Day 2 – Genova to the Cinque Terre

Today was the day…….we were off to the Cinque Terre – yeha!  As we were staying right at the Port we were just a few minutes away from our boat that was due to sail at 9am.  We got there, picked up our tickets and were ready to board.  Lachlan was up the front with his ticket and was one of the first one heading straight up the stairs to the top to pick the seat he wanted – and to save three others……good on ya Lachlan!

Great seats and in no time at all we were off.  It cost us 18 Euros each for the one way trip from Genova to Monterosso.  It was actually a specialised return trip of the Cinque Terre and so  we stopped at a few ports on the way to Cinque Terre including a well known port of Portofino (which lots of NZ Italian restaurants are named after) we then went to the bottom village, Riomaggiore and then cruised up past all the villages of Manarola, Corniglia, before we stopped at Vernazza for one hour and then Monterosso.  This was where we hopped off, however it then continued on after 21/2 hours back to Genova.  

Here are some pics of our journey - beautiful coastline, great coloured housing and amazing waters - 

The rock formations around the coast amazing - apparently caused by earthquakes

A monastery in the middle of nowhere

Getting ready to dock in Vernazza - 

The boys by our boat in Vernazza 

While in Vernazza we had a great lunch right on the waterfront – great views and great food! I had the most amazing bruschetta – the pesto over here is just amazing! Pizza and pasta here in Italy is just sooooo divine!   

By the time we finished lunch we hopped back on the boat and cruised to Monterosso – here we explored a little and the kids had a quick swim and then we were off to catch our train to go and check out our apartment……wahoo!

We have arrived in Monterosso -

So we sussed the train – and we headed to Riomaggiore – and what an amazing village! It is beautiful and we quickly found our apartment.  The villages are small and so cute! And very hilly……..our apartment is very cool, two bedrooms and a great kitchen/lounge area up some really steeps steps…………………

Once we settled in, we headed out to explore and most importantly find the beach.  Headed to the beach – first off we found the boat ramp area and Connor and I were in – wasn’t the best spot, but we were there and it was glorious!  Karl and Loki then found another spot that they were keen to swim at so Connor and I hopped out and we headed to their spot – the beach was stoney but beautiful!  We then hopped in and the water was rough and the stones were slippery.  Not really the right beach for us…….anyway we had a swim



 We then headed back up to the village to grab some dinner and check out the cold beers we had chilling in the fridge.  

This is so exciting - the Cinque Terre is living up to all my expectations........................................

Day 1 - Marseille, FRANCE to Genova, ITALY

Karl arrived home in the early hours of this morning.  I had to wait up for him as while he was away I had changed the locks……. So after a very late night we were up and getting sorted for our trip to Italy with our train leaving at a very respectable 11.30am.  The boys and I were all packed and so it was just Karl to get organised and me to get some lunch and snacks sorted.  The boys were each taking a little backpack, I had a slightly larger one and Karl was bringing the little cabin roller bag and his backpack.  Easy for when we are walking to and fro places.  Once we were ready we were off – just as we went down the street a bus was coming so we jumped on and headed the short journey down to Vieux Port to catch the metro.  On arrival at St Charles we quickly found our train and were ready for action.

We were in carriage 19 – which was right at the front.  We were travelling on an Italian train which took us direct to Genova – awesome – arriving at 17.07, so just over 51/2 hours.

On the trip Connor spent a bit of time playing solitaire - great way to fill in some time.  Great work Concon.

  We all love training, it is so relaxing and there is lots of leg room, great views and you can wander! We trained around the coast which was great, stopping in Toulon, Cannes, Nice, Monacco and lots of other little places on both sides of the boarder before getting into Italy.  The trip really was gorgeous and I love how the train lines goes right along the coast when they are able too.  

We arrived in Genoa slightly late as there was a delay at one of the stations.  It was only about 1.5km to our accommodation and so we walked there with Karl as our guide.  We quickly found Port Antico and then it took us a little longer to find the little back street where our accommodation was – still we found it eventually and then rang the number we had and as it turns out while this is there main accommodation, they have a few others dotted around the Port and our was right back in the main port area where we had already walked! Oh well – the manager came and walked us to the new accommodation showing us where our boat left from in the morning and advising that they had some discount cards which he would drop off later.  Got to our accommodation and it was awesome; a one bedroom apartment with breakfast already set out and ready to go………….and with great views of the port! Fantastic! 

