Marseilles

It is cool also in sun shining Provence in the morning. I should leave and go far, but actually I eat breakfast slowly and spend a time to relax every morning. The sun rises around 7:00. Sunset is late but sunrise is also late. The length of daytime will not change with Japan, since latitude probably is not so different. Supposing that daytime has shifted because it may be summer time now.

The goal of this morning is Marseilles passing Cassis. Small villages around Marseilles are separated by geographical feature, so I must go up and down to go next village.
It is true that climbing is hard, but after crossing the pass, another world, wonderful world begins. My potential energy is changing to speed. Faster and faster and faster, with no suffering. No fearing for cars, now they are same speed. The droning of cicada disappear in the song of a wind. Deep woods change to vineyard. I can see small town under my view. The blue sea is shining beyond the small bay.

Marseilles, the second largest city in French, the hometown of the hero, Zidane.
Anyway, I don't like city side. There are too many ways, too many cars and there are too many people. I easily loose the way. The loads are dusty. Everywhere is under construction, the siren of police cars or ambulances sounded continually.
What I must do in this city is shopping and arrangement the train ticket. Here is the goal of chapter "Cote d'Azur". From here I shall use a train to foot of Alps.
The problems happened in "bicycle trip in foreign country" is mostly united the problems in "bicycle trip" and "trip in foreign country". One of the new problems happened in "bicycle trip in foreign country" is how to carry the bicycle. It was the problem in Narita airport, and also in French transportation. I will use a train with bicycle, but I could not enough information about it.

After shopping, I can finish shopping. In the strange city, even buying one general merchandise take long time.
I can buy the desiring gas cartridge. I can find it in the mountain-climbing shop. the sign of the cartridge says "Self sealed", same type sold in Japan. The type I found at supermarket in French is simply gas in the can. Connected with cooking stove, the cartridge is punched a hole and usable. So this model is not removable until gas was spent all.
You may say my diary is gas cartridge diary, but it is one of the most important items in camping. So it cannot be helped.

Then, I go to the station. It is very big, even the Galaxy express may arrive.
Now, all I know is where I want to go. I don't know how to go, the timetable, my bicycle is carriable or not. In timetables, there are sign of "bicycle OK" in over half of trains. But the line I want to use might be major line. I can not find the timetable.
I asked the window of information. Although I cannot find the correct information because of lack of Language ability, I can go with my bicycle removing a front wheel and put into a bag. Doing so, we can carry by mostly all trains.

The train will leave 18:50, arrive 23:25. The destination is the foot of mountain. I don't worry about finding the space for my tent. I have 1 and a half hours until departure. I can relax in cafe after packing.
And I notice. There is no tool for bicycle decomposition! Now, a career cannot be removed. Moreover, when there is a trouble from now on, I cannot fix.

That reminds me something about it. When I had a rest the roadside in Mont des Maures. I found my tool was dropped and I thought to pick it, but I don't remember I picked it or not. I was too tired to pick it regularly, so I don't doubt I lost it there. Fortunately, I have enough time to buy and return here. The shop I bought the gas cartridge is big, I should go there.

But it does not sell!! There is a repairing kit fir puncture in the shop, but no tool I need now. The tools I need is one wrench. I can find one easily in Japan and it is very cheap. But I am in big city and I am a stranger. I don't know where it is. I went to an electrical appliance shop, a radio control store, a motorbike store, etc, but I cannot find. Since I was in a hurry and roamed around, I was questioned as shoplifter.
One cheerful guy riding a bicycle said hello to me. I asked where the bicycle shop, but the shop closes already. The time is over. Oh my god.

What I lost is one simple tool, but I could not what I want do. I am very sorry, but such a thing often happens in solitary journey. That kind of trip is what I do now. I must take care.
Anyway, I go to the station and cancel today's train. I don't like search a hotel in the city, so I would change the train on which the bicycle is carriable, and go as far as possible. But the ticket I bought is OK for tomorrow train. Thinking calmly, Staying at cheap hotel in Marseilles is better than puzzling at the rural station of the midnight. It is only a half-day overdue. This problem is only happen in the time limit situation. Time must solve.

It is an old port town. There are many cheap hotels. But most of them are no room available. I could find the room at the fifth hotel I visited, 40 Euros. I thought it was not very expensive, but searching cheaper rooms seems time consuming.
The room has shower and double bed. After I paid, the sign of "Complet" was taken out. I might be lucky.

(2004 8/12)