June 5 Bonifacio

 

Our first morning in Corscia we chugged up to the clifftop citadel of Bonifacio in a motorised tourist ‘train’ (we’ve seen them many places) where we were met by a delightful Corsican guide whose name unfortunately escapes me. He took us wandering up and down the narrow streets of the old city - fascinating. The citadel was built in C9th with the foundation of the city and has been reconstructed and renovated many times since its construction. 

Evidence of one of the old cistern systems

This street is steeper than it looks yet the electricians
seemed to cling on like limpets.

A fascinating collection of knives on sale here

As we explored we learned a few of the old customs one which I found rather interesting. In Corsica, elsewhere perhaps, young men of a certain age are presented with a knife with which to defend themselves.  The knives are made in this shop, Les Terrasses D'Aragon, as is other cutlery. They were beautiful works of art but looked deadly. 

Those structures leaping between building are small aqueducts

Pretty church

We're looked sraight down the outer walls of the city which some crazy people climbed

And these are the inner walls

Impressive battlements

It had been hot work wandering over this amazing citadel so we were soon looking for a spot to collapse with a cold drink - and lunch.

Bruschetta with prosciutto and fig washed down with icy Aperol Spritz 

That night we escaped the crowd and found a quiet place for dinner. It's wonderful to be alone after being with a busload of people, lovely as they might be. We topped off the night with a couple of favorite liqueurs - Limoncello and Mirta (made from the berries of the myrtle bush)

Limoncello and Mirto by candlelight

Peace descended leaving inky pools dotted with tiny lights and clanking yacht masts. Divine