We got a local recommendation for dinner and so headed out to find the restaurant.  We got there and it was packed inside and there was a cue outside…….anyway talked to the ower who advised that it would be about an hour and a half wait – he recommended a couple of other places around the back of his building – and so we headed there.  Our first meal in Italy – Karl and Connor had ravioli with a meat sauce, I had trivoli with pesto and Lachlan had seafood pasta – all were delicious.  I ordered a white wine (thinking it was a glass) while Karl ordered a beer and I got a whole carafe of wine – love this place!  Dinner was fab and then we headed back toward home to find a gelato shop – easily found – and that was dessert!  Perfect day.  

Another great day out on the boats and swimming in the Med

Today we had a great day - we caught the 10am ferry boat from Vieux Port to Point Rouge (about a 40 minute ride) and had a quick swim at the beach.

 The beach was already packed! We then caught the Point Rouge ferry around to Les Gordes to have a wee explore, some lunch and swim.

The boat docked at Les Gordes

Our captain on this leg of the journey was the captain from our calanque trip on the Blue Evasion - so that was very cool.  He directed us to some great swimming spots and the restaurant we had seen on this trip.  Perfect.

The walk to the swimming holes was spectacular - I love walking around the calanques and finding amazing swimming spots 

Then walking around to find more amazement ........................ a great little restaurant and a cute little beach area - unfortunately the restaurant was a bit more pricey than we were wanting to spend and so we flagged food and just swum.....................

And then headed back to the boat to go back to Point Rouge and our trusty cheap kabab eatery right on the beach - pic below is of a butterfly that decided it liked the look of my hat and stayed there for ages............well at least until the boat moved! 

On the boats the boys always like to sit up the front and are even more keen when we are told that you could get wet sitting here today! 

Another great day out and about around Marseille - the weather remains consistent, between 32 and 36 degrees each day.  Karl has enjoyed a few cooler days in Finland but tonight heads back to the heat, picking up his lost bag in Helsinki on his way back through! 

Tomorrow, we head to Italy for 10 nights and I cannot wait!!!!!!

A not so good day for the Frasers'

Today was not such a good day.  We had a cruisey Sunday morning and then after lunch Karl headed off to the airport to catch his flights to Finland.  We chilled out and then decided to head down to the fort to cool off a bit! This - we have done many times, however today - problem!

To the right is where we swim!

Our bag was stolen - and it was right next to me.

Where we swim is off the walkway.  We hop down onto the rocks with our gear and swim around.  Today we arrived, got ourselves sorted and the boys were in.  I was sitting on the rocks with the bag beside me.  Loks had brought a cool new snorkling set with some of his birthday money and he was super excited.  I moved forward slightly to help Connor with his snorkel and it would appear that this was when the thief or thieves struck!

We took a backpack, which didn't have much in it given the close proximity of the port.  Loki had not bothered to put his clothes or jandals in the bag which was quite lucky on this occassion.  In the bag we had a towel, my glasses (luckily I have a spare pair), my havaianas (I am upset about these), some tampons (enjoy thieves) an old t-shirt and worst of all - the keys to our apartment! Duh!

The keys to our apartment - this was our problem!

One bonus - I had my dress on! Had I taken it off and been in the water when the bag was stolen I would have had to wander around town in my togs - not good! Small mercies!!!!!!!

Anyway, we headed back to our apartment - a man let us in the main door and as we had seen him a few times before and he spoke some English, we told him of our dilemma and he was great.  He made a phone call to see what police station we needed to go do and gave us directions and thankfully it was only about 20 minutes walk away; he gave the boys a drink, lent us a main door key and 20 euros and let us leave our snorkeling gear with him.

He and another family advised that there is no one that holds keys for all the apartments and we would need a locksmith to come out of a Sunday and deal with the door.  They advised we were best to make a police statement first and so off we went.  

Did I mention that, of course, this happens when Karl is away! Flying to Finland as this all unfold with the other set of keys and not due back for 4 nights! Always the way!

Just like at home, a wait at the police station can be very long - we waited about two hours and then were seen.  We wrote our information in English and what could be understood was translated by the policewoman into French.  We were given the French version for our records.  They, thankfully, then rang and organised for a locksmith to meet us at our apartment.  The police were great and I was very appreciative given my lack of French language.

On the way home, got the boys some food and then walked home and waited at the door for our locksmith.  He arrived only after about 20 minutes - yay - and had the door sorted within about another 20 minutes with brand new (very expensive) lock installed.  Total cost: just over 500 euros - ouch!  Our new friend from one floor down came up to help us with translation - and to make sure we were okay.

