Bourques in Barcelona: Highlights of Corsica, Easter Week 2012

On Friday, March 30th, Pat and I drove his brand new company BMW to Marseille, to take the overnight ferry to Ajaccio, Corsica. We were a bit late arriving as there was so much construction all around the port area and the signage for our ferry company was abysmal! However, we finally found our way and got settled into our cabin before checking out the ship and the harbour area. We ate dinner on board and had a quiet, comfortable night, with almost no hint of being at sea!

The next morning we arrived early in Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, and headed north along the western coast then into the central mountains, via Sagone, Vico and Evisa.

Pigs, pigs, pigs! These are not wild, but rather "cochons coureurs" or free-ranging pigs, which we saw in many parts of the island, often all over the roads. Each animal belongs to someone and they are well-known for their flavour, which comes from their diet of acorns and chestnuts.

The water reservoir near where we stayed two nights at the Chambres d'Hôtes Casa Vanella in the little village of Casamaccioli. Our hostile, Jean-François, was very accommodating and gave us a good hiking route to follow on Sunday, April 1st.

Here's the view from our front bedroom:

Typical mountain village in central Corsica:

Before arriving at our B&B, we drove the rather treacherous road between Porto and Calvi, through many mountain passes. Here's Pat chasing some goats for a better picture!

The scenery was breath-taking, reminding us often of the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia or of the US 1 highway along the California Coast.

Approaching the seaside town of Calvi (note the snow-capped mountains in the background):

The beach at Calvi with the Citadel in the background. Population 5500, except in summer when it swells to about 50,000, we were told, mostly on this beach!