Bonjour Corsica!
The last two weeks have been an absolute dream traveling through 5 countries across Europe on a Mediterranean cruise, experiencing with my own eyes sights I’d only seen in pictures.
I can’t wait to share more about all of the destinations I explored, but I want to start with one of my favorite unexpected stops on this trip—Corsica, France.
I didn’t know a lot about Corsica before this trip, so I was incredibly blessed to have Nathalie from Cors’Alpha as my guide, giving me a private local tour of the island.
The personalized care and attention to detail I received working with Cors’Alpha was incredible. I corresponded by email and spoke on the phone directly with Nathalie. I shared that I’d like to get a taste of the local culture and high on my list are all things water. I also said that I would love to have an opportunity to see a side of this island that cruise ship tours don’t offer, and she capably took the reins.
Since I only had one day to experience Corsica, I tried not to set my expectations too high…but when I arrived, Nathalie had a great plan in place for my visit. I was able to leisurely explore the local markets and culture of Ajaccio in the morning, however I was concerned that my dream of enjoying all the natural beauty here would be thwarted by the drizzly weather we were experiencing.
That’s when Nathalie came to the rescue and shared that Corsica has unique atmospheric conditions creating different microclimates across the island. She was already prepared with places to visit that would not be affected by the fog and rain we were experiencing at our port.
In less than a half hour drive, Nate, Nathalie and I arrived at Torra di a Parata (The Tower of Parata), a Genoese tower dating back to 1550 that boasts gorgeous hiking and biking trails. The tower was one of many coastal defenses constructed to warn of attacks by Barbary pirates! Not only did we hike down to the rocky waters edge, but we also hiked up the steep steps and touched the tower with our own hands...it was a wonderful experience.
After our hike, we set off again. Nathalie said she had a special spot in mind that she thought we would really enjoy…and before we knew it, we had arrived at Hôtel Le Week End, a wonderful resort with a private restaurant and beach. What Nathalie didn’t tell us is that she had made arrangements for us to have special access to the resorts infinity pool overlooking the edge of the Mediterranean Sea!
I have to take a moment to thank Nathalie and Hôtel Le Week End for their generosity in sharing this incredible property with us. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I would have never known this hidden gem existed (let alone had access to it) without our incredibly knowledgeable and caring local guide who was able to open these beautiful doors for us!
We loved the quiet private beach setting as well as indoor and outdoor dining options. But the cherry on top of the sundae at Hôtel Le Week End are the private guest quarters…they boast a lovely green outdoor area which opens up to the infinity pool that dreams are made of!
I am still pinching myself that we had this slice of heaven all to ourselves!
Now even if you can’t snag a room at the hotel, you can still enjoy a perfect seaside day. La Paillote offers a lovely adjoining outdoor bar and restaurant with next door beach access all Summer long.
I could have stayed at Hôtel Le Week End forever, and I can’t wait to return, spending more time staring out at the Mediterranean Sea from the infinity pools edge. However, when we left we had an opportunity to drive up the hills and overlook the west side of the island that boasts glorious views of untouched green fields, lush forest areas, and more magnificent beaches at the bottom.
During our time together, Nathalie and I discussed our common love for the water, as well as outdoor activities. With my time on the island dwindling, Nathalie had one more surprise up her sleeve. She pulled off at a local beach she loves and guided us to the waters edge. I am not exaggerating when I say I could have lied down in the gentle surf and stayed all night...and a whole lot longer!
I admired the bright sea glass that bejeweled the shoreline, and I felt at home. I felt so peaceful and happy, watching the local fishermen heading in for the day. I looked out at some of the most beautiful crystal clear blue water I’ve ever seen as I let the lukewarm waves lap up over my ankles, and I knew this is a special place…and now it will always be special to me too.
One day is in no way enough to enjoy all Corsica has to offer. If the weather had been a bit more cooperative on parts of the island, I would have loved to have seen more of the wildlife, famous sea caves and magnificent cliffs…but we definitely packed as much as we possibly could into our time here…and thanks to Cors’Alpha’s planning, we didn’t feel rushed at all.
As we were heading back to the ship we even shared with Nathalie that we would love to try some local Gelato, and if she could make a recommendation. She not only drove us to one of her favorite local spots, but when we arrived and they were already closing for the day, she had them open just for us!
I’m in love with how this little island seems to operate like a great big family where everyone knows each other, and decisions are made over a conversation and a hand shake...Corsica truly has stolen my heart. I feel like I left a little piece of myself there...and I’m okay with that because it’s a reminder that I need to return again soon!
I would just like to take this last moment to thank Cors’Alpha for their help in making sure I would make the most of my time on this paradise island. I highly recommend working with a reputable company like Cors’Alpha when planning your visit. I know I had a very special and unique experience thanks to their hard work.