42 41.75N 009 27.085E Bastia, Corsica
Pipedream
Tue 25 May 2010 06:35
I had a walk around town at least the water front area of it. About 50,000 people live here. It is the second largest in Corsica. We are docked in the oldest part of the city under the ' Citadel. One book described Bastia as a collection of crumbling buildings. At least in the old section. There is a very big number of sparrows circling overhead at any given time nesting in the many crags left as the plaster and brick fall out of the maybe 5 story building facades.
I walked up the hill the Citadel is on and just over the hill is the new part of town. Looks quite modern. Lots of 5 story condos and highways. In the in town's cafes last night I saw lots of men and virtually no women except for the serving staff. Around the Marina there is a long row of door to door Brasseries (only one Pizzeria!). Like everywhere the cost of the food decreases in proportion to the distance from the water. We ate over by the Citadel in what looked like a local hamburger joint. Had a double cheese burger, a major pile of fries, and a Heineken for about 12 Euros. The hamburger had curry in it. We'll try some French cooking ala Corsican tomorrow.
We will be looking for a bus to get us to Ajaccio the capital city on the other side of the island. There is a museum there that has the art borrowed by Neapolitan as he marched around Europe. Supposed to be the best outside the Louve for renaissance art? Neapolitan was also born in Ajaccio but let for France when he was 9. More later ...