Before I begin today’s adventures I’ll start with our last evening in Bastia. During our lunch that consisted entirely of gelato (only recommended while travelling) Annemarie decided that of all the harbour restaurant options available that she would really like pizza for dinner. So we found a reasonable place and later returned for a really good Italian pizza accompanied by a great view of the harbour. We were even blessed with a little bit of cloud colouring from the sunset.
After dinner we sat waiting for the sky to darken so we could watch the harbour light up. As it grew ever darker we started to walk along the boardwalk and I looked for a decent spot for a photo. As I walked out on a wharf there was a massive lightning flash not so very far away! Heavy rain drops slowly started drumming on the fibreglass boat decks so I quickly snapped a couple of photos and ran for it!
The rain poured, bouncing vigorously off everything! We took cover under a restaurant awning and waited for a break. It eventually slowed enough and we decided to make a run for it, direction our hotel. We did pretty well until we reached the central plaza and then the skies once again opened wide. We again managed to make it to another restaurant awning where we joined the employees to wait it out. At one point there was a simultaneous explosion of light and thunder right over our heads! It was just wild! It reminded us both of the unbelievable lightning storm we experienced in 2016 while walking the Chemin Le Puy in France.
We eventually set off again in the rain and by the time we made it home we were pretty well drenched. The good news was that at least it was warm, and we knew everything would be dry by morning.
Today we woke early to sunny fresh skies and after quickly packing we left to find breakfast in a bar by the train station not far from where we could catch the airport bus. It all worked nicely and at 8:15 we were on our way to the airport to pick up our little car.
That part went seamlessly and we were soon driving off in a nice little 5 speed, petrol fuelled Peugeot that my buddy David arranged for us. A sweet little car that is perfect for the torturous winding Corsican roads.
We drove across the base of the peninsula stopping here and there for the views.
It would only get better!
As we started to drive along the west coastline of the Cap it quickly became clear that this was going to be something quite extraordinary! A narrow winding, barely two lane road. What fun!
Funny story. We came upon a beautiful small village that was sort of overrun with other folks who were touring and there was literally no place to part. At one point with no one behind us, I stopped and took a photo of the town and it’s fortress out my side window. A fellow coming the other way also stopped just so he would stay out of my line of sight! Very considerate. The photo.
Much of the road was on very high quite sheer cliffs where the road was often literally cut into a cliff face. It made for some brilliant views when it was safe to pull across the oncoming lane and park on a little gravel verge. At one point we found a simple road that dropped down to a green-grey pebble beach.
We walked across to the distant beach, which was pretty special.
Rob was after me yesterday to put a few photos of myself in the daily posts. He suggested that because AM was here that I didn’t need to try a selfie. I’m a bit camera shy, but in honour of Rob’s yoga pose outside Rome on the Appian Way with me last October I thought I’d share one of my own.🙏 As my almost 3 year old granddaughter Saiorse said to her parents the other day after riding her bike, “I did awesome”!🙂
Late tomorrow afternoon we will be transiting that far distant shore.
The water is so clear!
We eventually picked a restaurant in a small village for lunch. The decision was actually made for us when I actually found a place along the road to park!
It was pretty quiet here and we were to later learn why.
There is famous nunnery here, but having seen quite a few monasteries and the like over many years we decided to give this one a miss. Can’t see everything. This was one of the outer buildings in a beautiful setting.
We did stop for a look see from far above.
We had heard, or rather AM had claimed she’d heard, that we must go down to the small Port of Centuri. So we went 4km down on a small torturous road. What did we find? Everyone but us having lunch in a town made up almost exclusively of restaurants!
Very beautiful, but so many restaurants!
More restaurants than boats!
From there it we climbed the 4 km back up a different road and then we drove across the north end of the Cap.
The Genoese controlled this area for a long time, and much as the Venetians did along the Adriatic Sea and through the Greek Islands, the Genoese built similar watch towers. Everywhere!
A busy long day tomorrow that includes a boat ride and a hike. Time now for dinner!
By the way, for those who might care, we are on the NE tip of Cap Corse in the harbour town of Macinaggio. Such an Italian name!
Cheers!
Geoff
Distance Walker - Wandering & Wondering! 