Ok we're sitting on yet another train, but this time off to Nice, France which is pretty exciting! Just listening to Cat Stevens - feelin it. Thankfully, this time we have no stinking child in our carriage, just an Asian couple eating cucumbers (what a tasty treat?!) and a teenage guy with glasses with his head in a newspaper.. Tres Bon.. (very good).. We are actually being a bit sneaky. We only have 2nd class tickets and are sitting in the 1st class carriage as there were no seats in 2nd class. Hopefully no one checks our tickets, if so we shall just play dumb, speaking no French!!

In my last entry we were on the way to Toulouse where, thank god, we only had to stay one night! I asked Tim to describe Toulouse in 2 words = Plain Jane! My 2 words = scummy & stinky! I shall elaborate a little though there is not too much to say! There weren't really any café's at all - just fast food kebab shops! If you love chips, kebabs & burgers then Toulouse is the place for you! Apparently a pretty happening University town, however we were there on a Sunday night and nothing was really open. There was one event that I don't think we will forget for a while. As we looked over a bridge, we saw a pool of blood on the concrete and someone in a white body bag with ambulances and police men all crowding around. Certainly not an overly pleasant experience. We can definitely scratch Toulouse off the to-do list, and never return.

On a lighter note, we quite liked Marseille. On our first day there, we went over to a little island off the coast. It was probably the windiest day we have ever experienced! The gusts of wind managed to blow us over several times! Though it was a bit tricky at times, it made it kinda fun because we went in search of a place to swim! The island itself was very barren & rocky, cliffs plunged into the ocean - not many places to swim! It certainly wasn't the Moreton Island I was picturing! But as we were oiled up, sarong and beach bag in hand, we needed to find some water! And finally we did! A secluded little beach all to ourselves. We risked life and limb in order to get there-had to scramble down a cliff face! But it was so worth it when we reached the bottom. A little pebbled beach, just for us. The sun was beaming and my lil boozies got a tan that day hehe!

Day 2 whilst staying at Marseille, we went on a day trip to Aix En Provence, about 30 mins from Marseille. It was a sweet little old town with cute shops and many cafes. It was a no-bread-day so we had cous cous and yoghurt for lunch!

I should explain no-bread-day !! Because we eat sooo much bread, always white bread too! Every few days Tim decides it's a no-bread-day! This sounds easy but when you're travelling, it is so hard to find cheap lunches and dinners that aren't bread! On our first day I said to Tim, "So babe, this whole no-bread thing, does that include pastries, ya know like croissants & choclatines??" Unfortunately he laughed and said YES! Needless to say, no-bread-days aren't exactly my fav!

Tim went out on day 3 by himself to do a touch of sightseeing - I wanted more sleep and he needed Tim-time haha! Free to look at all the Cathedrals, markets and monuments without me pestering him which can range from, being hungry, feet hurting, bored, headache, thirsty, etc etc.. He definitely needed some time to chill! That afternoon we caught a local bus along the coast line to find a beach to catch some rays. We got off at the end of the line and set up shop on a beach. Noting that there wasn't actually sand, but small rocks/pebbles that had been laid over concrete! The water wasn't like we have at home either, kinda creamy in colour and freezing - certainly no Greenmount!

Alrighty, shall finish here. Tim is still yet to write a blog but I pester him often so soon if you're lucky, you may just get one!

Jas & (a reluctant) Tim xxxx