Tag Archives: Short Break

Marseille, France: Visiting Le Château d’If

Just arrived in Marseille,

we reach the old port to go to the islands of Frioul (les îles du Frioul). A stopover of 5 hours, not more: our first stop, the Château d’If, 20 minutes by boat. I’m with a journalist friend. He’s a huge fan of the famous novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas.

A shuttle (picture 2), calanques (creeks), crystal clear water worthy the Caribbean under a mixed sky (picture 1), the temperature is really nice. Some tourists. Finally, we arrive at the fortress built by François 1er (photo 4) that I didn’t remember having visited when I was a child. Weird, I think more of “The Tartar Steppe” by Dino Buzzati than Dumas novel! And the sea, the sea, the sea (pictures 3 & 5).

Related posts : DESTINATIONS          

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés. 

Laid Back Stopover in Ajaccio, Corsica

When I travel to an island,

I often have in mind the title of Michel Houellebecq’s book, “The Possibility of an Island” that I haven’t read: I only like the way the title sounds. I love the Mediterranean for its particular light, the color of the sky and the sea and its incredible cultural diversity.

From one island to another, there is a strong identity,  different architecture and story. During the Indian summer, I had a short stopover of few hours in AjaccioI wanted to visit the house where Napoleon Bonaparte was born… which unfortunately was closed.

So I went to the semi-deserted beach of Saint François, where the water was super chilly (lol!). But the view of the colorful city of Ajaccio is beautiful and clear water! Even time stretches, it’s already time to leave. Corsica bella. 

Related posts : DESTINATIONS

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés. 

Barcelona in 3 hours “for dummies” (lol)?

First stopover:

time to get out of the boat and leave the port area (by walk, really not my best idea!), it’s already been 2:30 pm (photo 2). My “first” time in Barcelona for 3 hours in the city only!

And I decided to discover the different areas by the Barcelona City Tour bus tour, the red tour which lasts 3:30 minimum! So be careful! 

You can get off the bus to take another one, as many times as you want during 24 or 48 hours and change the tour (red, green or blue). I need flexibility as an independent traveller.

Unfortunately I don’t have enough time

to go visiting some of the many sites. But I do an exception for La Pedrera, a house designed by the famous architect Gaudi (pictures 1 & 3).

I take this opportunity to run to another iconic work of Gaudi, the Sagrada Familia which I see as facades by lack of time (pictures 4). But the magic doesn’t operate, I don’t like the exterior details and the imposing porch 

I enjoyed more the quiet empty streets to get there. And I rush back to La Perdrera to jump in the bus, where I can see the facade of Casa Batllo (picture 5) of Gaudi.

Time flies: when finally I arrived at Las Ramblas, 

the area reminds me of New York: the rythm, crowd and major intersections (picture below). At the statue of Christopher Columbus stop, I jumped into a taxi to the Costa Neo Romantica.

In 15 mn, at 6:15 pm the boat leaves the port! Bye bye Barcelona, I will come back for sure. I have a mixed feeling of having seen all and nothing. I need to come back… To be continued, next stop in…

And today question is: if you had a 3 hours stopover in Barcelona, what would you do or visit?

Informations

Costa Cruises

Related posts : DESTINATIONS