- Teresa to Bonifacio, Corsica- one
- hour.
-
We left our bags at our hotel (too early
to check in) and headed to Haute Ville
(high city-also considered the Old
Town). The first stop was a tour of the
bastion, a fortress with a lot of history. It
withheld attacks and sieges over the
centuries, surrendering one time, due to
a little trickery and a lot of starvation-
very nice town, lots of English and nice
views.
to check in) and headed to Haute Ville
(high city-also considered the Old
Town). The first stop was a tour of the
bastion, a fortress with a lot of history. It
withheld attacks and sieges over the
centuries, surrendering one time, due to
a little trickery and a lot of starvation-
very nice town, lots of English and nice
views.
We
then walked through the Old Town
stopping in at St.Mary Majories where
another bit of the true cross hangs out
– a gift from Helen, mother of
Constantine.
stopping in at St.Mary Majories where
another bit of the true cross hangs out
– a gift from Helen, mother of
Constantine.
We
then walked down the steps of the
King of Aragon, which was supposed to
take us to a spring which didn’t exist.
King of Aragon, which was supposed to
take us to a spring which didn’t exist.
We
walked around some more, to the
cemetary and then back checking out
the restaurants and the stores.
cemetary and then back checking out
the restaurants and the stores.
Back
to the room where we snacked on
leftovers.
leftovers.
For
dinner we went to Il Poste. I had a
pretty good pizza and Teresa had a
Nicoise salad “her best salad of the
trip”.
No dessert tonight. We did walk down by
the port.
pretty good pizza and Teresa had a
Nicoise salad “her best salad of the
trip”.
No dessert tonight. We did walk down by
the port.
The
next morning was pick up the car at
the airport day- which is impossible from
Bonifacio. There is no bus or other
service to the airport other than taxis.
There is a taxi stand but no taxis, there
is a list of 6 phone numbers which did us
no good as without wifi we had no
working phone. We were perplexed. We
then met Jean, a sailboat operator from
Monaco who fortunately also needed to
get to the airport for a flight. He called
all 6 numbers. The 6th one could make
it, but in an hour. We strolled to kill time;
Jean went to get a beer. We raced
Titania out of the port.
the airport day- which is impossible from
Bonifacio. There is no bus or other
service to the airport other than taxis.
There is a taxi stand but no taxis, there
is a list of 6 phone numbers which did us
no good as without wifi we had no
working phone. We were perplexed. We
then met Jean, a sailboat operator from
Monaco who fortunately also needed to
get to the airport for a flight. He called
all 6 numbers. The 6th one could make
it, but in an hour. We strolled to kill time;
Jean went to get a beer. We raced
Titania out of the port.
Teresa
became quite enthralled with
Jean and told me if she was 30 years
younger I would be finishing the vacation
without her.
Jean and told me if she was 30 years
younger I would be finishing the vacation
without her.
We
finally got to the airport, got our car
and drove back to the hotel. We picked
up some sandwiches and drove to a
secluded beach, then eventually walked
15 more minutes to a more secluded
one.
and drove back to the hotel. We picked
up some sandwiches and drove to a
secluded beach, then eventually walked
15 more minutes to a more secluded
one.
We
drove back to the room at 5:15.
We
walked to Haute Ville for dinner. I
had pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes
and salad. Teresa had another Nicoise
salad. I got gelato. We then started our
hike up the cliff which lasted about 40
minutes. We walked down to the port
area, checking out the yachts. Teresa
got upset because I was talking to the
crew of the Volpini.
had pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes
and salad. Teresa had another Nicoise
salad. I got gelato. We then started our
hike up the cliff which lasted about 40
minutes. We walked down to the port
area, checking out the yachts. Teresa
got upset because I was talking to the
crew of the Volpini.
In
the morning we headed out; first to
Filitosa to view the remains of the
neolithic civilization from 8,000 years
ago.
They left some statues, some homes
and presumably a worship area.
Filitosa to view the remains of the
neolithic civilization from 8,000 years
ago.
They left some statues, some homes
and presumably a worship area.
On
to Ojaccio, the birthplace of
Napoleon. We checked in then walked
through the Old Town. We went to the
Fesch Museum which had artwork, but
most of the Renaissance stuff was
unavailable.
Napoleon. We checked in then walked
through the Old Town. We went to the
Fesch Museum which had artwork, but
most of the Renaissance stuff was
unavailable.
We
then walked to some churches
(including the Cathedral where Napoleon
was baptized) and some piazzas. Back
to our room to get beach stuff then we
walked down to the beach.
(including the Cathedral where Napoleon
was baptized) and some piazzas. Back
to our room to get beach stuff then we
walked down to the beach.
Came
back- cleaned up, found
Napoleon’s house then finally settled on
a restaurant- good choice. I had steak
roquefort and french fries- Teresa had
veal cooked in olives with carrots and
palenta. I had gelato on the way back.
Napoleon’s house then finally settled on
a restaurant- good choice. I had steak
roquefort and french fries- Teresa had
veal cooked in olives with carrots and
palenta. I had gelato on the way back.
In
the morning we walked to the open
air market (not at Place Foch); got
breakfast and stuff for lunch.
air market (not at Place Foch); got
breakfast and stuff for lunch.
We
checked out- headed north along a
very scenic drive along the coast. When
we got near Porto it became scenic
on steroids as we drove (and stopped)
through the red rocks.
very scenic drive along the coast. When
we got near Porto it became scenic
on steroids as we drove (and stopped)
through the red rocks.
