Our Thursday Travel Day!
Sooooo got up extra early so that I could take the buses back to the American Cemetery, to visit Connie's grand father's grave. Along my 3 block walk I collected a few flowers along the way. Don't judge, stores closed.
Got to bus stop #1 at 7:30 and waited 20 minutes. Made it to my transfer stop and waited an hour, couldn't figure out why so long, actually considered going back. Our fav bus 241 arrived and the driver was trying to tell me something but I couldn't understand, so I stamped my ticket and sat. But by the time my butt hit the seat we were at the next stop one block up. "Off, everyone". Wait....what....yup we were kicked off and he was going to turn to the other direction to pick up the extra passengers to Roland Garros. Darn tennis! He tells me to take 244 bus. Which I waited 15 mins for and climbed on board, stamped my tic and asked the driver if I could get to the cemetery. She said "no"....of course....seeing the pattern yet....and told me to get off and wait for the next 241. Soooooo waited 15 mins for next bus, all the while def ready to give this idea up for I was worried about catching our train to Marseille. But I waited, and 241 got me to the Cemetery at 9:29 a.m. Two darn hours to go .....hhhmmm 5 miles....yea the buses stink here!
Anyway.....get to the beautiful gates of the Cemetery......and.....they were CLOSED....yes I said closed! Looked at the ONLY sign in English I've seen in France for nearly a month and it says .....Open daily 9 a.m. Ok....soooo why are the gates closed. So, I walk around to the service entrance and yup....you guessed it ....closed. Walk back around the front....of course....steam may or may not have been exiting my ears....couldn't see for my self! And as I reached the stairs a lil car pulled up and a man jumped out.
As he walked toward the gates, he said don't worried I'm opening. I said, was it to be open at 9 or am I missing a sign here. His reply..."I'm sorry, I have lukemia and wasn't feel too good this morning". Great.....now I have to take my size 10 out of my mouth and try to act southern sweet at a time I really what to choke every bus driver around. ahahahhahah ok so I'm a lil dramatic.
He apologized for the delay and escorted and gave me a grand tour. First to the office to find Connie Ravo grandfather's plot information. BTW...he was very excited to get a family connection, he is seeking info. Which I will get with Connie about. Anyway....we made our way to the site and had a lovely chat. After which he offered me a ride back to the hotel. Guess he felt sorry for me after my bus story. Before he left he gave me something to take back to Connie, Mike and Ev....but I can't go into yet.
So, make my way back to the hotel, via car....THANK GOD! And Natalie and I packed and left. Got all our luggage loaded on the train and settled. And just about to pull away when tell announced that the train was broken and we would need to switch trains....awesome....load and unload....our favorite. Got to Marseille only to call for shuttle and be told doesn't start till tomorrow.
So we took the bus. Too bad we took it 8 stops toooooo far and had to go back. Thank goodness for a very helpful bus driver....for a change. We finally made it! Seem like it was one brick wall after another, but we made it. The great news of the day....put 2 Euro into candy machine for a Snickers, got the candy and my 2 Euros back....wooot....see today was not a total bummer of travels woes!
If you read that whole thing....I owe you a snickers.....hahahahhah guess I'm a lil pumped up!
As he walked toward the gates, he said don't worried I'm opening. I said, was it to be open at 9 or am I missing a sign here. His reply..."I'm sorry, I have lukemia and wasn't feel too good this morning". Great.....now I have to take my size 10 out of my mouth and try to act southern sweet at a time I really what to choke every bus driver around. ahahahhahah ok so I'm a lil dramatic.
He apologized for the delay and escorted and gave me a grand tour. First to the office to find Connie Ravo grandfather's plot information. BTW...he was very excited to get a family connection, he is seeking info. Which I will get with Connie about. Anyway....we made our way to the site and had a lovely chat. After which he offered me a ride back to the hotel. Guess he felt sorry for me after my bus story. Before he left he gave me something to take back to Connie, Mike and Ev....but I can't go into yet.
So, make my way back to the hotel, via car....THANK GOD! And Natalie and I packed and left. Got all our luggage loaded on the train and settled. And just about to pull away when tell announced that the train was broken and we would need to switch trains....awesome....load and unload....our favorite. Got to Marseille only to call for shuttle and be told doesn't start till tomorrow.
So we took the bus. Too bad we took it 8 stops toooooo far and had to go back. Thank goodness for a very helpful bus driver....for a change. We finally made it! Seem like it was one brick wall after another, but we made it. The great news of the day....put 2 Euro into candy machine for a Snickers, got the candy and my 2 Euros back....wooot....see today was not a total bummer of travels woes!
If you read that whole thing....I owe you a snickers.....hahahahhah guess I'm a lil pumped up!