Anyway, we have insurance which will hopefully cover some of this and we were together, safe and able to sleep in our own beds rather than goodness knows where.  We were very lucky that my purse was not in the bag - as we would have had no money to pay the locksmith and with Karl being in a different country we would have had big problems! And if we could not have got a locksmith we probably would have found it difficult to find accommodation with no ID.

After this day, I felt a beer was much deserved! Got the kids relaxed, talked about how lucky we were and got them off to bed!

Emailed Karl that we had had an eventful day and looked forward to talking to him.  Turned out that Karl too had an eventful day with him arriving in Finland, but not his bag (actually my bag)!

This was not a good day for the Frasers' in France. He was off to buy some new clothes for his business meetings over the next couple of days........and some new toiletries - hopeful that at some point his bag will arrive!

Still, we have little to complain about - these are the first not good events that have happened over the last 5 months with all the travelling and exploring we have been doing.  We begin our trip home in one month and head to Italy for 10 days this Friday - yay - bring it on! Can't wait.

Train de la Côte Bleue

Today, Saturday 30th July we headed to Marseille St Charles train station to catch the

Train de la Côte Bleue  

The Blue Coast train is the very best way to see the dramatic landscape west and north of Marseille, with its rugged hills and tiny villages snuggled in deep limestone calanques.  


The rugged terrain here forces the road to loop sharply inland. The railway line, on the other hand, hugs the coast closely, often with a steep drop down to the sea, as it passes through 23 tunnels and 18 spectacular viaducts representing a stupendous feat of engineering. 


Here is the map of the train trip - our plan was to travel from Marseille to Sausset-Les-Pins and hop off for a swim and lunch and then carry on to Maramas. 

Most of the scenic journey is from Marseille to La Couronne but we thought we might as well go all the way! 

This did not go to plan - there seemed to be some sort of issues with the trains and when we went to catch the train to continue north - there were no trains, only ones going back to Marseille.  

Oh well, this is France! We decided to train back to L'Estanque and stop for afternoon tea and some beers and then ferry home.  This - we did! 

 The fab view from our restaurant -

 Karl's yummy ceasar salad and beer - delish!

 After their lunch the boys went down for a swim which we could observe from our lunch spot - perfect! What a glorious place - great beaches, uncrowded and just beautiful.

 Our makeshift clothesline while we waited for the train!

 Fun and games while remaining in the shade - only 30 degrees today

On our arrival at L'Estanque we headed down to the harbour so we could buy some panises, chichis and grab a drink! Perfect.  This is where we brought the food from before finding a bar.

A magical day exploring the calanques

Friday 29th July - a tour of the calanques from Marseille with Blue Evasion.  Today was the day we had been waiting for.........exploring the calanques from Marseille and getting to jump off the boat and do some swimming in and around the calanques.  For those of you reading the blog, you may remember that we have done a calanque trip before from Cassis - this was a great trip but you did not get to get off the boat! There is one big boat from Marseille that you are allowed to swim off - but they do not allow children under 10............so that was not an option for us.

The Blue Evasion company had great reviews and certainly lived up to expectations -

 Our boat arriving - yay - and on time! 9.30am and we are off -

 Here is Connor with our captain Baruk waiting for his life jacket to be fitted.  In France it is not a requirement to wear life jackets on boats and nobody seems to............you can request them however for children under 10 years.  We did! Interesting how there are no laws for boats but children up to 10 years are required to be in safety seats in cars.

 Heading out on this beautiful hot summers day - very little wind and forecast to be 34 degrees today - we are sun-screened up - Connor has borrowed Karl's hat as he had a bucket-hat which was at risk of blowing off - should not have worried as Karl's hat got blown off Connor's head anyway! C'est la vie!

 Me and Loks on the adventure!

 The beautiful calanques and amazingly green and blue coloured waters - superb

 Snorkling fun for all -

Connor has had enough - although the water was warm, this skinny-binny still gets blue lips and the shivers!

 We snorkeled at two spots - one where there were lots of fish and amazing reefs and the other spot where there was a cave you could swim in to - both incredible!

 This is me after I have been snorkling in the cave which is behind me on the right.  I love my prescription swimming goggles - best purchase ever!

 The captain called Loks up on the way home to drive the boat - a more excited boy you have not seen.  He took it all so seriously..........great fun!

 A restaurant in the middle of nowhere where you can swim up to or kayak or boat too - very cool! Blue sky and blue water - beautiful

What a great trip we had = it was great being able to jump out of the boat and explore the water in and around the calanques.  Perfect to have the time to do the calanque trip from Marseille which included two calanques; the one from Cassis which included 8 calanques and an earlier experience we had to walk into a calanque - perfect!  We now feel like we have truly experienced the calanques in our region.