Corsica alert!

[FJR-UK]

The gorgeous blonde I travel with and I are headed to Corsica beginning of September. Stops in Vertus, Lyon and Nice on the way down; overnights in Calvi, Ajaccio, Zonza and Bastia on Corsica; not too sure about the return yet, but Aix, Avignon, Arles, Nimes are on the wish list.

I know Orson has travelled to Corsica. Any tips/must sees would be appreciated from anyone who has been.

Thanks in advance.

Jerry

[Orson]

whut happened to Istanbul?  

September should see lovely weather down there in Corsica.

Not sure if I can offer much advice other than it will be cooler up in the mountains but then, it shouldn't be too hot in September. I think notarian has spent more time on Corsica than I have.

Nimes has the beautiful Roman viaduct

[dtor]

 Any tips/must sees would be appreciated from anyone who has been.

Corsica is all good. It's hard to go wrong. I stayed in Porto and liked it. I don't have a particular must see, but I do have a must hear, and that is the polyphonic a capella folk singing of Corsica. If you have a chance to see it live, try it. There is traditional, and there is modern, which uses instruments, some of which are indigenous. I Muvrini is a popular example of modern. But, for me, the traditional is where it's at. If you like it, CDs are available in record shops.

[FJR-UK]

Thanks for the replies.

I've already swapped Chalons-en-Champagne for Vertus in my plans. Amazing tool, Google street view! Vertus was selected because Jo picked grapes there as a college student. But when I had a look at the place on Google... Well, let's just say Chalons looked like the better bet.

We've stayed in Reims a couple times and I just wanted to try something different. Been to Epernay, too. So, Chalons it is.

I think we're just going to leave the return open and see how we get along. Take our time, if we've got the energy. Head home, if we're tired or the weather is shit.

I hope to get to the trip report by October sometime.

[tenbears]

Hey Jerry, you sound like you've been down a few times... which route are you taking between Lyon and Nice? ...  not the A7, don't take the A7. If you haven't already done it and aren't too pressed for time, take the E711 to Grenoble and pick up the Route Napoleon via Gap to Nice. Spectacular riding just before you make the jump to Corsica you & the FJ will appreciate in bundles. All around that area offers incredible riding.

[FJR-UK]

Great minds think alike! Although it's a full day in the saddle, I couldn't pass that ride by. Then we'll have three nights in Nice to unwind from all those twisties before we take the ferry to Calvi.

Cheers.

[Global Rider]

Any tips/must sees would be appreciated from anyone who has been.

Michelin has a very detailed map of the island. So large, I cut it in half horizontally.

The D roads are far more interesting than the N roads.

Other than taking short sections of it to roads that take you back inland, the N road along the east coast is only good for getting back to Bastia if your ferry leaves from there.

As small as Corsica is, 8 days wasn't enough, at least not for me. If I went one time only, I'd stay for 14 days, but then I like to explore every back road instead of ride for the t-shirt.

There is a nice hotel right on the Mediterranean in Solenzara; Hotel mare e Festa that had great rates when I was there in 2006 (compared to the usual Corsican rates). http://www.hotel-residence-corse.com/

The owner of Hotel Maxim in St. Florent has garage parking; same for Hotel Beach in Propriano.

The window of my cabin was maybe 10 meters from the sea...

[FJR-UK]

Thanks for that. I'm off tomorrow to buy that map!

The trip has been booked: 2 nights each in Calvi, Ajaccio, Zonza and Bastia. I leaned (once again) on the Rough Guide. None of our hotels are on the beach, but (except for Zonza) you can walk to the beach from all of them.

The discrepancy between Hotel du Tourisme's (Zonza) website and the view of it from Google's streetview is a bit worrisome, but I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time.

The Grand Canyon of Verdun and Avignon will figure in our return to the mainland, but I'm not sure exactly how...

Cheers.

[notarian]

Corsica - A revelation

http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25004

Enjoy the island, its motorcycle and visual paradise.

Note

[FJR-UK]

Ha! After reading your Corsica trip report, I feel like I've already been to the island! And I paid especially close attention to the cautionary tale about your "screw up and dampener of major proportion".

Really looking forward to it now.

Cheers.