Frankfurt to Marseille

Tuesday 4th of April 

05:30… Alarm goes off. 05:45 ….Alarm goes of again….. 06:00 Alarm grants me with the worst tune in the world, AGAIN. I kind of open my eyes and see a couple of German cars speeding past the window on some major German highway. Its grey. Its cold. 
06:05 I Realise what the actual time is and I think about how my plane is taking off at 07:40 and that I have to board at 07:05 and that I have a heck of a long way to walk to get to gate B13. I grab my stuff,, run, catch my plane and pass out again In a half squashed drooling position. The last thing that crosses my mind before I fall asleep… God I stink! 08:10 I wake up to the smell of food, I realize that I missed it , im heartbroken as the air hostess is already at the end of the isle.i scrape my guts together and I get up half awake and follow her, I lightly tap her on the shoulder and smile, she gives me one disapproving look and shoves a Cheese sandwhich into my hand and says something in french that I seriously do not comprehend.i say Merci she looks a little less neurotic and I return to eat my Fromage Sandwhich and then Pass out again. 
09:30, I wake up as the plane comes to a screeching halt at the Marseille Airport. At last I have arrived. Mission on. Im am so stoked to see the sun. Once inside the terminal I realize that I am in france again. Absolutely no English from anyone. We sit. We wait. Nothing happens for a seemingly incredibly long time. The others start to get upset. Finally an announcement is made. Its got something to do with nearly all the passengers. I figured this out as I saw 90% of the passengers rushing to the Lost & found section. I observe, since I cant comprend what the hell they are saying.French sounds like a lot of smooth beat boxing to me. Evidence states that most of the luggage did not make the plane and that the conveyor belt is broken. I stress. Competition is in 1.5 days I need my stuff! An elderly executive notices my distress, and comfortably switches from French to English, American drawly English I might add. I pick up my jaw from the ground and respond. It seems he knows that only 6 bags made it from Frankfurt to Marseille, 2 of them are mine! I smile and thank the universe for providing! 

Alex picks me up at the airport. 

Introducing Alexandre Caizergues: Age 28, Professional Speed Kiteboarder, Sponsored by F-one, Ion and Grab Pants. Son of the Mayor of Port Saint Louis and my host for my stay in France. Most of SA knows him as Frenchi after his one month stay in Cape Town & Langebaan during January 2007. Talented Waverider and one of few speedsailors to go past 50 knots. Respect. See www.alexcaizergues.com for more info. 

Ok cool. Driving on the other side of the road takes a bit of getting used to. I keep thinking – Alex what the hell are you driving like a hooligan for, get back on the other side… but I got over it and I am now quite comfortable with it. Major Breakthough.haha. 
Next up, tour of Port Saint Louis and surrounding area, check out the speedspot and meet Alex’s dogs, Tequila( White Labrador) and Pepsi ( Yorkshire terrier- I think it should be called Horrrible!) Tequila cant stop barking when it she sees me and freaking Pepsi’s eyes pop out every time I throw her ball for her. Quite amusing. 

Next Chocolate. Frenchi’s mom brings back a 1kg box of Puyricard Chocolate. Content. Satisfied. Thrilled. Amazed. In Heaven. What more can I say? 

I pass out again on a proper bed and sleep away the rest of the afternoon while Frenchi continues to organize the rest of the speed event. I wake up to Italian coffee and we head oof to Marseille. What a place. I got so confused, its such a massive port and there is water and canals and boats and buildings and roads all mixed up… I don’t know where which way is… its was a labrinthe of cool thing It was all too much to take in. I think I was overwhelmed for the first time in years. Just so many things to process. Frenchi saw the “what the F*** “ look on my face and came up with a solution! Beer! We went to Shamrock Irish pub on one of the nicer less confusing roads of Marseille… then we met up with the barlady ,one of Frenchi’s friends… while pouring us drafts she whipped out a piece of paper with Afrikaans terms and swear words and asked me to add some… I think I liked her instantly.Then another of frenchi’s mates joined us and another beer went down… then the football started and it was suggested that we get out of there before it gets ugly. 
We went out the door and I complained of hunger. We turned left immediately into the next door into a resturaunt called “Nul Part Ailleurs” apparently meaning “Nowhere Else” . The Food and vibe was amazing! Had Roquefort Ravioli with lots of Parmesan and Frenchi chowed some type of Lamb dish –baaa! Then came dessert! After a speech that in france Dessert classifies as a religeon I was treated to a chocoloate and cococnut something that was out of this world.. 

On our way home we get pulled over… Luckily I remembered to put my seatbelt on ! Sjoe! I’m like lank stressed, trying to remember how much wine and beer frenchi had drunk?? Not that much!but mysteriously within seconds we were allowed to go, I obviously could not understand a word of what was being said so Frenchi translated as we drove off…The traffic cop asked.. did we break any road rules? No. of course not. Then He looked at my face and said to Frenchi ill let you go because the woman next to you is looking angry and pulling a funny face! What a relief! Straight home to bed brings the end of day 2!