Today was a serious of small issues but in general, everything worked out just fine.

Due to mosquitoes, I didn't sleep well last night and had to get up bright and early to make my train at 7:20.



After a few hours I arrived in Marseilles, hoping to miraculously find this phantom bus running to Cassis. I heard from a friend it was a really beautiful place, so I wanted to fit it in. I searched the whole train station for the Gare Routiere (bus station) it is also supposed to house, finally found it, and then couldn't figure out for the life of me which bus to take. I decided to take the train and then the bus from that train station into the city (complicated!). I bought my ticket after buying a coke from good ole McDonalds to get coins (the regular line was super long, and the train was leaving in like 15 min), and then I was trying to check the train number so I got on the right one (the Marseilles train station is huge!), and my computer and the Mickey D's internet crapped out, and I missed that train. So I had to wait an hour. Okay.



Got to the Cassis train station, waited for the bus, and eventually, finally, arrived in paradise!

  

It is absolutely gorgeous in Cassis with lots of small shops and cafes and beautiful views. It has Calanques, which are essentially Mediterranean fjords, so it was very beautiful. I was hoping to hike on them, but unfortunately the hiking trails were closed because of the heat causing a fire hazard.



Instead I hung around the beach and relaxed in the sun and explored the city a bit.



Heading back to get to the train back to Marseilles, our bus driver knocked his side mirror off which caused a delay, and caused me to miss my train. So I had to wait another hour. But I got back!



I really wanted to pass out in the hostel after I checked in (my first hostel experience!), but instead I walked down to the Old Port in Marseilles. The architecture here is gorgeous, but there is trash and graffiti everywhere, and the city doesn't feel very safe. I was hoping to get dinner at the Old Port, but I changed my mind because I didn't want to walk home in the dark - it was scary enough! I definitely made the right decision to go to Cassis today instead of staying in Marseilles.

Tomorrow I will be doing my wine tour - SO excited!