However, what seemed to be a carefully planned journey from St. While finishing our packing before leaving for the airport Joanne received a message from Google that our flight from Madrid to Marseille was canceled. Relaxing at JFK we received a new notice that our flight from Barcelona had been canceled. Searching on our cell phones for alternatives we were able to make train reservations from Barcelona to Marseille.
It appeared that all flights in France were canceled because of a general strike. At Barcelona airport we found out only to learn that the train station we needed was a taxi ride away.
Apparently, it was more than just an airline strike but also affected trains and taxis, buses and disgustingly, the garbage pickups. By the time we got off the train our cell phone batteries were used up. Joanne suggested we stop at Hotel Ibis, next to the stain station, and ask for directions to the hotel we had booked from our now dead phones.
The girl at the reception desk was pleasant and printed out a map with a walking route of 15 minutes. Our last food and drink had been on the airplane from JFK to Barcelona! That gave us the energy to walk up a beautiful tree-lined avenue. The weather was delightful, and we passed a lovely park and then a Roman Amphitheatre Arena where concerts and bullfights are still held.
Built in the first century shortly after the building of the Colosseum of Rome, it is one of the best amphitheaters in the world. Our hotel was located meters from the Arena, combining two 17 th and 18 th century mansions. From there we were able to cancel our hotel In Marseille and they were very understanding because of the strikes. The next day we spent exploring the sites, first passing by the Clock Tower, built in , which replaced the bell ringer.
