Toulon

Mar 28th - Apr 1st 2013

Thursday 28th March 2013

Home to London

Finished work just before 18.00 and headed home. Nikki had finished at 17.00ish so was also heading home. I’d done most of the packing in the morning and put the chair in the car so we were good to go.

I’d booked us on the 20.18 train from Luton Airport Parkway to St Pancras but as we were a little early I thought we could get the 19.52. 

Went the back way to Luton and got a bit lost but nevertheless rolled up at Luton Airport parkway at 19.40. Unloaded and went into the station and, bless them, they managed to get us on the 19.52.

 

Deserted train all the way down to St Pancras so the 30 minutes went pretty quickly. At St Pancras the Special Assistance lady was there and got us off the train quickly enough. We walked around to the Renaissance Marriott and met Stuart in the lobby. They checked us in and upgraded us to a Barlow Room King (329) which was really nice. Bigger than I expected and felt new and very comfortable.

Decided some tea was in order so it was off across the road to McDonalds for a couple of veggie burgers. Diet is now officially on hold!

Walked back to St Pancras. Absolutely freezing by this point. Agreed where we were meeting up at 06.00 the next morning and after a quick detour into M&S for some pain-au-chocolat for breakfast, hit the sack just after 22.00.

Friday 29th March 2013

London to Toulon

05.00 in the morning is one of the world’s great unpleasant things. I’d booked an early call and we’d also set iPhones so it was a noisy start to Good Friday.

Nikki showered and we had some coffee and pain-au-chocolat while I did a bit of half heart-hearted packing. Before we knew it - it was 05.50 and I was showered but still not dressed! Quick dash around and we were out of the door at 05.58. Check-out was very quick and we met Stuart on the concourse outside the Eurostar check-in area.

Check-in was a doddle and we were through in about 5 minutes.

No platform had been announced so we waited for a bit. I asked one of the Eurostar staff and she told me it was Platform 6 so we headed over to the lift. Getting on the train was very simple with the ramp and we got settled in our seats. Was expecting to have the train to ourselves but it was totally full. Four Scottish girls were sat in front of us obviously off on some hen-type do in Brussels.

Pulled out on time at 06.50 and stopped in Ebbsfleet and Ashford before they turned up with our breakfast. Now I’m not sure if it was lovely because we were STARVING or because it was lovely. It was a pain-au-chocolat, a roll with butter and jam, a yoghurt, some juice and coffee.

Journey went really quickly to Lille. It was 1’40” and we arrived on time. Lille Station is pretty big but not as big as we thought when we saw we’d arrived at Platform 44! Off the train easily enough and decamped to a bar to wait for our TGV. We had about 50 minutes to kill so that was spent over a coffee. The outside concourse was freezing cold!

We were due to depart at 10.52 so we went to find our platform at 10.30. The crowds getting on the TGV were something else. Loads of people with loads of suitcases. Luckily all the seats are pre-booked so we knew we were getting one. We were upstairs in Coach 12 with a table. We soon realised that everyone seemed to have family seeing them off and they were all getting on the train in a group, then standing around gossiping and then forcing their way against the flow of people getting on so they could get off. Grrrr. Got on and found our seats and got settled.

Set off on time and soon picked up speed. We had a few stops like Charles de Gaulle Airport and Lyon but most of the time was spent with the French countryside speeding past our windows. We watched some TV on laptops and went and  got some food from the buffet car. The journey was 4’52” and after we passed the four hour mark we were getting keen to get off.

Pulled in to Marseille Station on time and waited for everyone else to get off as it’s the end of the line so no rush to de-train. Made our way down the platform and followed the signs for Avis. Took a bit of finding but we got there. It was just off the station but had the car parked in a garage just next to it. We got upgraded to a Nissan Qashqai which was very nice. We then hit the Marseille traffic.

Had not heard that traffic in this area was this bad. But Oh My God. We got lost trying to find the motorway and spent a good hour queuing at various traffic lights until we found it and then it was gridlocked. Never thought we’d actually get out of Marseille. Once we were clear of the traffic it was a decent 30 mile run to Toulon on toll roads. We got in about 17.45 and amazingly found the hotel with no problems - apart from a quick detour around the grid and one-way systems.

