The First Ferry Boat

So the first of 4 ferries to be taken over the next 11 days and hats off to Moby lines for the organisation for our trip from Livorno to Corsica -- now there is a place that I had only read about with the Little Emperor and with our nephew moving there to set up his life I think 20+ years ago though that could be wrong -- the old memory you know , but will find out later. Well we couldn't do this return of the eurotour and pass by the ferry port without nipping over.

The drive we have done yesterday was down the Italian Riviera and the  Autostrade , and while we new there were a number of tunnels to go through no-one had ever told me that you spend more time in tunnels than out until you pass Genoa heading south.

With all of the driving we have done through something like 10 countries during this road trip through Europe , we can see why the majority of the way it has been on really good roads and motorways, when they have the funding from the numerous tolls that you encounter -- clearly there is a reinvestment that we do not see from our road taxes. The UK only has a couple of proper tolls -- like the one on the M42/M6 north of Birmingham which gets totally under used, so by introducing them strategically on all motorways would ensure that people pay for the repairs and upgrades -- similarly you could bring a congestion charge into the towns to stop vehicles of any king trying to dodge the motorway payment. The whole of Europe cant all be wrong.

 

On the way we past Sanremo and it reminded Lynda that her Aunt Winnie went there when she a young woman and we have been trying to think if this was spontaneous and sticking a pin in a map at the travel agents or whether there was something specific -- for example there is a famous Italian Song Festival been going on there annually since 1951----

 

 

 

 

-- I was going to suggest that she might have wanted to kill 2 birds with one stone as up until the mid 70's it was held in the Casino but then I was reminded that this would not have been something that Winnie would have chosen to do  so it was more likely to be here , at the Santuario della Madonna della Costa-----

Not necessarily surprising that I have never heard of it but a good bit of superstition and sleuthing -- ok , a bit of guess work on my part.

 

So there is always a view to be had when you spend most of the time at around 2 -3n thousand feet above sea level -- Now how do I get up there ---

 

  As we leave France for Italy ---

 Always a castle or fort somewhere around - either at the ports or high on a hill

Easiest border crossing to date -- no stopping , straight through, and Frankie is happy that he gets closer by the day -- well apart from the deviation to Corsica.

Unusual and very special architecture abounds on this trip and these are some random shots of things we found interesting-- if you don't then that's fine as well.

After some 3 hours in the car we decided to have a swim .

 

Now just for the purposes of removing any doubt about my partner/ mate/ love of my life/ navigator and DJ, it also turns out that she is a Logistics manager as well , who managed to think about putting a beach umbrella and beach mats and towels into the boot of Frankie as well so you see I am truly blessed.

 

So before hitting the heights at Livorno-- just joking as it is a ferry port after all -- we stopped at Santa Margarita Ligure and a very pretty place it is too.

 

This was my first swim in the med this year.

 

The beach was stoney but there were plenty of folk down there, either bunking school , tourists or locals

 

 

After that we checked in to the Max Hotel in Livorno -- bit like a Purple Palace if you know what that is -- ok , ok , it is the Premier Inn -- lots of passing trade -- business, people waiting for a ferry just like us in fact.

 

So today it was catching that ferry at the beginning of the blog.

 

We got to Bastia and off the ferry at around 1 pm and made our way to the capital - Ajaccio in order that we could meet up with My nephew Simon who lives here and is doing ok as a Michelin star chef and part owner of the A Nepita  restaurant.

 

So two shots from the ferry -- sorry , a bit boring but what was not so boring was to get a bit of revenge at the old Kaluki and gave the Queen herself a bit of a drubbing -- well it had to happen sometime so see below.

And finally this is a shot of the outside of Simon Andrews and his wife Roberta's restaurant and I am so proud that Lynda and I made the effort to get across here -- but more to come tomorrow.

 

Ok , so appetite wetted until tomorrow.

Bien Nuitt