The Château d'If, made famous by Dumas's "Monte Cristo," is on a barren rock which rises out of the sea within sight of the harbor of Marseilles.
The château was, until recently, a political prison, and many notable men have been confined within its dungeon cells. It is now kept for the inspection of tourists, and one is shown the inscriptions carved on its begrimed walls by Edmond Dante and the learned Abbe Faria during their fourteen years' imprisonment in cells where daylight never penetrated.
If time should hang heavily on your hands at Marseilles, go to Aix-en-Provence—not that there is anything especial to see at Aix except the quaintly rural landscape, nor yet anything especial to do except to taste the calisson, an almond cake of which Aix holds the secret recipe. But, go! It is in the going that your time will be unhung.
CHÂTEAU D'IF
ALMERIA, SPAIN
The tram leaves from the Vieux Port, and if you go down at the hour advertised, just place a book or your top-coat on a seat to reserve it, and then go to get your grand déjeuner, to take a nap, or to shop, returning at your leisure, and you'll have ample time.
Local freight is carried on a little trailer car, and the car is moved alongside the freight that has been dumped in the middle of the street near the track. This looks so easy that before the car is loaded, it is moved a half block or so, and the freight is carried to the new location of the car and again dumped on the ground. After this operation has been repeated several times, the ludicrousness of it all dawns on one, and turns the tears of anger caused by the delay, to laughter.