Day 4: Bella Bastia! Très Jolie!

Last night we had a simple dinner in the square opposite the newer main port. It was a comfortable evening as the day had been somewhat cooler.

The really fun thing about sitting on the edge of this huge square was being able to watch not only things in the square, but also the harbour activity as well.

We watched some huge ferries arrive and the disgorge their passengers and vehicles. So different than our ferry system at home. These ships are designed for the rigours of the winter storms that hit the Mediterranean.

We’ve found a little more edge to Bastia than Ajaccio. We felt it immediately. The streets were emptier at night with fewer restaurants and definitely fewer tourists. I think this sort of place suites us better, and as you’ll see I think Bastia is the more photogenic of the two.

Lots of separatist tagging on the walls as a certain number of Corsicans (Corse) feels they have a much different identity from France. I initially sense a closer link to Italy which makes sense as Corse was an Italian possession until the late 18thC when the island was given to France to settle financial debt. I’m finding it’s sort of like Sicily is to Italy, almost a different country. I’ll be watching and perhaps finding out what locals think if that opportunity arises.

After yet another odd night of sleep we wandered down hill to a really nice bar opposite the train station where we joined loads of students enjoying a morning beverage before starting classes (post secondary I think).

We instinctively started walking towards the older part of town and along the way found some beautiful areas!

This part of Bastia seemed transitional as we moved from the newer area towards the old harbour area and city centre. It was very beautiful.

I came across a clothes peg laying on the street which automatically prompted me to look skyward. I mean, where else would you look, right?

We soon found ourselves on the old harbour. What a lovely setting with the climbing walls of buildings and the old town with its citadel rising above. Quite magical!

We took our time walking around the horse shoe shaped harbour. We were definitely in no hurry.

We slowly progressed towards the breakwaters which are presently being reenforced, perhaps with a eye to the steadily intensifying storm incidence being experienced globally. Along the way we came across a stair case built in the 1800’s to welcome visitors to the old city.

We walked out the southern breakwater and found brilliant views towards town.

We continued along the base of the cliffs below the bastion.

We eventually had to climb about a thousand stairs and finally into the oldest part of the city.

A very brief visit to the cathedral,

where we found further evidence of Corsica’s Italian heritage on the WWI memory to the fallen. Most of the sir names are Italian.

We stopped for a refreshing drink in a small place that offered a wonderful view! It wasn’t too difficult to hang out for a half hour😊

Then further wandered the backstreets of the pedestrian only old town. It was a very pleasant experience.

By now it was time for lunch, except that we were still full from breakfast. So we had dessert instead!😇

We walked onwards through the mid-town and found a new ferry arriving to unload.

Now it’s siesta time. In a couple of hours we plan to walk back across to a restaurant on the old harbour for Italian pizza, and then back to our hotel to pack up. We move on tomorrow. An early morning bus to pick up a car south of Bastia at the airport before a day of driving northward and along the western side of Le Cap Corse for some more fun!

Perhaps you’ve discovered the expandable map of Corsica and Sardinia that I’ve posted on a separate page? If not, you can find it by tapping onto the top right corner or by going to the section “Who Am I”. It’s in there and fairly easily found. You’ll see that I’ve also learned to post videos so I’ll perhaps be doing a few more of those rather than sending most of them to our grandkids.😊 Cheers!