Before
going to our hotel we decided to
drive the inland gorge, again scenic, but
Teresa’s highlight was the livestock
on the road- cattle, pigs, and goats. We
came across Lisa Fortner on the way
and she and Teresa fed the goats by
hand.
drive the inland gorge, again scenic, but
Teresa’s highlight was the livestock
on the road- cattle, pigs, and goats. We
came across Lisa Fortner on the way
and she and Teresa fed the goats by
hand.
Down
to Porto where we checked in.
We decided on the 2 ½ hour tour boat
excursion to the Scandola National Park
which is only reachable by boat.
We decided on the 2 ½ hour tour boat
excursion to the Scandola National Park
which is only reachable by boat.
We
stopped at Girolta, another
sealocked place.
sealocked place.
Back
to the room to clean up.
We
walked around the small town and
checked out 3 recommended
restaurants. We chose Le Tour Genoise
and it was great. Teresa had lamb,
shish kebabed vegetables and potatoes
with cheese- all delicious. I was going to
have the fishburger when I saw another
patron get what I thought that was. He
came over to me and pointed out that
his was the Le Chef Burger, which was
a bacon cheeseburger which employed
bleu cheese for its cheese, french fries
and salad- wonderful.
checked out 3 recommended
restaurants. We chose Le Tour Genoise
and it was great. Teresa had lamb,
shish kebabed vegetables and potatoes
with cheese- all delicious. I was going to
have the fishburger when I saw another
patron get what I thought that was. He
came over to me and pointed out that
his was the Le Chef Burger, which was
a bacon cheeseburger which employed
bleu cheese for its cheese, french fries
and salad- wonderful.
In
the morning we took a walk to the
local beach then again another scenic
drive to Calvi.
local beach then again another scenic
drive to Calvi.
We checked in at noon and walked to
the beach- after a while we took a stroll
to get a sandwich and gelato.
the beach- after a while we took a stroll
to get a sandwich and gelato.
Sola
Mare was our hotel, a good
location, everything worked, and our
receptionist, Angie Harmon was very
helpful, lending us the use of the
refrigerator and freezer for our lemonade
and to make ice in a bottle.
location, everything worked, and our
receptionist, Angie Harmon was very
helpful, lending us the use of the
refrigerator and freezer for our lemonade
and to make ice in a bottle.
After
cleaning up we toured the Citadel,
then walked along the wharf before
going to the restaurant recommended by
Angie. We ordered the dishes she liked-
veal with potatoes roasted with cheese
and spaghetti with seafood sauce and
spider crabs. The spider crabs were too
much work for too little meat.
then walked along the wharf before
going to the restaurant recommended by
Angie. We ordered the dishes she liked-
veal with potatoes roasted with cheese
and spaghetti with seafood sauce and
spider crabs. The spider crabs were too
much work for too little meat.
In
the morning we drove first to Pigna,
known for being a quaint beautiful town
and for its ceramics. We bought some.
known for being a quaint beautiful town
and for its ceramics. We bought some.
More
mountain driving before getting to
Saint Florent, a resort town with some
history. The Tour de Mortella was a
Genoese Tower- reused by the French
to guard the gulf. It inflicted heavy
casualties on English warships, including
Horatio Nelson’s. Finally the English
took some cannon to land to bombard
the tower into submission. Its design
was copied however and used for
decades.
Saint Florent, a resort town with some
history. The Tour de Mortella was a
Genoese Tower- reused by the French
to guard the gulf. It inflicted heavy
casualties on English warships, including
Horatio Nelson’s. Finally the English
took some cannon to land to bombard
the tower into submission. Its design
was copied however and used for
decades.
We
walked around the town, split a
sandwich then to the room to get our
beach gear. We took a boat to Lotu
Beach about a 25 minute trip- my
favorite beach of the trip. We went
swimming, played paddle ball, walked,
read, and enjoyed the scenery- me more
than Teresa.
sandwich then to the room to get our
beach gear. We took a boat to Lotu
Beach about a 25 minute trip- my
favorite beach of the trip. We went
swimming, played paddle ball, walked,
read, and enjoyed the scenery- me more
than Teresa.
We
took the 5:30 boat back. We ate at
The Little Corporal.
We shared a Nicoise salad, overpriced
for it size, and we shared a good pizza.
We discussed politics with a British
couple at the next table. I had a single
scoop gelato as we had 2 Magnums
back in our freezer.
The Little Corporal.
We shared a Nicoise salad, overpriced
for it size, and we shared a good pizza.
We discussed politics with a British
couple at the next table. I had a single
scoop gelato as we had 2 Magnums
back in our freezer.
In
the morning more mountain driving
as we headed east to Bastia. We got
there very early but were allowed to
check in.
as we headed east to Bastia. We got
there very early but were allowed to
check in.
We
had to drive into town as our hotel
was chosen based on proximity to the
airport.
was chosen based on proximity to the
airport.
We
first toured the Citadel and the
buildings inside it, including the
cathedral. We then walked into Old
Town and strolled along the shopping
streets (I bought a T-shirt).
buildings inside it, including the
cathedral. We then walked into Old
Town and strolled along the shopping
streets (I bought a T-shirt).
We
ate lunch at a restaurant in Place St.
Nicholas.
Nicholas.
We decided Bastia
didn’t have that
much to offer so we headed back to our
hotel which is also a spa. We swam
in the indoor poll and read on lounge
chairs.
much to offer so we headed back to our
hotel which is also a spa. We swam
in the indoor poll and read on lounge
chairs.
We
ate at our hotel for dinner. Teresa
had the entree buffet while I had the
Chef Cheeseburger.
had the entree buffet while I had the
Chef Cheeseburger.
In
the morning we turned in our car at
the airport and flew to Paris.
the airport and flew to Paris.
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