Blogs from Corsica, France, Europe - page 7

Geo: 41.591, 9.27949So. This is It. The day we've been waiting for, the reason we came to Corsica at all. Day 1 of the 100th edition of the Tour de France. We wake up nice & early (well, no earlier than we've been waking up – about 6:30), take a shower in the World's Tiniest Hotel Room Shower, and head downstairs for a lovely breakfast on the terrace. Some of the other guests there are TdF motorcycle photographers, so we figure, if they're still there, we're all good.Pack up, check out, ask the nice lady (with help from an iPhone app, Jibbigo) if we can park there til about 1:00, and off we go. We had a great spot picked out, where we'd see the guys start up a little hill, but then Dejo decided he'd ... read more

The GR20 is renowned as the toughest long distance trek in Europe, covering the interior of Corsica for 200kms. I did the guided 2-week trek of the Northern and Southern sections with Utracks. The northern section is deemed the more technical and interesting, with the iron ladders and chains at the Circle of Solitude as a major highlight. However the Southern section is not to be underestimated with stunning alpine forest scenery, steeper ascents and descents, and longer days than the Northern section. By the end of the trek, I was physically spent. I am no climber, but I had a hell of a lot of fun with the rock scrambling. You also need to have complete confidence in yourself and your boots, as sometimes you are balancing on 45-50 degree rock ledges or traversing thin ... read more

Sorry about yesterday. We got caught up chasing the minnows at the beach. They sure do like the water. Needless to say everyone slept really well last night. Today we went in a different direction. We climbed a mountain. Up the road a little bit and very high up is a town called Montemagiorre. It sits on a mountain called Montegrosse. I can't figure out why the town is there but it is a tribute to human ingenuity to say nothing of engineering. Our ears were popping on the way up the road and I now understand about narrow roads. Anyway tomorrow we catch the ferry for Nice and on to Torino or Turin in Italy. Should be fun and maybe the roads won't be as crazy!!!... read more

Yesterday was called because of rain so today was a doubleheader. We started out with a short road trip in our mighty steed up the very steep hill to the Citadel perched high above the harbour at Calvi. Truly stunning view of the entire harbour and a beach that is simply magnificent. I don't know about anyone else but the climb from the parking lot to the top of the citadel nearly killed me!! It is amazing how people actually built it and still live up there. Really healthy!! Anyway after that we went to the beach and introduced the boys to the joys of the ocean. Now this is where the fun really began. First William didn't want to go then he did. And once he went in he didn't want to get out. Etienne ... read more

It's dotted with names that are a glimpse of its Genoese history but it's not Italian. The locals speak French, although for many it's a second language, and they are governed by the tricolours, but come Bastille Day you won't see too many hands on hearts when the band strikes up La Marsellaise. Grill a Corsican on his nationality and he'll probably say just that, he's Corsican. Over the centuries, the island has been something of a colonial football between the Italians and the French, not to mention the Greeks, Brits and of course the Moops (for Seinfeld fans only) who have also had their shot at staking a claim, all fighting to corral a little more strategic acreage for the homeland. France may have been the mother country now for a couple of hundred years ... read more