The following adventure took place one year after the Switzerland, Lyon, Barcelona trip. This time I would fly into Barcelona with a side trip to Marseille. On the way back, I would visit Avignon, Pont du Gard, Nîmes and Carcassonne.

The idea was to take what I learned on the previous trip and improve on the experience. The first step was to lengthen the trip to 4 weeks with extended stays in Barcelona both at the beginning and end of the trip. And to switch things up, the Marseille side trip would be via 7 hour bus ride with FlixBus.

After getting situated in Spain, I was ready for the first goal, the Sant Jeroni Loop. The R5 regional train left Plaça Espanya before dawn heading towards Montserrat. The trail starts at the monastery and one can immediately feel the elevation as the ascent begins. It is recommened to do the trail clockwise for the best views on the gradual path to the summit.

A day trip to Montserrat is a perfect break from the city. As one makes their way past rock climbers and cactus, breathtaking views lie around every corner.

Despite mixed reviews of FlixBus, I took a chance and was rewarded with a mellow, scenic ride through the French countryside. As I made my way to Marseille, vineyards stretched as far as the eye could see. The first stop was the La Friche park, convieniently located by St. Charles train station.

Afterwards, I visited the Abbey of St. Victor, specifically to see the crypt which dates back 2000 years. The search for pictureque locations led to a spur of the moment boat ride from Vieux-Port to the Isle of Frioul.

The overall pace began to pick up as I prepared for the journey to Calanques National Park. Although I was skeptical of the directions, I was able to use public transportation to make it to Cassis, where the trail to Calanque d'En-vau begins.

I knew immediately this would be my all-time favorite hike. Even just walking through Cassis, I could see huge cliffs disappearing into the Mediterreanan Sea. But once on trail, I began to see what all the hype was about in regards to the French Riviera, or Côte d'Azur.

100% sunshine and crystal clear turquoise water. Did I mention, this was January?

The next morning, as I prepared to leave Marseille, I received an email saying the FlixBus to Avignon was cancelled. So much for FlixBus. I immediately got on the Trainline app and sorted my travel plans. By evening, I was exploring the charming city of Avignon and the Palace of the Popes.

Admittedly, I wasn't confident in my plan to move between cities in rural France via bus. This situation came to a head the day I planned to visit Pont du Gard. I hopped off the bus at Rond Point Pont du Gard when an Englishman said, "You forgot your skateboard on the bus."

I immediately could care less about the ancient Roman Aquaduct. My thoughts were with my abandoned board. The Englishman said, "Why don't you wait for the bus to come back? Maybe it will still be on it."

After a quick check of the schedule, it looked to be 4 hours until the bus came back around. It couldn't possibly still be on the bus, could it? I can't express the absolute joy in finding my board exactly where I left it.

And shortly afterwards, when the #121 bus to Nîmes didn't show up - I went full vagabond and started hitchhiking. No sooner than my thumb was out, an asian guy who couldn't speak english offered to take me part of the way.

At that point, I just started skating in the direction of Nîmes. Hoping for the best, I came to a long line of cars stuck in traffic. I looked ahead and couldn't believe when I saw the huge red #121 bus right in front of me. I showed the driver my 2 euros and asked, "Nîmes Central?" He nodded and I was on my way.

Ultimately, the decision to visit Avignon and Nîmes was completely worth it. Despite the random cancellations and spontaneous hitchhiking, I feel these cities show a side of France you aren't going to find in Paris.

Back on the train, I was off to the final destination in France, the medieval walled city of Carcassonne. Dark, gloomy skies set the mood, while a rainy mist lasted throughout my visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

By chance, I booked a high speed Renfe train back to Barcelona. This route was much faster than the regional train I took last year. My final week was spent relaxing at Barceloneta Beach, soaking up the sun and hitting up Picnic DIY and the local curb.