Rome

There are no photos for May 7. I arrived in Livorno on time, caught a bus to the city centre, had a pizza for lunch, caught a bus to the station, then took a train to Roma Trastevere. Trastevere because I was curious about this neighbourhood, and because there were frequent trains to the airport from there. The previous trip I was in Rome was passing through on the way to Umbria. The last trip I actually explored Rome was in 1982, my first European trip, 42 years ago.

The one night accommodation in an apartment was pricey but only 5 minutes from the station, and very comfortable.

The calico cat? We'll get to her a bit later.

I had only the morning to explore the area, so I started by crossing Ponte Testaccio to reach Mercato di Testaccio.

Shops were starting to open for business at that hour, about 0800.

Lots of tasty stuff to be had.

The building housing the market isn't very attractive.

Crossing the muddy Tiber to get back to Trastevere.

The B&B didn't serve breakfast but offered a coupon to be redeemed at a local cafe for a coffee and a pastry. This cafe specialised in maritozzo (page in Italian).

I decided to visit Romeow, a cat cafe, with the time I had left. I thought I could cross into Ostiense using Ponte dell'Industria o di Ferro, but contrary to online directions it was closed. Half the things in Italy don't work. So I had to walk back to Trastevere station and take the train, wasting time.

At Ostiense station, before walking to the cafe, I passed the way to the Rome site of Eataly, a chain of large format food stores and restaurants. There is an Eataly branch in Fiumicino airport. All the yummy local produce looked very tempting.

This picture was actually taken on the way to Livorno more than a week before.

The cafe is decorated in a calm style. There is a double door to prevent accidental escape of the cats who spend all their lives indoors.

They were rather indifferent to the customers and were more interested in playing with each other. With a bit of effort you might get to stroke one.

And so it's quite appropriate that my trip was bookended by cats, a cat city at the beginning, and a cat cafe at the end.

Sicilian landscapes were worth the trouble getting to, especially the Montalbano filming locations. Corsica was calming after Sicily, and the west coast towns of Calvi and L'Île Rousse were marvellous. I like islands even more now.

Bastia

After the wonderful scenery of Calvi and L'Île Rousse, Bastia would be ordinary. Still I was glad to be closer to the ferry to take me back to Italy and the flight home.

The Hotel Bonaparte (neatly bookending my sojourn as the first was Hotel Napoleon) had a small breakfast room instead of room service.

After breakfast I took a walk north of the city area to the Plage de Toga.

It was no great shakes and was a bit sad out of season.

I suppose one could have a nice time staying in the vacation homes here.

A panorama.

Time to activate the emergency chocolate I had found in a supermarket the day before. I don't think I would recognise Corsé flavour again, but it was tasty enough.

The Corsicans are adamant about keeping their language alive with bilingual road signs.

Remember the giant citrus fruits called citron or cedro in Sicily? They are used here too.

And this is the ferry that would take me back to Livorno early the next morning, a different ferry company. It turned out to be more comfortable than the previous one. I even ate a pre-ordered breakfast in the huge cafeteria.

And that was almost the last picture I took in Corsica so it was goodbye.

L'Île-Rousse 3

As mentioned the train from Calvi to Bastia only ran twice a day. The 0746 service was far too early so I chose the 1625. I would just have to nap in the hotel lobby in the afternoon. I would arrive in Bastia at 1914, still light at that time of day so no issues with the hotel. And anyway I still had the following day in Bastia.

This is a recycling container made from waste plastic.

I happened upon the Sunday markets in town. I thought it would be a day for church or rest. I guess the locals like getting together.

Besides the flea market under the trees there is provisions section under a roof.

Straight from the producer, you can't get fresher than that.

Hanging wire sculptures over a street.

I decided to explore the rocky Île de la Pietra (page in French) which juts off the coast and is connected by a causeway. As you can see a lighthouse is sited there. Maps shows that the port has ferry connections with mainland France.

But first I have to get there so this is the start of my walk. I passed the mermaid statue again.

A telephoto shot of the waterside homes.

And the barren island.

You can see where everything is in the next two panoramas.

Now on the left of the causeway looking back on the coast west of the town.

I climbed up the rocky outcrop and was rewarded with an elevated view of the town.

And the lighthouse on the next outcrop, separated by a channel.

Some panoramas from this vantage point.

Back on the port side of the island there was a seafood cook-out happening. It looked like they were all members of some club. I was pretty sure it wasn't open to the public (i.e. me) but nobody minded me walking through.

There was a restaurant overlooking the port but it wasn't doing business, possibly only in the evening.

There are a ferry terminal and port facility buildings here. The ferries also transport cars and this service is used by mainland vacationers wanting to drive around Corsica. You'd need a family or a group to make it worthwhile though.

Back in town, I found a restaurant serving Thai cuisine and had this for lunch. The seafood was fresh so it was tasty.

And that was the end of my time in Île Rousse. I rested in the hotel lounge until it was time to catch the late afternoon train back to Bastia.

L'Île-Rousse 2

In the evening I took a eastwards walk along the beach for as far as I could. This is the hotel I stayed at. As you can see, it's separated from the beach by the train tracks. There are pedestrian crossings at intervals along the track.

Starting my walk.

The colour of the beach hut took my fancy.

The beach is interrupted here by a rocky outcrop.

Actually there is a little sandy passage.

It's also here the the train tracks veer off to the right, parting ways with the beach.

After the outcrop there is an elevated platform (lifeguard hut?) this photo is taken from.

A panorama of the scene.

A long telephoto shot of the end of the beach.

Pointing my telephoto lens westwards at the wharf where the ferry was berthed.

The rocks and water reminded me of similar beaches on Sardinia. Both should be of the same geological origin.

Someone's dog on an outing with the owner.

I reached the end of the sand and took these shots.

I clambered on the rocks and peered beyond the beach.

I liked the texture of the sea-worn rocks.

A panorama of the area.

Turning around and squeezing through the sandy passage again.

Evening is a good time to enjoy the texture produced by the slanting light.

Passing the beach kiosk again.

A family digging the sand.

The town wharf.

A couple of panoramas.

Near the wharf is a mermaid statue.

A street in the town, a bit deserted.

Tourist goods in the shops.

Sunflower on wall.

Cafe with old-fashioned signs.