Toulon is one of the many places in Europe I've not visited....I lived here for nearly a year, visited many other time for 2-4 weeks, but the south coast, the med coast of France and Spain were unknown to me. This visit to the Med coast were a treat for me, and broadened my view of Europe, previous mainly of North Europe and the UK.
As others have opined, cruises are not the way to first visit Europe. You see little of what is actually life out there on the shore, and mostly what life is like on the boat. I had a very good time, and it's an experience that I've never considered before. I'm happy about the whole experience. It's fun, but don't expect to experience the culture's you're visiting.
So, Toulon France, and Palamos Spain.
Palamos was noticeably different than France. The food was more seafood/fish based, the people less self-conscious, the cities both more relaxed and more shabby.
The last pic is me back on board, out on our balcony/veranda with the spoils of the day, a baguette from the local bakery, various eats gathered on the days activity.
Nice visits, nice shoes.
ReplyDeleteSteve
Thanks Steve. Shoes?
DeleteOpps, nice shots.
DeleteSteve
The only way you can really get the culture is to live someplace for more than a few weeks. Find that you have to use the bank, the mail, the grocery store. You have time to avoid the tourists and go down more remote paths. Yet, I do like the small cruises crammed with intellectual tours and history, because you do come away with something.
ReplyDeleteAgree. I have limited (twice) experience with cruises, but they seem more about the cruise than the places the ship visits. And I don't much like being part of a shepherded group led my someone holding up a sign....
ReplyDeleteHi Mike-you're living in Europe now? That's great!! Happy Veterans day and thanks. Thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteNo, twas just a trip, back home in Montana now.
DeleteCheers,
Mike
The photographs are just as wonderful as the others you've taken during this journey. It's easy to see you are quite the gourmand.
DeleteI just spent some time reading back through all the travel posts. The food looks delicious and it's a beautiful place. Makes me even more eaer to get to Italy!
ReplyDeleteGo, you may not want to return from Italy.
DeleteYou've just returned from an eater's paradise. Think back on it and enjoy. And savor. I'm deeply envious.
ReplyDeleteAh, you've done much the same, Bruce.
DeleteI would like to take a gastronomic world tour someday when I am fabulously wealthy. Until then I will eat vicariously through the travels of others and take a quick excursion to a metropolitan area where there are some more exotic and ethnic foods.
ReplyDeletethe fact is that the people who eat like the locals, cheaply is the word, have the best food, anyplace. Eat like the locals, make that your mantra, and go. It's well worth it.
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