Now as we’d got this hotel on the 5,000 point list - we weren’t expecting a lot. But as soon as we arrived it just seemed to click. First there was an underground car park with a lift up to reception. Then they upgraded us to Executive Rooms with no problems. Then a member of staff turned up with baskets of chocolate for Easter. Then they told us it was free wi-fi throughout the hotel. Was expecting the rooms to be a bit dingy but no - they were totally fine. Very comfortable and big bed; mini bar with soft drinks which were totally free; good toiletries in the bathroom; nice shower; loads of plug sockets and heavily glazed windows.

The only problem we could see was that upon exiting the lift on the second floor and heading to 220 and 217 - we saw an entire professional basketball team who were in the rooms near us. We had visions of late night partying but they were excellent. They had a game against Toulon that finished at 22.00 and by 22.30 we had a few doors closing and that was it!

Had a bit of unpacking and then felt it was tea time. Time for an explore. We asked in reception where the decent restaurants were and were told down by the port. Decided to go on the bus. We caught 191A which goes from right outside the hotel down to the port. Superb wheelchair access on the buses - like all French buses we’ve used. Driver told us the best place to get off and we took a wander along the front.

Now again - excuse me for be snobby - we’d expected Toulon to be a bit run down, maybe an industrial town - nothing could be further from the truth. The main streets are very nice indeed. Quite a few old buildings and a really nice central square. Yes, the road down to the marina is a bit more run down but the marina and port itself are lovely.

Found a place for dinner. Nikki had baked camembert, Stuart had steak, eggs and chips and I went for egg and chips. I know - classy! Very odd people running the place but the food was VERY good indeed.

Headed back to the hotel but the discovered the buses from the marina back up to the town centre stop running at 20.58 and it was now 21.10. Doh! So we walked. Took about 30 minutes in total including a stop off in a supermarket for some milk and cookies.

Back in the hotel just before 22.00 and in bed by 22.00 on the nose. Really busy day. All 3 of us knackered to a standstill.

Are Eurostar and TGV and hire car the best way to get to Toulon? Probably not - but going on the TGV certainly ticked off something I’ve always wanted to do. I probably wouldn’t do it again but it was great fun and certainly more memorable than yet another EasyJet or Ryanair flight.

Saturday 30th March 2013

Toulon

After expecting a noisy night with the basketball players in nearby rooms, we were surprised to wake up and find it was 08.00 and we’d slept right through. Result.

Off down to breakfast at 09.30. Not a bad spread at all. A few hot things and lots of nice French bread and croissants and pain-au-chocolat. Lingered for a while grazing. 

We’d planned to go up Le Marron today - the big mountain behind Toulon. We drove up to the bottom cable car station but there was no way of getting the chair on there - so we decided to drive up. To put it mildly, the road was narrow and the drops next to the car were sheer. Amazing views through. It was only when we got to the top that we realised it was actually one way traffic. I was slowing down at each bend expecting a bus to appear but I could have floored it all the way up. Though I think the screaming from my passengers might have been quite loud.

We stopped at the top cable car station and went to the place next door for an early coffee. Fabulous terrace area with stunning views over Toulon, the sea and the surrounding countryside.

We then got into the top cable car station and decided to come down in the cable car before going back up and driving down. Good ride down but Stuart decided it was the most terrifying thing he’d ever done and wussed out when we got to the bottom. He decided to get the bus back in to town. Me and Nikki went back up and got the car before following the one-way system back down the mountain. Stunning views and a much easier drive knowing it was one-way!

Used the Find A Friend app on my phone and figured out where Stuart was. Not surprisingly he was near Subway so we met up there for some lunch. Sat outside. Quite windy but nice to be sat in the sun.

Back to the hotel after lunch for a bit of down-time. Had a nap and some cookies and then met up for an ice-cream and some coffee. We headed over to the beach area of Toulon. Really nice park area with loads of places to eat and drink. We walked up and down before choosing one place that had good coffee and ice-cream on offer. Sat by the sea and watched what seemed to be the whole of Toulon passing by.

