We’ve Landed!

I must begin by giving you some information about Amsterdam’s Airport, Schiphol. This is the first time we’ve landed here so we were quite shocked by the extent of the shopping. The shopping here would easily rival the largest North American malls we’ve visited and BONUS, it’s all duty free.
Having said that, we bought next to nothing, but I thought a couple of interior pics might be appropriate – like the window Barbie display in a children’s shop – hope Ella & Sadie enjoy that - and the façade of the wine bar featuring Tattinger champagne by the glass.


I ended up not running after the plane as we did find a nice Dutch KLM agent who found Dawn and I seats together, something that seemed impossible in Toronto. Go figure!
When we landed in Marseilles however, we had some difficulty contacting the Renault agent to collect our car. For some reason all manner of phone, cellular and land-line alike, was inoperative on the entire airport property. What’s that all about?
Fortunately, the Renault agent found us in the airport in our futility trying to get through to him on a phone we already understood didn’t work. I think we were looking for a miracle and low and behold he appeared.
Anyway, we were in and out of the Renault depot in a matter of minutes on our way to our hotel in La Ciotat. Now, I booked this hotel for our first night because it was on the Med not far from the airport in a very picturesque area.
Our first challenge was getting across Marseilles at rush hour. Not pretty!
Then, despite our GPS and good maps of the hotel location, we proceeded to drive literally in circles around the hotel for close to an hour without finding it. We – I – asked directions – anyone impressed? – twice and finally we found it, mere minutes before the reception closed for the night. As it turns out, The Hotel Victoria is a residence hotel consisting only of apartments and the reception had limited hours as a result.


The hotel is nicely located, just 100 metres up from the beach on the outskirts of La Ciotat, but it’s a little tired. Fortunately, arriving on a hot 30-degree day, the air conditioning was working and the apartment quickly cooled down.
Despite being the first day of September, people lingered on the beach well after sunset and we found a beach restaurant for dinner called Indiana. Interesting!

We were pretty hungry and actually feeling pretty good despite our lack of sleep and wolfed down mussels for Dawn and Cognac flambéed gambas for Bill and Jackie, along with a litre piche of local rose. We finished up with a nice Ile Flottante and ice cream sundae for dessert.

Man it feels good to be back in France!