Sanary sur Mer

I have been thinking that the mediterranean climate at this time of year is perfect; pleasantly warm and sunny and not too hot. However, today was hot - 30 degrees and too hot to do a lot of walking about. We took the bus into Sanary sur Mer and sat in the shade by the harbour watching the people and the boats.
We made the short journey of about 50 miles from Aix en Province last Wednesday but couldn't get into our intended campsite. It was full. The season obviously goes on much longer down here, and today we have watched them turning campervans away from the site we are on. We are in a place called Six Fours Les Plages which is next to Sanary sur Mer and we have been taking the bus each day into Sanary; just a ten minute ride away.

Sanary is a beautiful little fishing village but obviously now catering for the tourists. There are still fishing boats at the harbour and each boat has its own stall to sell their catch. We have not been in there early enough to watch, but they are there in the afternoon mending their nets. The harbour is lovely with lots of colourful boats and the quayside is dominated by a lovely church.
We had a little adventure on Friday. We took two local buses which go around the houses to get to La Seyne. When we had to make the connection to the second local bus, I asked the driver to tell me the stop. She said it was her first day on this route and didn't know. Then she gave us the wrong advice and insisted we get off there and we did even though I knew she was wrong! She was only one stop out and we soon walked to the correct stop for the connection. When we arrived at La Seyne we took a small ferry boat across the harbour into Toulon. It was a lovely little trip and a great way to arrive in Toulon. The French mediterranean fleet is based in Toulon and there were quite a few warships anchored in the bay and in the port as well as naval personnel walking around the town. It really felt like I was in Barrow! You can see the similarity in the picture.
The Rough Guide to France really slates Toulon but unjustly so. It was heavily bombed during the war but there are lots of beautiful little streets and small squares with their obligatory Provencal fountain. Some parts seem a little run down, but it is a port city and it had that feel. Less touristy than other places - more down to earth.
One of my passions is French rugby and the Top 14. Ever since Philppe St. Andre left Sale and took half of our team with him, I have followed the progress of Toulon. On TV the Stade Mayol seems to have a wonderful atmosphere. The Stade is next to the harbour and Chris was surprised when I said that I wanted to see it. Nothing was happening there, of course, but a gate was open and I sneaked up the steps to take a look. The stands rise steeply from the pitch and the ground is surrounded by apartment blocks and other buildings that give it the feeling of a cauldron. It would be great to be there on a match day. I am just sorry that I didn't take a photograph for the blog.
We took the cowardly way back home from Toulon. Rather than the boat and two changes on local country buses, we went to La Gare Routiere and took the big bus straight back to Sanary sur Mer with only one stop on the way.
We have to move on from here and we will probably go east along the coast to Cavalaire sur Mer. We are out of food so we have to find a supermarche first.
Just one more thing - my Kindle is brilliant. Each morning I switch it on and within two minutes, as soon as the 3G kicks in, there is today's Guardian. Wonderful!