Drove around to the shopping centre for a wander. Good size with good parking. Ended up in a McCafe to discuss the next step. We decided to head back to the port and find some dinner. By now it had turned VERY windy. We parked at the end of the promenade and walked up looking at menus. Went in to one very promising looking Italian but their kitchen was broken and they only had the pizza oven on the go. We left and made our way back to the same place we’d eaten the night before!

This time it was an utterly forgettable meal. They messed up our order, the chips weren’t as nice and they were even more odd. Vowed never to return.

Back to the hotel and in bed by about 22.00.

Sunday 31st March 2013

Toulon

Here we are for Easter Sunday.

Up around 07.30 and a little confused by the time changes. The clocks had gone forward so the various devices in our room were showing different times.

Down to breakfast around 10.00 - probably. Nikki brought her bottle of champagne with her which she had with her brekkie.

Decided we’d go for an explore so Aix-en-Provence was on the agenda. I’d read somewhere that it was a beautiful place so we thought we’d better go and check it out.

Drove along the toll motorway and had a few scary moments at the toll booths when we realised we didn’t have enough change but managed to get through by putting a credit card in the booth! Took about an hour to get to Aix. Drove around a bit until we found the centre and found an underground car park which had a lift up to the main square. Aix is a beautiful town. We wandered around and found a street cafe to have coffee. Nice to sit in the sunshine and watch all the people walking by.

Went to the top end of town and started checking out some gorgeous looking boulangeries. Before that we needed a comfort break so after a bit of searching around we ended up back at the car so drove out of Aix and found a hotel to use their facilities! Drove back in to Aix and drove (probably illegally) through the main square and stopped outside one particularly nice looking Boulangerie we’d spotted earlier. Me and Stuart went in while Nikki guarded the car. Returned with some tomato bread, spinach bread, a freshly baked French loaf and some mini pain-au-chocolat. Sat in the car enjoying our lunch illegally parked!

Drove back to Toulon on the motorway having a bit more luck with the toll booths this time. Got back around 15.30 and decided it was nap time again.

Met up with Stuart at 19.00 with a view to getting some food. After some wandering around in the car we ended up in McDonalds on the main street before heading back to the hotel and BED!

Monday 1st April 2013

Toulon to Home

Alarm went off at 06.30 ready for our return journey.

We were checked out by 07.30 and on the road to Marseille Airport. First part of the journey went well. Then we hit Marseille. The motorway network doesn’t seem to be linked up in any way so the signs took us off and through a huge industrial estate before joining another motorway about half an hour later.

Got to Marseille Airport around 08.45 and had a bit of difficulty finding the car rental return. Got there eventually and dropped the car back with Avis. Marseille Airport has 4 terminals or halls and then has a converted shed which they’ve rather grandly called MP2 which is where the budget airlines go from. Bit of a trek to get there. Haven’t seen anything like it for years. There are two EasyJet desks and they hand-write the baggage labels! Had to wait half an hour for Special Assistance to come. They were totally clueless. Going through security was like nothing we’d seen before. Nikki had to moved to a special wheelchair to go through the scanner and they made everyone take their shoes off. Totally chaotic.

Got through and had a revolting cup of coffee from a machine before we were made to go down to Gate F and wait there. Our plane hadn’t even arrived at this point so they made everyone stand in their pens for about half an hour.

Boarding was quite swift but the clueless SA people thought Nikki needed carrying to her seat. She soon put them right. EasyJet staff were idiots too. The front row was empty and the entire plane had boarded so when I asked if we could sit there, they said no as they might get sold. To WHO???

We sat it row 2 and moaned a bit. Not doing Marseille Airport again. Flight back was 1’30” so we had some food and I dozed for a bit. Got into Gatwick at 11.45 and the SA woman there was excellent. Got us in the buggy and took us down to baggage. Stuart had already grabbed the chair and our bags so we were good to go.

Found the railway station and a chap got the ramp out to get us on the train. Easy enough journey into Victoria. Found a taxi which took us through all the back-streets to St Pancras. Little bit chaotic there but one of the First Capital Connect staff showed us where to go. We were on the Bedford train and had a carriage to ourselves. Just as we were about to leave he came running back to say the lift at Luton Airport Parkway was out of order so we should get off at St Albans and they’d take us to Luton by taxi. They did exactly as they promised!

Got the car and drove home for a few hours of TV watching. Great trip but now both knackered!