West Coast of Corsica

Bondi Tram
Peter Colquhoun and Sandra Colquhoun
Sun 22 Aug 2010 15:01
We had enjoyed our time on the east coast of Corsica and so now decided to cruise down the west coast.
Entering the bay at Calvi. The citadel is now the home of the French Foreign Legion. 
 
Corsica is one of the most beautiful islands we have been to.
 
 
Church and restaurant in the centre of Calvi
 
 
The town square in Ile Rousse, a popular spot for evening games of petanque (boules).
 
 
We spent a few days in the little port of St. Florent on the north west corner of Corsica.
 
 
What remains of the citadel after a bombardment from the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.
 
 
Looking across the anchorage to St. Florent with rain clouds.  We had 35+ knots of wind in the anchorage,
and nearly got clobbered by a boat (with no one on board) dragging its anchor.  It bounced off two other
boats and nearly ended up on the beach before the owners got back from town.
 
 
These cliffs are in the National Park, which was the first  one proclaimed in France.
 
 
 
 
 
Entering the anchorage at Girolata, between Calvi and Ajaccio.
 
 
Crossing tacks with Threshold and our friends Steve and Karen on our way south to Ajaccio.
 
 
Ajaccio is the birthplace of Napoleon, and he made  it the capital of Corsica when he was Emperor. 
Consequently, it is now the largest and busiest town, with plenty of high rise buildings.
 
 
Downtown Ajaccio outside the tourist information office.  Lots of cruise ships come here, and its a major
ferry port.
 
 
Napoleon's birth place, now a museum.
 
 
 
A statue of Napoleon on horseback in the toga of a Roman consul, flanked by his four brothers.
 
 
We took to the train for a 2 hour trip to the centre of the island and the town of Corte.  Corte was briefly
the capital of an independent Corsica.
 
 
Entrance to the citadel at Corte, now a museum and display of Corsican life in earlier times.
 
 
 
Quaint houses and streets in the old quarter of Corte.
 
 
The facade of this building was pitted with bullets.  We had lunch at
the restaurant on the right.
 
 
Lunch with Steve and Karen. 
 
 
 
The Eagles Nest at the top of the citadel...166 steps to get up.
 
 
and a good view of the town below
 
 
A stature of the Duke of Padua.  The interesting thing about this is the sculptor also did the Statue of
Liberty!