Tag Archives: Stopover

Marseille in 5 Hours: The Islands & Le Panier

Last stopover: 5 hours in Marseille 

(South of France), well let’s say 3h-3h30 in the city of Marseille. After visiting the Chateau d’If, we took the wrong shuttle: instead of returning to the vieux port (the old harbor), we discovered other small islands off the coast of Marseille. Beautiful landscapes (pictures 1, 2 & 3), a picturesque marina cove, the feeling of being so far away, the slowness.

Back to the Vieux Port (picture 4, the old harbour), I head to Le Panier, a famous heritage district in the old Marseille (picture 5). Getting lost in the quiet streets, which many are under construction. I’d love to make a full turn before lounging on the terrace of a cafe, but  we must return to the path of the ferry. Tram, bus and 15-20 minutes walk to the dock! Definitely too long and not really glam (lol)!

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.   

Related posts : DESTINATIONS

A Stopover in Palma de Mallorca, Spain

No need to go far!

I want to start this new year by sharing with you an island I recently rediscovered and loved during my mini cruise. No it is not an exotic paradise lost in the middle of nowhere…

But during the Indian summer, Palma de Mallorca becomes a precious jewel. Besides the famous Danish fashion designer Malene Birger lives there year round. I really like the color of the blue blue Mediterranean sea and sky!

Emptied of its hordes of tourists, lazing in Palma bathed in a warm soft light, is a bless. And I really like its architecture, narrow streets, churches with carved facades, languor, terraces and hidden palaces. Enjoy these few snapshots!

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