Marseille - the capital of Provence

Bus trip to Marseille ( 20 minutues and Euros 4.60 ) - a bustling cosmopolitan commercial port city of 1.5 million people, many from the north African and Middle Eastern regions - Turkey, Morrocco, Algerian...Second largest city in France and a city you either hate or love... Im the latter, as I've been there four times on this trip already - it reminds me of a 2600 year old Sydney

Notre-Dame de la Garde

Marseille Vieux-Port

Hotel de Ville - Town Hall

Bas Fort Saint-Nicolas one of two forts at the harbour mouth

Sweeping view over the Vieux-Port from Notre-Dame de la Garde

Palace built for a Queen and never used

Beautiful old buildings from the 17th and 18th Centuries line the streets

Notre-Dame de la Garde - and yes it is gold plated

Place Jules Guesde

Arles - les couleurs de la Camargue

Saturday 29th September and a one hour bus trip to the city of Arles, complete with 2000 year old Roman ruins.

The Roman Amphitheatre, built around 90 A.D.

...with a capacity of 20000, it is still used for bullfights, the ring is presently being prepared for one.

Remains of the city fortifications called Ramparts

Les Thermes de Constantin, a 4th Century A.D. Roman bath house

The Roman Theatre, built around the late 1st Century B.C.

...with a capacity for 10000.

The Alyscamps, a tree lined avenue that served as a Roman and early Christian cemetery.

Remains of burial stones from early Roman times.

RWC Australia v Fiji at Montpellier

Sunday 23rd September - 9.00AM start with a chartered company coach from Aix-en-Provence for the 2 hour trip to Montpellier travelling through beautiful wine regions.

The civilised way for a day at the Rugby - 3 course lunch at Restaurant Garrigue at the local golf club before hand

Short trip with a four police bike escort to Stade de la Mosson at Montpellier ( they must of thought we were important )

Close to the action - the Australians warming up before kick-off

The crowd builds up - lots of green and gold and great atmosphere with mexican waves, brass band and bullfight music

Lineout early in the first half right in front of us

The final score ( zoom in on the video screen ) Australia 55 Fiji 12

The Australian and Fijians do a lap - Georgie gets a TV camera up his nose

Prieure de Sainte Victoire and Croix de Provence

Prieure de Sainte Victoire XVII Siecle sur Montagne Sainte-Victoire......

is a monks' priory built in the seventeenth century......

Talking about being anti-social......

Completely isolated on top of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire......

A lot of spare time for reflection......

Hard work bringing the groceries in from the car and the water is undrinkable......

But great views from every window......

Croix de Provence sur Montagne Sainte-Victoire

Walking the Montagne Sainte-Victoire

Started walking from Bibemus ( of Cezanne fame ) at 9.00AM on Saturday morning with the objective - that mountain range in the distance called Montagne Sainte-Victoire......

Crossed the Barrage du Bimont ou Barrage Rigaud......

Lac du Bimont......

Unbelievable views over the Provence region......

Walked on the Sentier Imoucha along the les Costes Chaudes......

Spectacular ridge line walking in de Roques Hautes......

The initial objective was Croix de Provence on Montagne Sainte-Victoire......

I decided to continue walking the ridges of the whole range......

Ridge after ridge, plateau after plateau, false peak after false peak......

I eventually came down off the mountains at 6.00PM at Col des Portes, 9 hours and 25km later and would do it again tomorrow ( or maybe the day after )

Gardanne Alumina Refinery and Engineering Office

Blue building at the back of the roundabout is Alcan Engineering's Gardanne Refinery Office where I am working

Start of the main street that leads to the town centre is only 50 metres from the office

Beautiful wide tree lined streets are characteristic of most small towns in France

..... with the obligatory statues and fountains of course

Main roundabout ( with fountain ) entering Gardanne with Alcan Refinery in the background

First Alumina Refinery built in the world literally is located in the heart of town

View from my office of the landscape made famous by Cezanne in his paintings