Third week in Saint-Florent
Monday 19 September :
Tuesday 20 September :
the Cap Corse : it’s still very cloudy but we
are fed up with staying in. So, we decide to go on 2 simple walks on Cap Corse. In Macinaggio, the customs pathway (sentier des douaniers) between the chapel Santa-Maria
and the tower of Santa-Maria di a Chjapella (under water and half destroyed) done in roughly 1 hour. No special difficulty encountered during this walk which is rather nice
as you can stop for a swim almost anywhere, really nice.
In Barcaggio (Cap Corse point), the small walk to the tower of Agnello isn’t so good. On top of everything
else, the posidonies (aquatic plantes) are entangled on the beach and make a bad smell. We don’t feel like swimming in that ! Maybe the beach is cleaned in july
and august for the tourists ? Coming back to Saint-Florent, we pass along the west coast of Cap Corse making a circle but because it’s raining, we don’t really see
it at its best.
Wednesday 21 September :
the Melo and Capitello lakes : a superb trek
even if the path which leads to the lakes is full of other walkers (even in september !). The lakes are nestled between high rocky walls, simply MAGNIFICENT ! Don’t
forget some warm clothes in Capitello, it’s a bit cold...
Ile-Rousse : tourist town but with a nice atmosphere.
The place Paoli (heart of the town) is a splendid rectangular shape with large “platane” trees shading the coffees all around. It’s the most animated part
of the town where the “pétanque” players gather. The old town with its streets criss crossed like a chess board, is also worth a look. Linked to the town by
a jetty which also serves as a marina, the peninsula of Pietra offers one of the best view points over the neighboring islands, the port, the Ile-Rousse and
the balagnaises hills. For the best vantage point, go up to the Pietra lighthouse !
Calvi : even more touristy, the citadel quarter (at the extreme
limit of the town) perched on a rock is really nice : panoramic view of the bay, the town and around.
Notre-Dame-de-la-Serra : high up in
the hills of Calvi (6 kms to the south west), this chapel offers a picture postcard view of Calvi and the mountains of Balagne.
Thursday 22 September :
the Agriates desert : beach day…Starting from Saint-Florent in the morning
where there is a bus to the Lodo beach. After about an hour on foot we arrive at the Saleccia beach. About 1km long, the water is transparent with the same colours
as a tropical lagoon and fine sand. This beach is paradise, my favorite in Corsica !!!
Friday 23 September :
the Cap Corse : for our last day on Corsica, we decide to go
around the Cap Corse again but this time in the sunshine ! At the start, we decide to stop in Erbalunga, a small charming village built beside the water about 9 kms
from Bastia. On the way, alternating between beaches and wild creeks, some splendid sceneries. We go then to Rogliano, perched up in a hill and dominating the coast,
just before arriving at the top of Serra. A small walk to the Mattei windmill where there is a panoramic view of the port of Centuri and the island of Giraglia.
We continue down the Cap Corse on the east side where everything is untouched and beautiful…except an abandoned factory beside the sea at Canari which spoils
completely the view. We pass in front of the asbestos beaches at Albo and Nonza (really strange !) before arriving in Nonza and again, we fall for
the charm of this village perched on top of a cliff overlooking the sea.
Saturday 24 September : return to Toulouse
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