July 13/14

Travel Day(s)

We've had a very long day.  Elisabeth and Catherine took us to the airport, dropping us off at about 11 am.  I had read a blog that Club Class on Air Transat was very reasonable-not nearly as expensive as upgrades on other airlines as it is not as fancy.  We tried, but they quoted us $500 extra each, each way.  I should have noticed that the blog I saw was written by somebody given upgrade for free so they'd write about it.

Selfie at YVR Departure

We found the seats much more comfortable than the Aeromexico seats we sat in earlier this year.  There was more leg room than we've had in the past, but we found the side to side room non-existent.  As a result, not much sleep-just a small cat nap really.  Best comfort to Europe for us remains British Airways.  The problem is one has to hub through Heathrow.  We find arriving in CDG in Paris much easier-MUCH shorter lines and clearance through customs.

We got off the plane in Paris and headed for the train station, moving from CDG3 to CDG2.  When we got to the train station, there was a bit of adventure.  All the down moving escalators had been changed to move upwards, as they had some security incident (probably a bag left unattended) and had evacuated the whole station.

Empty entrance to Train Station at CDG

We had to move back upwards to the terminal, and wait about half an hour until they opened everything, letting folk back into the train station.  There we waited a couple of hours, then boarded our SNCF train to Marseille (St. Charles).

Trains are so much more comfortable.  We're not back on another airplane until time to come home.

We took a cab from the train station to the apartment, which sits on a bluff up over the Anse Des Catalans beach.  The landlady told us that a cab ride should be about 15 Euro and it cost 26.  But way to tired to argue!  The apartment is smaller than it looks in the pictures, but has air conditioning and is comfortable so should be fine!

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/27363002?source_impression_id=p3_1563124013_kI%2FIFCWzqW4Y5mYE

We worked hard to stay awake to see the Bastille Day fireworks over the old harbour.  We are in the perfect apartment for that, and just had to walk a half block up the street where there is an excellent view over the city.  It is a bluff rather like the one we walked up in Nice.  There was quite a crowd of locals out to watch from the same spot.  Fun watching fireworks with actual French children around you calling 'ooh la la'!

View over City Up Street from Apartment