France 2015

SC-15 - Sardinia (part of ITALY) & Corsica (part of FRANCE) Date of travel: Jun 6 - Jun 20, 2015 ITINERARY: In the afternoon on Jun 6, 2015 I fly from Prague, Czech Republic on a Helvetic Airways plane to Zurich, Switzerland. From here I take an Edelweiss plane (also Swiss) to the city of Olbia on Sardinia (part of ITALY). A Czech national wait for me with a “VW Touran” car with Czech license plates. Then I drive the car alone and at night to my hotel in Cannigione some 30 km north of Olbia. The first whole day on Sardinia I spend getting familiar with my hotel and its vicinity. I get all 3 meals here. I inquire about trips in Sardinia. Next day I make a 50-kmcar trip from Cannigione through Palau to Arzachena and back. Later I do some sightseeing of Cannigione and finding a bank with ATM. I also spend time at the hotel swimming pool. On Jun 9, after spending some time on the beach in the morning, I drive to Olbiain the afternoon. In a small restaurant on the main street, Corso Umberto, I have a cup of coffee with the Czech from whom I have the car.Then I return to Cannigione. Since I have come to Sardinia the temperatures are above 30 deg. C (86 deg. F). I wanted to visit thefortified city of Alghero on the west coast of Sardinia. But due to some race in that city, no trip is scheduled this week. So, I sign-up for “Sardinian Mountains and Shepherds” on Jun 10. That day morning aminibus collects tourists from hotels. Though the 12 tourists are from various countries of Europe the local guide speaks English and everybody understands. We are going south from Olbia through a mountainousarea called Nuoro. There are many highway tunnels here. At midmorning we reach the town Orgosolo. This town was a dangerous place the first half of the 20. century. It was called a “bandit village.” Now it is a peaceful town known for hundreds of murals on houses. Next stop is at the source of Su Gologone River. Two 4WD cars take us to a place in the forest for lunch. Thenwe return to our hotels where in the evening. In the morning on June 11 I drive to more then 50-km distant town Tiempio Pausaniawest of Olbia.I can’t find a parking space in its center.Without leavingmy car I take a northern roadto Cannigione. It’s raining next day. I stay on the grounds of my hotel. On Jun 13, I drive from Sardinia to Corsica. In the morning l leave my hotel and drive north to the harbor of Santa Teresa di Gatlura.Then on a ferry to Corsica. After 50-min sailing our ship docks in Bonifacio on the Island of Corsica (part of FRANCE).From Bonifacionorth, past Porto Vecchio and after about one hour driving I find my hotel few km behind Santa Lucia.Accommodation is in 2-room apartments with built in kitchen. Here I mustcook for myself. The following day I stay in the hotel area planning trips. On Jun 15, I travel to Bastia in the northeastern corner of Corsica. I drive north on N198along the coast of Tyrrhenian Sea. After 2-hr and 136 km I come to Bastia. I take a Petit Train from “PlaceSt. Nicolas”through the “Terra Vecchio” (old town) and the “Citadel” built by Genova governor in 1530. We take a walk through the Citadel,itsnarrow streets, and the cathedral. There is a great view of the city. After an hour we are back on the square. I take the same road back. I am at my hotel in the evening. On Jun 16, I take another trip this time to Corsica capital, Ajaccio, at the westcoast of the island. I take N198 south, D859 west and N196 north around the mountainous spine of the island. After 3.5-hr drive and 163-km I reach Ajaccio at noon. I walkfrom the parking area to the “Place Foch” with the Petit Train. The train stops at “Place d’Austerlitz,” with a statue of Napoleon. Napoleon, who was born in Ajaccio, brought the capital of this island from Bastia to Ajaccio. Then the train goes along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea up to “Pointe de la Parata” outside the city. Back to Ajaccio we drive past its Citadel, through narrow streets and near the house where Napoleon was born. After 1.5-hour we are back on “Place Foch.” Then I drive to my hotel on the east coast. I rest the next day. On Jan 18, I go to visit Calvi in the northwestern corner of Corsica. I start again on N198. In the town Ponte Leccia I get on N197 to Calvi. It took 3h40m to drive 201km from my hotel to Calvi. I am parking under the impressive Citadel, which is above the sea on the highest point of the city. So, I explore it first. Great view from the top. The city is partly on an incline culminating with the Citadel. After returning to my car I drive down through the city and to N197. This time I drive to Corte in the mountainous heart of the island. Here there is the only university with courses in the local language, Corse. Once Corte was the capital of the Corse Republic, which had short lifespan. I take a picture of the Citadel on a hill above the city. Then N200 takes mi to N198 and that brings me to my hotel. The following day I make a short trip to Porto-Vecchio. I drive through the town without stopping. Then back to my hotel. Jun 20 is my last day on Corsica. I start at 11 o’clock from my hoteldriving to Bastia, where in the afternoon. After parking the car, I walk to the main square, “Place St. Nicolas.” I have a lunch in a restaurant. There is some fire brigade celebrationhere. Later I drive to the airport. I leave the car at Hertz, where I found the only parking place. I call the Czech, I have the car from, where the car is. Then I board a Lufthansa plane for Frankfurt. Here I switch to another Lufthansa plane to Prague. The plane lands there at 11 PM. A taxi takes me to my sister’s house. ¨ Travel office: Fischer Travel (a Czech travel company) Who took part: I traveled alone.