Mediterranean Day Eleven

Day Eleven – Corsica

Today we came to the birth place of Napoleon. We drove around the town and saw historical monuments like the Austerlitz Square and the Cathedral where Napoleon was baptized. Everything in Corsica is either named for or named for someone related to Napoleon. We first went to a square where there was a statue memorializing Napoleon and his four brothers. When the statue was originally placed Napoleon was facing the ocean as a sign of all his conquests. When they took it out to refurbish the area they put it back and now he’s looking across the courtyard. Nobody knows why they made the change but he’s no longer looking out to sea. Imagine our surprise when we were posing for photographs in front of the statue but who should come walking up – Napoleon himself. So we all got to have a picture with Emperor Napoleon, but there was an interruption to the photo session when Napoleon received a call on his cell phone, somewhat anachronistic.

Then we got on a bus and traveled up to a farmhouse through the Prunelli River Gorges – boy oh boy is that some spectacular scenery and I still do not know how the bus driver got the bus up that landscape. I swear that most of the time the bus’s tires were mere inches from the side of the road. Which would catapult us down in the river. There were many people who got carsick on that steep windy road, fortunately not Tom or me. So we got up to the top of the hill and they took us to a place where we could try some local delicacies and I think Amy and I were the only people who liked the cheese and the meat as a general rule was really salty until Tom discovered that you could peal the salt layer off and then it was much better.

So off we went to a very picturesque church and they put on a performance of some local Corsican singing. There is a bulldog which has taken it upon herself to check out everyone who comes to town and so she will come up to each person and sniff them and then if you get a lick and a wag you can stay. Fortunately Tom and me got a lick and a wag. Then we went and got in a little train which took us all through the extremely quaint town to lunch. The lunch was okay. As a general rule the food is generally excellent but rather bland I suppose to compensate for everyone’s tastes. But we had this kind of filo filled with cheese and spinach and some really bland polenta and then Tom and I had (against our principles but I’m glad we did) veal which was actually quite good but the other people who had chicken pretty much left their food – and the French fries were really greasy and disgusting looking. Then they gave us some sweet chestnut mouse which was disgusting. Sorry but it was.

And then we went and got on the bus and came back to the ship. And after the last few days it is so nice to just sit and relax and look out at the ocean and enjoy the peace and quiet because all aboard isn’t for another two hours. They have a petting zoo at the end of the pier and no I did not go and pet the chickens and pigs and goats. So not much to say today but still having a great time. Tomorrow is our last port of call – Villefranche and Monte Carlo and Monaco and Eze – the perfume town – where they say we have to walk up a very steep hill. But after Rome – I can do anything.