Corsica 2007

Livorno port @ Porto Mediceo, Italy

2007-09-02T10:41:56.000Z

Our journey actually started in Ljubljana, but as we didn't feel a true vacation feeling until waiting for the ferry in Livorno, I am starting the trip itinerary here.

Iles Rousses @ Îles Rousses, France

2007-09-03T12:33:43.000Z

Our first stop was Iles Rousses, a very nice place with beautiful beaches and clean sea (but than again, the sea is clean almost everywhere in Corsica and there are tons of nice beaches). We wanted to catch up on our deprived sleep, so we took it really easy, just enjoying the sea and nice weather.
We also had to get accustomed to the whole camping routine, as we are not real experts in this area. We soon realized that a table is absolutely necessary while camping. Of course, we didn't have one, we had to buy some crates from the local supermarket as a replacement.

Climbing around Iles Rouses @ Monticello, France

2007-09-04T13:13:16.000Z

When we felt we had enough rest, we headed for one of the local crags. On Corsica, granite is the most common rock type, so if you're not used to it, it can feel a little awkward at first. But after a while you start to appreciate the traction and compactness it offers.

Exploring Iles Rousses @ L'Île-Rousse, France

2007-09-05T13:02:16.000Z

We didn't have much more time to spend in Iles Rousses, so we took a little closer look on it.
First, some more climbing in a very nice setting near the lighthouse, and afterwards exploring Iles Rousses's surroundings.

Calvi, France @ Calvi, France

2007-09-06T14:49:03.000Z

Calvi is a well known city of the northern Corsica. Its citadel stands above the rest of the city where it offers a nice view on the bay. It also offered us a quick peek from the distance to the mountainous area of the central Corsica - our next destination.

Corte @ Punta al Finello, France

2007-09-07T14:26:58.000Z

Finally, in the middle of the mountains!

We found a really nice camping in the middle of the Restonica valley, uncrowded and in a truly natural setting - deep in the forest.

We went sightseeing to Corte, an important city for the Corsican people and supposedly a cradle for Corsican nationalism (from the guide book). Anyway, we found it to be a very interesting and genuine city, unspoiled by mass tourism.

Monte Cinto @ Mont Cinto, France

2007-09-08T06:54:35.000Z

Monte Cinto - the highest point of the island. Of course, we simply had to visit it.

The southern route is supposed to be the shorter one...if you have a heavy duty jeep, that is. When the solid road ends you are supposed to take a smaller bumpy "road" that should bring you to 1600m. But with my Elantra this was impossible, as there were holes much deeper than the tires on my car!

So we had to start our ascent by foot on 1050m, and made it almost 1700m higher to the Monte Cinto peek at 2706m.

The route was long but it surely was interesting, especially at the upper part where we almost had to find our own passages in a somewhat climbing manner. At the top, we were greeted by some amazing views on the northern area and surrounding mountains.

Even though we walked super fast, it took us more than 9 hours to finish this journey.

Restonica valley @ Punta al Finello, France

2007-09-09T10:18:19.000Z

Monte Cinto really exhausted us and we decided to take it easy instead of ascending another high mountain. We took some easier walks in the Restonica valley and tried out one of the local crags.

Mountain lakes above Restonica valley @ Punta delli Castelli, France

2007-09-10T12:29:47.000Z

On our last day in central Corsica we went to see two of the nearest mountain lakes accessible from the Restonica valley. We knew that the scenery is going to be fantastic, but what we saw there was even better.

You walk right into the heart of the amazing mountainous area, where ever peek just calls to climb it (I hope we will return some day to respond to those calls :)).

Towards Ajjacio - Calanches @ Col de Geneparo, France

2007-09-11T13:38:40.000Z

We intended to go to Ajaccio but also wanted to see the amazing calanches that every guide book so warmly recommends. So we had to take a little detour from a direct road connection and drive our way through local, winding roads.

Well, it was well worth it, the views were again fantastic, calanches being like hundreds of screaming ghosts frozen inside the rocks.

Ajjacio, MtGozzo @ Ajaccio, France

2007-09-12T09:51:01.000Z

We didn't like Ajaccio very much. It is a big continental-like city and it somehow just didn't fit into the context of our trip so far. So we quickly went to visit what we originally came here for - MtGozzo. This interesting mountain stands above and to the north of the Ajjacio, and as we read in the climbing guide, it is a place worth visiting.

It really has a lot to offer for climbing - easy as well as hard multi-pitch routes, very interesting calanches-like formations and numerous sport routes - all bolted.

Towards Bonifacio @ Sartène, France

2007-09-13T12:46:21.000Z

We quickly said goodbye to Ajaccio and headed towards Bonifacio - our last stop.

There we found the most luxurious camping so far - three stars, well deserved.

Capu Capineru, France @ Capu Capineru, France

2007-09-14T10:59:12.000Z

There is a bouldering area somewhere around Capu Capineru. We went to see how that looks and to maybe try out a little bit how this bouldering stuff works.

The place is amazing - the rocks are formed into the most unbelievable shapes and while they offer a great potential to be climbed, we found them to be a little intimidating without the cushioning below us.

Bonifacio, France @ Bonifacio, France

2007-09-15T11:25:07.000Z

We still had to see the Bonifacio city and its surrounding cliffs more closely.

The cliffs are best seen from a boat trip, and for the city, you just have to go walk around in the streets to enjoy the magical atmosphere it has - a place warmly recommended.

Bastia, France @ Bastia, France

2007-09-16T07:35:35.000Z

After two weeks it was time to leave this paradise. First, a drive on good, straight road on the eastern side of the island to Bastia and than a ferry ride back to the mainland.

Goodbye Corsica, hope to see you soon again!