25th March 2013

Palm Sunday dawned not with palm trees and sunshine but with our first dose of drizzle and drear. Over breakfast, we stared gloomily out at the rolling grey waves, no dolphins in sight, though I can hardly blame them for staying tucked up at home with a good book.

A tentative shuffle around the deck proved fruitless, cold, wet, and generally the sort of weather that makes one wonder why anyone bothers to crawl from under the duvet.

By lunchtime, the rain was still doing a fine impression of a monsoon, and Marseille greeted us at noon looking as though someone had draped the entire city in a damp dishcloth. We briefly considered braving the elements for a city tour bus, but common sense (and warm coffee) prevailed. Instead, we spent the afternoon heroically working through the crossword, sipping coffee, and watching raindrops race down the windows.

Ray and Glynnis did attempt a foray ashore, but the crew cheerily pointed out that it was Sunday and all the shops were shut. They returned swiftly, looking slightly less adventurous and considerably damper.

At last, as we set sail at 6 pm, the rain sloped off, but Marseille still looked as inviting as a soggy dishcloth.

Dinner, however, cheered matters considerably. Mario, our waiter, turned out to be a budding magician. Between courses, he bent a spoon à la Uri Geller and whipped through a few nifty card tricks. (If he ever loses his job waiting tables, he’s got a fair shot at Britain’s Got Talent.)

The evening’s entertainment was titled Elan the Mime, naturally French. Short on material (and, fittingly, short on words), he still managed to raise plenty of laughs with his antics. Imagine a man trapped in an invisible box, then imagine him doing it for an hour with great enthusiasm; that about sums it up.

Back in the cabin, we faced the grim task of packing for home. Savona tomorrow, then Nice, and finally back to Blighty, where, according to the forecast, snow and frost await. After a final farewell coffee with our dinner companions, we zipped up the cases and reluctantly admitted the holiday was over.