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Marseille

From Aix we set out to Marseille and promptly wished that we had chosen to stay here instead of messing about at Aix for so long.  The old port its defensive fortifications and the spectacular gallery/ museum were wonderful and the old town, the Cathedral and modern port were interesting as well. 

 

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Marseille

 

We spent the best part of the day here and enjoyed a pleasant lunch into the bargain. 

Reluctantly we then departed for Nice using the motorway network instead of the local roads and cruise-control set to 150 km/h, as time was now of the essence.  No diverting to Cannes or Monaco other such resorts along the way.

Unfortunately, although I slowed for the 110 km/h zones (most of it is 130) it was obviously not slow enough on the day.  A fine notice for 45 Euro for doing 130 in a 110 zone appeared in the letterbox a few days after we arrived home.   

 
The fine is for exceeding the limit by less than 50 km/h. 
So it would have been the same fine had I been doing 160.  Damn! 
The good thing is that it was easy to pay on-line.

 

I might say at no time was ours the fastest car on the road.  We were constantly overtaken by others coming up quickly behind, doing well over 160 (the old 100 mph).  I guess they know where the cameras are or don't care about being fined.

 

 

 

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Travel

Sri Lanka

 

 

 

In February 2023 we joined an organised tour to Sri Lanka. 

 

 

Beginning in the capital Colombo, on the west coast, our bus travelled anticlockwise, in a loop, initially along the coast; then up into the highlands; then north, as far as Sigiriya; before returning southwest to Colombo.

Read more: Sri Lanka

Fiction, Recollections & News

Oppenheimer

 

 

When we were in Canada in July 2003 we saw enough US TV catch the hype when Christopher Nolan's latest ‘blockbuster’: Oppenheimer got its release.

This was an instance of serendipity, as I had just ordered Joseph Kannon’s ‘Los Alamos’, for my Kindle, having recently read his brilliant ‘Stardust’.  Now here we were in Hollywood on the last day of our trip. Stardust indeed!  With a few hours to spare and Wendy shopping, I went to the movies:

Oppenheimer, the movie - official trailer

 

Read more: Oppenheimer

Opinions and Philosophy

Energy and a ‘good life’

 

 

 

Energy

With the invention of the first practical steam engines at the turn of the seventeenth century, and mechanical energy’s increasing utility to replace the physical labour of humans and animals, human civilisation took a new turn.  

Now when a contemporary human catches public transport to work; drives the car to socialise with friends or family; washes and dries their clothes or the dishes; cooks their food; mows their lawn; uses a power tool; phones a friend or associate; or makes almost anything;  they use power once provided by slaves, servants or animals.

Read more: Energy and a ‘good life’

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