Perfection is not expected, nor shall it be achieved. Or so I'm told.
Perfection is not expected, nor shall it be achieved. Or so I'm told.
Member since:08.04.2005
Reviews:7
Marseille is a beautiful city, with some of the most breathtaking views, and historic landmarks. Food is cheaper to buy there. Particularly fresh vegetables. There are plenty of shops and supermakets, and a large street market in Avenue du Prado, near the Castillane. When it comes to restaurants, you are spoiled for choice. But being a vegetarian, I went to a vegetarian restaurant called Country Life, in Rue Venture.
I went on 16th September. However I have visited the city many times before. Being relatively close to home, and thanks to the channel tunnel, it is great to travel there by train. Given the speed and comfort of the Eurostar and TGV, I think it is preferable compared with flying.
Unfortunately, drinks are expensive, even mineral water, if you buy them in a restaurant or a bar. Typical price for a small bottle of water is 2.00 €, that's more than a pound. The average price of a beer is
2.50 € or 2.00 € at the bar and 3.00€ on the terrace. Working on the assumption that the average rate of exchange is .60 pence to the Euro. that works out to around £1.80 for a quater litre against £1.35 for a half of lager over here. Notwithstanding, their beer is probably stronger in alcohol.
Getting back to food. I didn't visit different restaurants on this trip, because I prepared most of my food at the hotel, and I visited relations in St. Julien. More about that later. There are other veggie restaurants, which I've visited in the past. All of which are excellent. But I couldn't remember their addresses, and doubtless not all of them are still there.
The restaurant (Country Life) offered two sizes of plate (assiette), libre service. It was 5€ for a small plate and 8€ for a big one, and you can pile up as much as you can get on that plate. It's gormet food, well prepared and all vegetarian.
As for the shopping. A small Aubergine in an English supermarket costs .99p, and aubergine twice the size costs .60€ about .30p to .35p. I could go on quoting you price differentials like this. But then I'd end up saying more about the shopping than Marseille, which is what I'm writing about.
There are plenty of sights to see, such as Notre Dame de la Guarde, which is a large church with a statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking the city. One can catch le petite train from Vieux Port (the old port), which will take you up to the church, which is well worth the trip. Not only to see the splendour of this magnificent building. But also for the view it affords you of the city and the islands just off the coast.
Whilst I was there, I took a boat trip to the Isle of Friol which is a site of great natural beauty. Which is a great place if you like to do a little rock climbing. There is a fort at the top of the hill. But it looks as if it was built in the last war. There is the easy way to climb up to the top, or the hard way (especially if you are not wearing the right footwear).
The boat also calles at the Chateau d'If. But as I'd been there before I didn't bother to stop there on this occasion. They also run boat trips over to cassis calling at various islands along the way.
I traveled first class at a cost of £220. This is only about £50 or £60 more than the standard class ticket. It is more comfortable and you get complimentary meal and newspapers and journals. In standard class on Eurostar, or so I'm told. Luggage space, or what should be luggage space is taken up by vending machines. Coridors are constantly blocked by trolleys, making trips to the toilet difficult if not impossible. So traveling first class does make an appreciable difference.
Unfortunately there was no food on the four and a half hour journey on the TGV on the outward journey. But apart from that the journey was fine.
Once I arrived in Marseille, it was easy and stress free getting onto the metro and making my way to the hotel, even though it was rush hour. Try saying the same thing about London Underground.
I stayed at Citadines at Prado Castillane. They call it an Aparthotel, because it is self catering. They have two types of apartments. A studio, which takes up to two people, and a deux piece (one bedroom) which sleeps up to four. There are standard prices on each, depending on the length of your stay. There is no single supplement, and you are not made to feel like a second class citizen just because you are travelling alone. This is good news for single parents too.
I took a studio at 69 Euros per night, which is equivalent to £45 to £50. The accommodation was excelent and I've seen worse hotels costing much more, and with no self catering facilities.
One is greeted by a small apartment with toilet and bathroom, and a large studio with kitchenette and sofa bet. There is a TV set, a telephone, and a large balcony. Everything was scrupulously clean.
Unfortunately, there was no air conditioning in my apartment, and I was somewhat annoyed, because similar apartment with air conditioning costs the same. However I didn't need it, because the room is in the shade, and there is double glazing. At the time when I was there I found it very quiet.
There are two instruction manuals. One for the kitchen, including inventory (although they do not charge you if one or two things are missing, which is just as well because there is some variation from the inventory, which is tolerable). The other book is more general, with emergency numbers etc., and general information. It includes brochures for local companies who will deliver gourmet food to your door. But no good if you are a veggie unfortunately.
There is a laundry, which you have to pay to use. I don't know how much because what little washing I needed to do, I could do in the sink. The shops are just round the corner. There is the huge street market, Monoprix, which has a food basement (alimentation sous sol), and le petit Casino. No not a gambling joint, but a mini market. There is also a boulangerie, all within 5 minutes of the hotel.
As I said earlier, I made several trips out to St. Julien to visit relatives. This is a beautiful village in the 12em arondisement, in the banlieue de Marseille. You take the No 7 Bus from the Canabiere, and although it is only 15 minutes outside the city centre, it is very countryfied, and affords un view magnifique over the mountains, and there is a beautiful promenade over the covered canal, just off the main road.
Well there's Marseille for you! If you are looking for an alternative to the holiday resort, then I think Marseille is a great place to go and spend a holiday. So Bon Voyage!
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Advantages: Cheaper than England, great food, easy to get to, friendly people Disadvantages: High crime rate, polluted (aren't all big cities??!?) Its French (Lol)
Disillusioned 04.11.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Marseille (France)
Advantages: An interesting Vieux Port (old port) area, good accommodation options nearby Disadvantages: A noticeably high crime rate, not a great deal to see outside the port and coast areas
Marechal_Grouchy 17.09.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Marseille (France)
Advantages: An interesting Vieux Port (old port) area, good accommodation options nearby Disadvantages: A noticeably high crime rate, not a great deal to see outside the port and coast areas
Marechal_Grouchy 17.09.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Marseille (France)
Oct 5th, 2005
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