27th - 29th June - Cassis - Calanques - Chill - Journey Home

Trip to the Calanques

For the second time on this vacation we go hiking, this time to the Calanques. These are fjord-like coves that have been washed out of the steep coast by the sea over millennia.

We get lost in the village and are forced to walk back almost the entire first Calanque (Port-Miou) to get to the next one (Port Pin). The latter has a small, fine beach where it's not very lonely, but we still settle down for half an hour of swimming and sunbathing.

We skip the third, and probably most beautiful Calanque (d'en Vau), because even on the narrow hiking trail there is too much going on and you constantly have to stop to let others pass. So we turn around and take a detour over the plateau.

Chilling in Cassis

In the morning the place is tidied up, packed as much as possible, then we go for a walk to the beach again. Katja wants to leave after an hour; she has finished her book.
After a Sprizz (9€, bargain!) in a creperie, we eat some tapas in another bar because we are too lazy to haul ourselves up the hill again, freshen up, and head out again.
I miserably lose the evening game of Scrabble.

Journey Home

I set the alarm for six o'clock and we actually manage to leave at 6:45 a.m. The navigation system suggests the route via Switzerland and the San Bernardino Pass. Initially, it goes well, estimated time of arrival: 5:27 p.m. Then it turns out that the San Bernardino Pass is closed. 100 kilometers detour via the Gotthard Pass, with block control, refueling, and shopping in Austria results in an actual arrival time of 8:05 p.m.

Conclusion

The Riviera is beautiful, the sea divine, the food delicious. The French side is noticeably more chic and expensive and also more densely populated. Places like Cannes or Saint Tropez are too posh for us, but that's a matter of taste. Cycling here is sporty and quick, you can gain a lot of altitude meters.

Definitely worth a trip.