Additional charges at the hotel were minimal.
They called me a taxi, and it arrived in 2 minutes flat. 8.50 E. to get back to the train station. I waited at the electonic board and watched for my 12:07 p.m. departure to light up.
Platform "E".
Note: I have never bullshitted or lied on this or any previous report. I am NOT going to start now.
For some reason still unknown to me; I did not board the train that was waiting; I boarded the train that was pulling in. I did not check the last stop register on the carriage. I did not ask anyone to confirm the destination. I simply loaded my luggage pieces on and found my seat. It did not cause any concern that this train pulled out 9 minutes early. It did not even raise suspicion that my compartment was relatively MT. I enjoyed the ride as I did 2 days prior. 2 hours later it comes to a full stop; and I see cleaners getting onboard! I ask them is this the end? Oui? Where is the Med? I look at the sign. I was NOT IN Marseille; I had gone North and was in Dijon!
Mr. World Traveller had FUCKED UP, Bigtime!!!!!
How stupid!
But, I did NOT panic. Followed the rest of the passengers downstairs below the tracks. Found a "SOS (Save-Our-Souls) Office for Travellers". Inside were two elderly ladies, I mean 70+. Explained what had happened. They show me where to leave my 2 pieces of luggage, and one goes up the escalator with me to the ticket office. We check the schedule. The next train heading south; that ends in Marseille, will be arriving in 1:40 hrs. I pay an extra 72 Euros. She then shows me where to get a drink (iced tea) and some lunch (a ham & cheese baguette). I wait patiently. Decide to make the most of this situation and exit the station. I find a grocery store. Look around and buy three (3) bottles of the most exclusive Dijon mustards available, for 7.2 E.
The train arrival is announced. The other of the two ladies personally takes me up to the platform, shows me how to read their electronic "Configuration de Tren" board, and guides my to my carriage, and my seat. I couldn't say thank you enough!
It leaves and I'm back in business; or so I thought!
This was the day that the French government announced to the unions, that their party of being able to retire on a full pension, at age 60 was over! They moved in to 62. What did the union do? They sabotaged the tracks. This forced some trains off of the hi-speed TGV rails on to the regular. Instead of 320 kph, we were doing 100 max. with the occasional dead-stop! Instead of taking 4 hours to get to Marseille it took 6.
To add insult-to-injury; there were no taxis waiting at the station and about 20 people, in the queue ahead of me. By the time I got to the hotel, it was dark, I was pissed right off, hungry and thirsty. The hotel (New Hotel Vieux-Port) looked great from the outside. Not so inside. A Three star, and a little bit worn. I wanted to be down by the harbour; so I got what I wanted.
The room was OK; but the air-con was unbelievably weak. I called down to confirm it was working. I then called their sister hotel, a 4 star, to see if they had any rooms for that night or the next. They did, one only! But it was a suite, and they wanted 320 Euros a night. Decided to pass. When out to get a donner, and drink. Found a grocery store open and picked up a mickey of rum, and 3 cokes. Had a few drinks, and opened both bay windows to at least get some air in. Was totally in no mood for fun and crashed at 1:20. A day of infamy. A day to forget!

Dr. J.

Man that goes to show you no matter how well traveled you are you will fuck up eventually. Like the time I left my debit card in a Bangkok ATM and realized it 2 days later in Pattaya. As an encore, I then left my credit card in a Pattaya ATM on a Friday with Monday being a Thai holiday.

Kudos to Mali Mike for the Western Union wire that saved my ass on that trip. At least I had plenty of money left when I got back, lol, and I now have a wallet full of credit cards I never use but are ready to be.

Nice report.