this stuff down, but overlooked this! On the way to the restaurant, I mentioned to our tour director Toni, that it was my birthday, so she could make note of this during dinner.
Pretty strange with a small group of 14.
He wasn’t French either. He was of Middle Eastern background, not that it matters. I’ve never been a believer of the stereotype of rude French waiters. Never had a problem once in all my travels to France. This isn’t the way I wanted to end my trip! 
so I returned to my hotel and went to the lounge that I had earlier before dinner on the 4th floor, which was quite enjoyable. I sat by the window and ordered an espresso and a cognac. I enjoyed the views by the window with the promenade and Marseille’s harbor all lit up. 
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