Day 1: From Dunkirk to Marseille
- Kathy Orbie
- 19 uur geleden
- 2 minuten om te lezen
Ouch, ouch, ouch... The alarm goes off at 5:30. Anyone who knows me a little knows that I am a real night owl and that I am usually only at the beginning of my REM sleep at this time.
But look, I've never jumped out of bed as quickly as today. All for a good cause!
The bus to Dunkirk leaves at 6:30, so no time for breakfast. The wine, the bread, and the Boursin can wait until later. ;)
Packed and ready to go, and in a ridiculously good mood, I stand at the bus station a moment later. Sweat is already beading on my forehead. The weather gods are certainly smiling upon me, but travelling lightly is clearly not for me either.
What do they say again about the early morning hours.... :)
Two buses later, I am at Dunkirk station, and the train journey can finally begin. Goal of the day: be in Marseille by 3 pm. Should be doable, right? :)
First leg: Dunkirk - Lille.
The train from Dunkirk stops at Lille Europe, so first a short walk to Lille Flandres, the station just a little further on. There is just enough time for a restroom break and a coffee, and there is the train to Paris already. Destination: Gare du Nord. Phew, there is air conditioning and I have a chat with a nice lady next to me who is going to Paris for work.
An hour later, we're already there. Paris is always a good idea, but there isn't much time to enjoy it today. The next train leaves from Gare de l'Europe, so first, a quick trip to the metro. Upon leaving the metro station, I actually get stuck between the turnstiles. Damn you, heavy backpack with cameras. Luckily, security comes to the rescue and for 5 euros they are willing to open the turnstiles. French humor... ;)
I quickly stock up on provisions and enjoy the bustling Parisian hustle and bustle for a little while longer.
It is high time to take my 4th and final train of the day, heading for Marseille. Fortunately, it is not crowded, and I am thoroughly enjoying my train odyssey along the way.
Heading south!
At 3 pm I had actually already reached my destination for the day and was standing on the platform in Marseille with a big smile. It is always a joyful reunion with this city. There is a lovely sea breeze and I feel like the richest queen.
Despite the many train kilometers in my "legs," I still head into town to take some photos. The first roll of film is immediately finished, and I crawl into bed much later than planned. Tired, but with a very, very big smile on my face.
Oh yeah, for statistics lovers: :)
Tomorrow we continue to Nice, another step closer to Sicily. If this is a foretaste of the rest of the trip, then this is going to be an amazing adventure.