Ask me anything about Marseille (and South of France)

[Voj]

Hi everybody.

Summer's a reality by now and I guess some of you will visit my city this year - or will by nearby.
So let's try this topic and see if it's popular.
I'll answer any questions about Marseille and its area though I don't guarantee a quick answer - I'm Marseillais after all and we're pretty lazy people.

[mbillie1]

How do you recommend getting there from either Vienna or Milan? I imagine a plane is probably cheapest, but a train could be sweet and a very scenic ride. Also, what do you recommend doing if you're a total Europe noob and only going to be in Marseille for about 1-2 days? Where should I stay? I'm going in like, mid-to-late February of this upcoming year, if it makes a difference.

Thanks!

[Voj]

[ QUOTE ]
How do you recommend getting there from either Vienna or Milan? I imagine a plane is probably cheapest, but a train could be sweet and a very scenic ride. Also, what do you recommend doing if you're a total Europe noob and only going to be in Marseille for about 1-2 days? Where should I stay? I'm going in like, mid-to-late February of this upcoming year, if it makes a difference.

Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes plane would be definitevely easier - and probably cheaper if you plan on your trip in advance.
If you want to take a train it's perfectly possible - though it's not an easy trip - and is probably better done in two chunks.
From Milano you've got basically two routes : via Nice or via Lyon.
Milano - Nice takes about 4 hours of train and is a very nice trip esp. between Genova and Nice (called the Fiora Riviera - The riviera of flowers) Nice - Marseille is around two hours and a half - and is also very beautiful by the sea
The other option is going through Lyon. Lyon is a really beautiful city - his old center (called the old lyon) being the hughest and best conserved Renaissance center of the World - World Patrimony of UNESCO - sorry for my English). Milano - Lyon is around 4 hours by fast train through Alps ; and Lyon-Marseille (335 kms) is done in one hour and twenty (TGV - French hyper fast train). It is a nice trip if you want to see some mountain paysages.
I wouldn't advise you to try and make the Vienna-Marseille trip by train as best connections will probably be via Milano and that will be pretty long. BTW Milano is an elegant city but there are certainly far more beautiful cities in Italy.

February is still a winter month in Europe ; and if the winter in Marseille is usually very sunny and often not too cold (last winter temperatures have virtually never been below 0°C even by night) it is pretty windy (that's the cost of of the sunny weather during winter times insouthern Europe) so you'd better be prepared to that.
I'd advise you to stay in one of the hotels of the Old Port of Marseille - you can find anything ranging from medium to luxury categories in this area). It is picturesque indeed in the morning when old ladies sell the fishes freshly fished screaming to attrcat customers with their heavy Marseillaise accent.
For a two days program (gosh it's short) I'd advise a boat trip round Marseille (doable in one afternoon) if the wind permits it (boats don't sail if the "Mistral" is too heavy). This boat trip goes to Cassis and back and allows you to see the famous Calanques (more on that if you're interested) which are natural bays in a lunar paysage with 300 meters cliffs all around the trip).
Visiting the old area of Panier (very near the Old Port) is certainly worth it. If you like melting pot - the area of Noailles (also five minutes of walk from the Old Port) is gorgeous - well it really doesn't feel like Europe anyway.
I'd advise you to taste the Bouillabaisse (fish soup - speciality of the city). Can give you good adresses if interested. The walk to the top of the "Notre Dame de la Garde" a local church at 130 meters above the level of the sea can be done in two hours.
Night life can be good at the Old Port esp. on week-end nights and if the weather is not too awful.
If the weather is not good there are some busses doing a commented city tour (on two levels - top level is open and low level is closed) in a few hours. That could also be a good choice if you're not staying more than a few days.

What would you like to know about more ?

[Humble Pie]

Is it true that French people hate Americans? Did you see the movie Ratatouille? Where is the closest poker venue?

[Mike Haven]

Marseille

[Voj]

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Is it true that French people hate Americans? Did you see the movie Ratatouille?

[/ QUOTE ]

Certainly not. American government prolly but Americans no.
No haven't seen the movie Ratatouille..

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Where is the closest poker venue?

[/ QUOTE ]

Casino d'Aix-En-provence (30kms away)

[mbillie1]

Voj,

Thanks for your response, that was very informative. I'm going across Europe for the first time with my girlfriend htis coming February, and as a compromise of places we'd like to go we've nailed it down to Berlin, Vienna, Marseille, Milan and Paris (and maybe Barcelona, or something), that's why only for 2 days. I'd love it to be longer, Vienna and Marseille were my picks of the five! I'd like to take a train but since flights seem to be so much cheaper I'll probably end up flying. I will bump this thread if I think of any other questions (as it gets closer to travel time I'm sure I will), thank you though!

M

[T50_Omaha8]

billie--before you book those airline tickets look at the exact destinations of the airports.

I've been through some absolute travel hell with the discount european airlines, ie taking an hour+ bus ride out of barcelona that left at 3:30 in the morning and cost 20 euros round trip (and had to take another 20 euro round trip bus ride in paris--discount my ass).

Trains are much more direct and relaxing, sometimes even faster taking the often absurd airport commutes into account, and if you get a pass they can be cheaper too. Plus they give you the option of seeing other places and cities along the way.

[JOEL_]

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Where is the closest poker venue?

[/ QUOTE ]

Casino d'Aix-En-provence (30kms away)

[/ QUOTE ]

What games do they spread?

[Voj]

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[ QUOTE ]

Where is the closest poker venue?

[/ QUOTE ]

Casino d'Aix-En-provence (30kms away)

[/ QUOTE ]

What games do they spread?

[/ QUOTE ]

I really wouldn't advise playing there but just for the sake of answering all the questions I'm cross-posting and translating the "TR" I made on the "Forum Francophone" :

Two tables of NL 5/5 and one of 2/4.
First buy-in is fixed and is 250€ and 100€ .
The rebuy (max. 750 or 300 or no max depends of the days ; min = original buy-in) is possible only if you bust.
Dealers are very slow. Players are even weaker than in Paris - it is not rare to have several orbits with 10 players on the flop (and no raises pre)
You have to arrive at exactly 3PM (the first dealed hands are at 4PM) to have a seat ; the average waiting time is between 4 and 5 hours ; more on week-end days.
The main problem is the rake : 5%uncapped
Dealers count chips one by one (there's no denomination higher than 5€.. !!!) et have a supermarket calculator for the rake.
Games may be profitable if you have an infinite bankroll and a patience even higher.

Note : It seems like the rake will be lowered to 4% uncapped which is still a scandal. Still no chances to have anything else than NOLimit

If some of you planned to stay for a longer period in Marseille or Aix-En-Pce (say one month or longer), there are a lot of home-games in which it is really easy to be invited (and pretty juicy well.. like everywhere). There's a local poker forum for that purpose.