We are sad to be leaving Italy. We have enjoyed the people, food, wine the countryside, history, architecture and art. We are impressed with the Italian agriculture and food production. We also love the stylish dress of the Italian people and the quality of the shops.
We do not think we did Sardinia justice. We understand the south around 'Alghero' is historically more significant than the modern northeast. From what we have read we are sure the interior is also interesting.
However, its time to go. We travel 3 hours across the Bonafaccio channel to Corsica. The weather, although calm when we cross, can be changeable at this time of the year. We decide to travel the west coast of Corsica as there are more sheltered bays.
We anchor in the stunning bay of 'Campo Moro'. It is a small bay with fish farming, a small waterfront town with attractive stone french style homes with an overlooking 'Chateaux Darizzo' in the hills opposite.
The main town of the area is 'Propriano'. It has a population of only 3,500. There is a large marina with an attractive waterfront, with lots of good food and wine shops. We are really impressed with the large beaches of pure white sand, it reminds us of home.
We had been advised to play golf at 'Sperone' golf course in Bonafaccio if we could. The only time we can get is sunday afternoon, so we book.
On saturday we go into Propriano to hire a car for our drive the next day to the golf course. It is about 70 Kms to Bonafaccio but will take about 1.5 hours due to the high mountains and winding roads.
Through the tourist office we are introduced to a very good taxi driver, 'Carine'. We engage her to take us to the Avis outlet at a nearby service station. The office is closed on arrival so she takes us to another car rental which is also closed as it is saturday. However, she says she can drive us there and back to Bonafaccio, but it will cost 400 euros as it will be sunday. We are a bit frustrated but she is helpful and calls Europcar. She finds the lady at home but manages to book us a car for tomorrow. She was a gem doing all this for us.
Back on board, Niels has caught a few small Mackeral and quiet a few boats are trolling near the fish farm. We are excited at the prospect of catching fish, but again no luck.
We have had a few nights watching some old movies such as James Bond's 'The spy who loved me', as it has a scene shot in the Costa Smeralda where we had just been. We have watched a number of movies that have their settings in places we have visited.
We were surprised that even though some of the movies are old, they remain very enjoyable.
As we will be starting our trip to golf early the next morning, we attend the small church mass in Campo Moro on saturday evening.
The mass is said in French of course, and we now realize we have taken on a new language and culture after our long stint in Italy.
What we have learned about Corsica is that it is the 4th largest island in the Mediterranean, that has been invaded by many nations including Romans, Aragonese, French, German and Turks. It was controlled by Genoa for about 400 years and sold to France in the mid 1700's. It was the birth place of Napoleon Bonaparte who was from from a family of noble Genoese heritage. The people speak a Corsican dialect that includes some italian, and also pure French and Italian, but little english.
Sunday. We collect our car. With captain Paul we drive to Bonafaccio at the southern end of Corsica. This has the most amazing fortification castle built by the Genoese which dominates the town of Bonafaccio. On our way we pass through the interesting hill town of 'Sartene'.
The country leading to the golf course on the water, looks a lot like Barwon Heads. When we get there the scenery is far more spectacular. The course has a great layout with five holes right on the rugged coast, overlooking the most beautiful aqua blue water and white sandy beaches. We are blown away by how beautiful it is here.
One hole ( 16 ), is placed along the spectacular cliffs leading to the water. It is rated as one of the best golf holes in the world. We thought some of the other cliff top holes were just as spectacular or better that 16. However, it was all great.
After a very french lunch we have a great game. JB beats the boys by a narrow win on the last two holes. This puts her one one up in the European cup. We have been amazed by the whole visual experience of the day. The drive in the country, the town of Bonafaccio, the golf course and beaches and cliff tops, plus old hillside town have been fabulous.
Tomorrow we head to the north of the island.
JB and Mick