martedì 3 agosto 2010

Ile de beauté

Ok, time is right...more than 3 weeks since I finished my summer vacation. I'm still having a period of strong work (damn! Everybody was out there just waiting for me? None's on Holyday?) but I finally found the time to tell You how good has been my Holyday in Corsica.
I spent in Corsica two weeks, the warmest in Bologna people told me, simply perfect there. I reached the island with the ferry service from Livorno, in Toscana. During the travel I sew dolphins playing in the boat wake: amazing. But...they has not been the only animals I met: this puppy was luckiest than me as I could not find a deck-chair free!
I arrived in Bastia and I drove untill Portovecchio as I already visited Corsica (...16 years ago) and I didn't like that the east coast. I stopped close to Palombaggia beach 3 days. This place is beautifull. I was in the southest beach, as Palombaggia has different beaches, each one maybe more beautiful than the oterhs, but too may people for my taste. So I reached Bonifacio.
The old town...is over the white cliff, in contrast the sea is as blue as you can see here. And right in front You can see Sardegna Island as here they are really close. Bonifacio deserves a visit during the day and during the night too. It's a very old town, and the atmosphere is nice both in the Citadelle and in the old port.
The view from the cliffs is magic:
Around Bonifacio there are some stunning beaches whit white sand and blue water. Like the "Stagnoulo" I'm showing here...with this nice goat I met during my promenade. Actually I love laying on the beach, sun bathing like a Lizard...but I more often walked and took a bath in the cristal water.

From Bonifacio I moved to Sartene, one of the more tipical town in Corsica. Sartene houses are made by granite, so the town is pale grey. I had a good time there, in a bar on the main square, having an apero before (good) dinner. And I even met easy inhabitants!
From the town I captured this sunset, with the sea between the hills.
Close to Sartene is the village of Tizzano, where I spent some days: here part of the beach, in a very calm morning...don't You feel like having a swim? I did it, of course. And i'd like to do it right now!
Near are some beaches, some of them almost deserted, not the one I put here, the "silver" beach, a small corner of paradise...
As I have to see more and more, I left this part of the Island and I reached Piana, on the Route of the Calanches. Here the sunset from the street to the nice Arone beach, with the sun behind Capurossu. So romantic, isn't it?
Even during the day I found that the landscape was beautiful; I can't remember how many times I said: I could stay here days and days...but I had only a short time and so mutch I wanted to see!
Les calanches for instance, one of the stunning place I've seen so far, from the street and from the see too.

And here You are Capurossu sea, where I swam in this blue warm water...
This is Porto, the genovese tower that look after the natural harbour, surrounded by woods that reach the clear water.
...and the beaches near Porto...
Next stop was the Calvi area. I discovered that was too touristic for my taste, but the places are beautiful, mainly the small villages of the Balagne. This is Aregno, and his beach on the background.
This is a small church in Sant'Antonino, another charming village made of this warm stone...
like Pigna...
...where I guess living is sweeter (now...not only 40 years ago) than in my town: here a corner of the village.
I wonder how nice could be having a breakfast on this terrace...or a dinner when the sun in slowly going to sleep.
In Corbara, that is hidden from the sea to avoid Pirates, I spent an evening. Here it is only a few seconds before it was completly dark.
On the coast of Calvi, even if too crowded, there are some beaches that can really leave You breathless, like Bodri one: don't you love the colour of water and the Olive tree in front?
My last days I spent on the northest part of the Island, what they call the finger. A finger between Corsica and Liguria in Italy. The finger is greener than the rest of Corsica, and villages here are often smaller and nicer. This is Nonza famous for the black beach. I didn't stop here...only because I could not find a parking place!!! But it was a pity as the village is so charming and panoramic. Maybe next time I'll be here I'll stay longer in the finger.
But I could stop in Pinu, lovable so small village: only few very old homes and churches. Here You are the Marina, with the tower, the curch, the small cemetary and the microscopic port.
...one other tower...more a villa right now (argh...so gorgeous).
Here you are: me, simply happy and easy in the sunset, after my pastis in Centuri, while looking for a restaurant for the dinner (actually I choosed the right one this time).
...just in face of me the sun behind the houses of the village.
And than I spent all my last day at Barcaggio, one of the most beautiful beach of the finger. I was not alone. Even someone other thought staying here is seewt: here they are coming...
...resting...
...while i was enjoying the water (I missed it!!!!)...
...and, in the after noon, they left the beach for the pastrie.
So It arrived the time to leave Corsica. As You can see I love cats...and here I found so many lovely ones, like this one in a small garden of the Citadelle of Bastia.
In Bastia I began my vacation, here, of course, I finished it.
While waiting for the Ferry I let the sun of Corsica give me some more colour...
...as it was already sunday afternoon and on monday I returned to my Job.

11 commenti:

Anonimo ha detto...

all beautiful shots, my fav...the last one of you;) yum

massi ha detto...

;D thanks Steven.

manuel ha detto...

wow! stunning! everything is so beautiful! look at you sun kissed! hope you had an amazing time! I want to go!

Will @ Bright.Bazaar ha detto...

Corbara at dusk is so charming. And all the cats are adorable. I would have loved to have seen dolphins, too! All of this post is wonderful - thanks for sharing your Corsica experiences, Massi!

Will

M ha detto...

Massi, this is probably your best travel post so far -- excellent!
* Wow, some of those rocky parts of the coast look like Capri -- but without the tourists. Gorgeous.
* My favorite time of day has always, always been dusk, i.e. that hour between day and night, and that photo of Corbara is magic. The epitome of the blue hour.
* Wait a minute -- I have a new favorite picture: the last one with your unbelievably cut torso. How do you do it? 5 days a week at the gym? Bravo.
Have a lovely weekend, sweety.
XO
Michael

massi ha detto...

Manuel I had. I had a great time there. I guess You can love Corsica too, but remember to avoid it from half July 'till the end of August.

Will Thnak You. I really "need" too share the beauty of what I could see.

Michael...maybe as for me Summer time is Mediterranean Summer...but in that time of the day everything looks better...and less warm. So I love it!
Thanks for your comment...the one about me too ;-*

Rita ha detto...

hey Massi, somehow I missed this post, don't know what happened..;] Pictures are great and you look relaxed:) I can see you had a great time there:)
I also was in Italy this summer and I was hoping for such a white beach with blue water,but I didn't find it in Adria:/(sand wasn't white enough(;)) and shells hurt my feet..) next time I need to go to the South I guess..
take care!

Unknown ha detto...

hi massi
I have been through your corsican post : this island is a beauty really I agree but did you go to Ajaccio and the south of the island road from Ajaccio and Porto vecchio is amazing I had a very good lunch in Sartene a small village inland ; but my best souvenir of Corsica is the top north with the very wild and preserved Cap Corse ! and if you enjoy french food come and visit my blog I hope you will like it !!cheers Pierre de Paris
http://pierre.cuisine.over-blog.com

Anonimo ha detto...

I saw you blog on Steven's page so decided to drop by. Was blown away by the amazing photos you took on your holiday, love them all, creative. Take good care. Greetings from Alberta, Canada.

massi ha detto...

Hi Pierre. Yes, I drove from the south to Ajaccio and then to the north: the pictures of the cows on the beachi I took from the very northern parto of the Island. I pay a visit to you blog for sure.

Stan thank You for your comment!

Kyle Leach ha detto...

Massi, I love how you take us on your amazing trips. You take such beautiful landscape/architectural photos and managed to throw in a few whimsical ones as well. Glad you enjoyed you time on holiday.