Porto Vecchio
Porto Vecchio was the closest town. It’s about 40-45 minutes from Cartavalonu, about 10-15 minutes from Cipponu where we stayed. This is where we got groceries every couple of days. We had several excursions there.
Porto Vecchio is a port town (duh!). There are lots and lots of private boats in the harbor as well as lots and lots of boats for sightseeing. One shopping day we just walked around the harbor, had some ice cream and left.
Another day, we went to the old town. To do this, we parked in the lower town and took a cute little electric bus up (yes, UP) the hill to the old town. Here, we browsed through shops and churches and the tower.
After wandering for awhile, we of course had to use the “necessary” room. We asked at the “Office du Tourisme” where we could find the public toilets. Now, here’s the rub…. there was a map that showed where the toilets were; there were signs that showed the way; and there were people who told us where to go….BUT it was all a lie! There are NO public toilets in Porto Vecchio! We saw the place where they were (supposedly) being constructed or, maybe re-constructed, but we didn’t even see anybody working on them. There are NO public toilets in Porto Vecchio. I ended up sneaking into an eating establishment that was very busy so I went unnoticed. Geez!
On another day, we took a hike around the beach. This was oh, so nice. It was one of those perfect days with pleasant weather, sunny skies and water that was exquisitely clear. We walked around a bay that had an island at one end. This island is a refuge for birds so that was nice to observe.
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| This is a cut from a cork tree. You can see the cork bark. |
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| Here’s the island… |
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| On the hill, you can see a mansion(?) or a castle(?) from when the Genoa family ruled Corsica. |
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| A panoramic view…. |
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| We saw a wind surfer…perfect day for it. |
Fabi also talked about the different plants that are used to spice up food or to use in health aids.
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| Juniper berries—used in Alsatian Food |
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| Whatever this is, it’s good for wounds and bruises. |
We ended up eating our lunch on the beach after the walk.
Thus ends Porto Vecchio…
What a beautiful place! Looks like the weather has been nice. Thanks for sharing this and the photos. I told my niece and her boyfriend who just visited us from Lyon that you were heading to Corsica. They had such a funny reaction. I think they said the folks there are very intense? But you've suggested a laid back vibe which is what I would expect in such a beautiful place. I didn't have a chance to inquire further. Susan
ReplyDeleteThat’s an interesting reaction. Maybe the tourist scene is intense. Since I was in the mountains and interacting with locals, I’m sure the vibe is different. In fact, when I asked Fabi what time we were having lunch with the neighbors, she said whenever we show up. “People here don’t use clocks.”
ReplyDeleteWow, ML. I really liked the art work in the little house. You have talented cousins. And the lifestyle and lack of rules are interesting. Pamela :)
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