Tag Archives: Corsica

7 May 2018:
Porto-Vecchio, Corsica:
Napoleon, Nelson, and the Vendetta

By Corey Sandler

Napoleon was born here.

Nelson left behind a body part.

Everybody claims Columbus.

And we are here, in Porto-Vecchio, an Italian word meaning “Old Port” except that Corsica is officially part of France. They speak French, often with a Corsican grudge; in the dark interior, they speak Corsican with a bit of a French sneer.

Corsica, at least in the private wishes of its people, has always been a place unto its own.

It is an island of jagged granite mountains and dense, dark forests.

It even has its own odor, a scent of the maquis: fields of aromatic herbs and shrubs.

Deep in the woods, bandits once roamed. And generations of Corsicans maintained blood feuds: vendettas.

Today this not-quite-autonomous fortress island has opened the gates to invaders from around the world: tourists bearing Euros.

I took this photo today in near noontime, when the overhead sun highlighted the layers of the island of Corsica: sea, sand, rock, hill, the calanques, the maquis, the mountains, and the threatening sky:

Photo by Corey Sandler, All rights reserved.

And this photo was on a different visit to Corsica, to the town of Calvi:

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS,  PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

29 Sep 2016
Calvi, Corsica, France:
Nelson and Paoli, Yes. Columbus, Probably Not.

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

Napoleon was born here. Nelson left behind a body part. Pasquale di Paoli fought the heavy hand of Genoa and then France. Those are facts.

Like Ibiza, and Spain, and four or five other places including Genoa, there is a monument here that celebrates the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Probably not.

But back to the facts on the ground. This island flies a French flag, has an Italian heritage, and maintains a defiantly independent Corsican culture.

It is an island of jagged granite mountains and dense, dark forests.

It even has its own odor, a scent of the maquis: fields of aromatic herbs and shrubs.

Today I went with guests on a trip through the maquis to Iles-Rousse, the lovely little port town that was a stronghold of the 18th century independence leader Pasquale di Paoli.

ILES-ROUSSE

blog-calvi-illustrious-29sept2016-corey-sandler-0522

blog-calvi-illustrious-29sept2016-corey-sandler-0527

blog-calvi-illustrious-29sept2016-corey-sandler-0535

blog-calvi-illustrious-29sept2016-corey-sandler-0536

A CALVI ALBUM

blog-calvi-illustrious-29sept2016-corey-sandler-0551

CALVI 14Apr2016 EDIT BLOG-4364

blog-calvi-illustrious-29sept2016-corey-sandler-0564

Calvi_BLOG_DSC7686

Calvi SANDLER Corsica France DSC_2901

Text and images copyright 2016 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Hudson Book Cover

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

 

14 April 2016
Calvi, Corsica: No Island is a Man

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

CALVI 14Apr2016 EDIT BLOG-4364

Silver Cloud at anchor in the Bay of Calvi today

CALVI 14Apr2016 EDIT BLOG-4373

Snow still lingers in the hills above Calvi, even as summer arrives in Corsica 

Napoleon was born here. Nelson left behind a body part. And everybody claims Columbus.

But in the end, no island is a man.

Calvi_BLOG_DSC7689

CALVI 14Apr2016 EDIT BLOG-4337

Corsica, at least in the wishes of its people for centuries, has always been a place unto its own.

A French flag, an Italian heritage, and a Corsican culture

It is an island of jagged granite mountains and dense, dark forests.

It even has its own perfume, a scent of the maquis: fields of aromatic herbs and shrubs.

Deep in the woods, bandits once roamed. And generations of Corsicans maintained blood feuds: vendettas.

For its entire existence it has been a fortress.

The Citadel de Calvi, in the main part of town and not far from the port, is the most popular attraction in Calvi. It was first built by the Genoese as a monastery in the 13th century, most recently rebuilt in 1570.

CALVI 14Apr2016 EDIT BLOG 4334

Time passes at a different rate here on Corsica.

Calvi SANDLER DSC_2938

Calvi SANDLER Corsica France DSC_2992

Columbus was born here, or so say some wishful believers.

Text and images copyright 2016 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

Hudson Book Cover

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS,  PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

13 September 2015
Calvi, Corsica: Napoleon, Nelson, and the Vendetta

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

Corsica, at least in the wishes of its people for centuries, has always been a place unto its own.

A French flag, Italian heritage, and a Corsican culture.

It is an island of jagged granite mountains and dense, dark forests. It even has its own odor, a scent of the maquis: fields of aromatic herbs and shrubs.
Calvi Corsica1

 

It was a beautiful day in Corsica as we were at anchor,  but the wind and seas were a bit on the wild side at midday,  and the tender ride from shore to the ship was . . . exciting.

Text and images copyright 2015 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.

28 September 2014
 Calvi, Corsica

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

Another spectacular day, this time on the spectacular island of Corsica. A place of jagged peaks and deep valleys, carpeted almost everywhere by the thick maquis undergrowth.

We arrived at Calvi just after sunrise.

Calvi_BLOG_DSC7689 Calvi_BLOG_DSC7686

Calvi in the early morning light. Photos by Corey Sandler

Calvi Corsica France BLOG 28Sept2014-7710

And a photo I took in the late afternoon, with Silver cloud framed by ancient Genoese walls.

I went with a group of guests way up into the hills to the perched village of Sant’Antonino. The view from below was impressive; the hike to the top strenuous but well worth the trip. Sant’Antonino may be the oldest continuously occupied town in Corisca, dating from about the year 900.

Today less than 100 people live on the hill top.

Sant'Antonino_BLOG_DSC7704 SANT'ANTONINO_BLOG_DSC7708

The view from atop, and a peek inside the small Franciscan chapel, dating from 1776 about the time France took control of Corsica. Photos by Corey Sandler

Iles Rousse_BLOG_DSC7695

The spice market in Iles Rousse. Photos by Corey Sandler

Here are more photos from Corsica.Calvi SANDLER Corsica France DSC_2975

 

The colors of Calvi
The colors of Calvi

Calvi SANDLER P1050089

Calvi SANDLER Corsica France DSC_2901

Columbus was born here, or so say some wishful believers.
Columbus was born here, or so say some wishful believers.

Calvi SANDLER Corsica France DSC_2992

Climbing the fortress walls for a view of the port of Calvi
Climbing the fortress walls for a glimpse of the port.

All photos by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution copy, please contact me.