The Beautiful Calanques

Les Calanques de Marseille - Cassis


This has been the best part of my trip so far!

Superb rock, fantastic scenic routes, amazing views...

I swapped numbers with an Irish guy, Derek, in Chamonix and we met in Cassis. We bivvyed in En Vau for a few days, on a ledge two-thirds up a cliff, paying "bread rent" to a mouse. Check the view up from our house and you'll understand why it was worth it.

We did quite a few multi-pitch routes. Absolutely beautiful! I started leading a 40m high, small crimpy holds 5c+ thinking it was a 5a and was very pleased to get to the top. I also experienced my first two leading falls, on a 5c and a 6a routes. Scary but funny at the same time. Hurt my foot but was back to action in two days. Derek was a very competent belayer, even when smoking and playing phone games at the same time. We had a great time, sleeping rough outdoors or Chinese dining in Marseille. Plus more amazing scenec routes, some quite exposed over the sea. We weren't lucky enough to attract some hot chicks though, hehe. Now I'm complaining! Thanks, Derek!

After Cassis I spent a couple of days in Nimes and left France for Barcelona. I feel a bit out-of-place in a hostel in the city, so will soon return to open landscapes and small villages on the coast. Not yet sure where...

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