Marseilles, Villefrance & Monte Carlo

After just two wonderful weeks in Israel, Jack and I flew to Barcelona to meet another ship from our fleet for just one cruise. The ship was having a large group of gamblers for that cruise and needed extra dealers and security and we got lucky! Although it was hard work and not much rest, we got to visit a few new ports and make a little extra money.

At the beginning of the cruise, in Marseilles, the weather was not that good, but we went out to explore anyway. I was excited because it was my first time in France, and although my French skills are a little (okay a lot) rusty, we did fine.
The worst thing about learning to speak Hebrew is that it is pushing all my French waaaay to the back of my brain. Sometimes I struggle to think of even simple French words, but the Hebrew ones are right there.

In Marseilles, we took the ship's shuttle bus into town and we wanted to ask the driver, who didn't speak English, when the last bus returned to the ship. After just a second of mental preparation, I asked him (and I know this is bad) "Quand est le dernier...." and stupidly couldn't remember the word for bus. But he knew what I wanted to say, and offered "Bus?" Excited, I answered "Ken!!!" (Yes in Hebrew), then flustered, "Si!!!" (Damn. Too much time in Mexico.) Even more flustered, finally, "Oui!!!". And we all had a good laugh at my fried little brain. Haha.

Mmmmm...

Next day, beautiful Villefrance. It was really stunning. We wandered around for the morning and then in the afternoon took the train to the nearby town of Monte Carlo.

Our trains there and back were both seriously delayed and Jack was a little worried about missing the ship, but we made it. (Apparently a strike can stop all train service at a moment's notice.)

Ahhh, Monte Carlo was everything you would expect from one of the worlds most legendary glamourous cities. Huge yachts, extravagant casinos, luxury cars and world-class shopping. At 7 Eruos, I wouldn't even spring for a magnet for my collection!

We did visit the famous Casino Monte Carlo, and even got as far as checking my camera before we tried to pay our 10 Euro entrance fee (does anyone else find it outrageous to pay an entrance fee to a casino?!?).

At that point we were asked for our passports, which the ship keeps while we are onboard. Maybe our drivers licenses then? Nope, Jack didn't have his, and therefore we couldn't go in. I felt bad for him, because he was so excited to see this place, but I heard later that it's not that nice anyway, so who knows...