We were not planning to visit Corsica as we happily meandered around the Madellena Archipelago of Sardinia.  However several other cruisers told us how different and wonderful it was, so we headed north for our last week east of the Baleares.

The cruiser's first impression of Corsica is that the mountains slope gracefully down to the sea, much like we expect the South Pacific to be.  But when you explore the interior, you experience many environments.  The most notable is the vast forests of chestnut, oak, and pine trees, all protected in a national reserve boasting 60% of the island.  Defense towers in the mountains protect the passes.  Over 65 defense towers around the coastline protected civilians from pirates invading from the sea.

Ajaccio is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte whose statues dominate the city squares.  The only major port on the west coast of Corsica, Ajaccio accommodates several large ferry services from mainland Europe. 

A major attraction in Ajaccio is the four hour train ride through the mountains to Bastia, a seaport on the northeast coast.  The train ride cost 24 € one way or 38 € round trip, and left Ajaccio early in the morning and Bastia late in the afternoon.  Since Bunny and Bill Bailey aboard Onset joined us, it was more economical to rent a car for the day.  The result was an amazing day of mountain views, including a side trip as a short-cut which took us to the top of several mountains with no guard rails on the road.  We were glad that the winds were not blowing 45 mph as we toured the mountain cliffs.

If a cruiser visited only one port of call in Corsica, we agree that it should be Bonifacio, a natural harbor wedged between limestone cliffs on the island's southern tip.  This city was originally built overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and is described accurately in Homer's Odyssey.  The harbor is a geological anomaly as no one can deduce where the rock originated.

Arriving is a thrill as you thread your way through departing vessels and watch your stern for overtaking ferries arriving from Ajaccio and Sardinia.  The docks line the northern cliff side of the town.  Vessel dances as water ingresses and egresses the tongue that defines the harbor and wind cascades down its natural funnel.