Bonifacio, Corsica

Bonjour mes amis! Sunday, May 15, Lee and I drove along the west coast of Corsica. The views while driving were spectacular. We traveled Route 196 from Propriano to Bonifacio which is the main highway on the island. It consisted of numerous "twists and turns" while having views of the beautiful Mediterranean and mountains en route. The drive took about one and a half hours to reach Bonifacio. Bonifacio is a stunning medieval town which is located on a striking promontory and was developed by Bonifacio. Bonifacio, Marquis of Tuscany, passed by Corsica upon his return from an expedition in Africa in 828. For three centuries this fortified harbor sustained itself on fishing and piracy and was partly under the rule of Pisa. In 1195 Bonifacio became a Genoese colony, then a republic and, at that time, began construction of its massive walls. Although the town fell under French rule in the 18th century, it has kept an Italian flavor and a certain isolation from the rest of Corsica. We first visited the Marina. The quays of the old port of Bonifacio are a popular promenade filled with cafés and restaurants. After getting our café au lait et pain au chocolat along the harbor, we walked up the stairs, called the Montée Rastello, which lead to the old town and the Bastion de L'Étendard. This Bastion towers over the port and was built in the 16th century. Its function was to house heavy artillery and make the walls of Bonifacio impregnable to outsiders. Lee and I hiked to the upper platforms of the Bastion which afforded a magnificent panoramic view of the inlet of Bonifacio and the Marina below. During Genoese rule, the Porte de Gênes was the only entrance to old town Bonifacio. Surrounded by ramparts, this gate gave access beyond the walls to old town. We meandered through old town, exploring this very charming medieval village. The narrow streets afforded such character to old town Bonifacio.

Mme. Wallace

Buonghjornu! Cumu si?

Hello friends. The greeting in the title of this blog is Corsican for "hello" "how are you?" I was intrigued by the Corsican language this past weekend. Although the official language in Corsica is French, the local language has also always been in use in Corsica, making the island a bilingual area. In 1974 Corsican was officially recognized as a regional tongue. After the reopening of the University of Corte in 1981, written Corsican was codified and old texts were re-evaluated. Corsican is more like Italian than French, it is very similar to the Ligurian dialect spoken with a Sardinian accent. As a result, many Corsicans understand and speak Italian. Road signs are written in Corsican and French. A'vedeci!!

Mme. Wallace

Exploring Corsica - magnifique!!!

Bonjour mes amis! Friday, May 13, Lee and I flew to Corsica. I don't think there are adequate words in French or English to describe the beauty of this island. We stayed in Propriano, a town on the west coast of Corsica, which is located on the innermost point of the Golfe de Valinco. Propriano is tucked in between the green hills behind it and the transparent sea. It is an attractive yacht harbor and throughout history was sought after because of its strategic position as a landing place and trade center. Saturday afternoon we drove to Filitosa, which is the most famous prehistoric site in Corsica. Filitosa offers 5,000 years of history. Populated in ancient times because it was both fertile and easy to defend, the area was filled with large constructions and menhirs from 1800 BC to 1100 BC. Details of the faces, weapons and helmets of ancient warriors are still visible on the surface of these rocks. Incroyable!! We also visited a charming town near Propriano, named Sartène. Sartène, said by Merimée(French writer) to be "the most Corsican of all the Corsican villages" is at an altitude of 300 meters. From the 16th century, this town developed around the medieval constructions on a rocky spur, and still has part of its ramparts and watch tower. We strolled through the Saturday marché of this charming town and watched young children playing "foot" in the village square. Quel samedi!!

Mme. Wallace

Maison Cailler - Vive le chocolat!!!

Bonjour mes amis. Sunday, May 8, we visited Maison Cailler with Betsy and the Cushings. Maison Cailler is located in Broc/Gruyère, Switzerland. This is the place where all of your senses can be immersed in the wonderful world of Cailler chocolate. The interactive tour was impressive. We first discovered the origins of this delicious chocolate in the old Aztec cocoa ceremonies. We then heard the fascinating tales of François-Louis Cailler, who brought the first chocolate recipe to Switzerland in 1819. You can hold roasted cocoa beans. During the depression in the '30s Cailler merged with Nestle in order to stay in business. You then proceed to the Atelier de Chocolat studio where you can learn inspired recipes for the finest chocolate creations. We were provided delicious samples at the end of the tour of many of the products made by Maison Cailler - magnifique!

Mme. Wallace

Gstaad, Switzerland

Bonjour mes amis! Sunday, May 8, the Cushings, Betsy, Lee and I visited Gstaad, Switzerland. Gstaad lies on the border between the Bernese and Vaud Alps at the junction of four gently sloping valleys. The drive through the Alps to arrive in Gstaad was absolutely breathtaking. Gstaad is a lovely ski resort town, with restored old chalets and interesting boutiques. Since we had entered into the German part of Switzerland, the language changed from French to German. It is amazing in Europe how the language abruptly changes from French to German to Italian as you either cross a border, emerge from a tunnel, or enter a different area of the same country. Since Switzerland has three recognized languages in such a small country, we were interested to note the "quick change" from French to German. The population of Gstaad is about 2,000 people and there are at least 53 miles of local ski runs served by 60 ski lifts. Gstaad is pleasing for its restful setting and variety of sporting and social facilities. It was a beautiful spring day and we loved experiencing a few hours in this German-speaking part of lovely Switzerland.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Mme. Wallace

The natural beauty in and around Bellagio, Italy

Bonjour mes amis! Sunday, May 1, my sister, Betsy, and Gale and Bill Cushing came for a visit. Tuesday, May 3, we took off for Bellagio, Italy on Lake Como for a few days. We were in awe of the natural beauty and gardens of this region. We took a boat tour around Lake Como which included a stop at the Villa Carlotta. This Villa was built at the end of the 17th century for a noble Milanese family. In 1801, a businessman bought the property. Thanks to him, the villa attained the summit of its spendor. The gardens were absolutely spectacular with their spring flowering of rhododendrons and azaleas. May 2 we explored the gardens of Villa Melzi. These beautiful gardens were "absolument magnifique" or in italian, MAGNIFICO!!! The gardens of Villa Melzi stretch out along Lake Como in Bellagio. They blend into the hilly scenery of the Bellagio peninsula. The villa is a wonderful example of neo-classic style. Enjoy the pictures of the beautiful natural landscape of Bellagio.

Mme. Wallace

La Fête du Muguet or La Fête du Travail

Bonjour mes amis! May Day in France is a public holiday to campaign for and celebrate workers' rights. It is also an occasion to present lily-of-the-valley(les muguets) to loved ones. A few days before May 1st, you begin to see vendors popping up on every street corner selling lily of the valley. Although at all other times of the year, selling any kind of flowers or anything else on the street requires paying for a permit, May Day is exempted from this tax. We met the most delightful young boys who were selling their muguets at their personal stand in Chambéry. Lily of the valley is referred to as a "porte-bonheur"--literally, "bringer of happiness" or perhaps what we would call a "good luck charm." The history of La Fête du Travail is that King Charles IX of France was presented with the lily of the valley flowers on May 1, 1561. He liked the gift and decided to present lily of the valley flowers to the ladies of his court each year on May 1. Around 1900, men started to present a bouquet of lily of the valley flowers to women to express their affection. The 8-hour work day was officially introduced in France on April 23, 1919, and May 1 became a public holiday. May 1 was not observed during World War II. The May 1 holiday was reinstated in 1947 and became known as La Fête du Travail on April 29, 1948. Since then, it has been an occasion to campaign for and celebrate workers' rights. The day is also known as Labor Day in other parts of the world.

Mme. Wallace