Walking tour around Calvi

Very warm and very humid today! Local guide Helene walked us through the Main Street then up to the older Citadel part of Calvi imparting many historical facts on the way. The Genoese claimed Calvi as part of their empire, using its ability to produce olive oil and other foodstuffs to feed its people. Christopher Columbus was thought to have been born here, Napoleon visited his godfather as a young man here and Nelson actually lost his eye here during a skirmish with the French. The British ruled here for a couple of years under George III then gave it back and during the WWII it was occupied by Mussolini’s forces then the Germans. The Tower of Calvi was part of the coastal defences built by the Genoese to repel Barbary Pirates. We toiled up the cobbled streets and steps then, dismissed by Helene, Ted and I scooted off to a tiny cafe for refreshment.

So… in the afternoon it rained! We borrowed an umbrella from the hotel and walked to the local beach next to the Marina. It was mainly deserted with no water sports going on and closed Beach Clubs but we went for our first dip in the Mediterranean, rain or no rain. No pics as didn’t take my phone e down to beach but wonderful view of the ramparts and citadel from the sea on that side.
This evening, again armed with raincoats and umbrellas, everyone walked to a local restaurant and had the meal we had chosen on Friday morning in St Pancras-couldn’t quite remember whether it was the Corsican or the Italian menu but hey ho. Rain stopped for the walk home.Read more