28 September

This was the first morning of vacation that we woke to an alarm. Since we were expecting a long drive to the west of the island, we wanted to get an early start.

We planned well yesterday for our trip to the Calanche. Monday, we went to my favorite bakery and got bread and an almond croissant for breakfast and lunches on the road.

We pulled out of the drive at 9:00, past the Calvi airport (we didn't look at that reminder that the vacation would end in a few days) and on towards Galaria. The road was as breathtaking as promised.

There are three major points that jut into the water which mark progress on the voyage. Each is as stunning as the last. High red granite colored with maquis. When we dared peek down the precipice we were driving along, we saw bays of tourquoise water dotted with white boats.

On average, we were driving along precipices 500 feet above the water. The trip, 60 some kilometers total from the start of the coastal route, took 2 hours to the Calanche. The Calanche themselves were a total treat. Still red rock, but weird spires and holes in the rocks. This must be a favorite route because the road through the hills was a lot like Shennandoah Drive in the fall.

We parked and did a pretty quick walk up several hundred feet then along a narrow path looking down to the sea. We had lunch of tomato sandwitches, sausage and bananas and headed back to the car.

From the Calanche, we proceded to Piana and on to Capu Rossu for another scary drive along stunning roads to a patch of Maquis -- the farthest west point on the island. We did about half of a hike to an Genoese tower, but, as the time was getting late and we wanted to do the serpentine segment of the drive back prior to sundown, we turned around. Even half the walk, however, was a treat. Wide open maquis, dried thistle, laurel trees, olives perfumed with the sea air. What a wonderful place! We found an off the path way to climb a promintory overlooking the Calanche and the bay -- too precarious to stand, we sat and took pictures.

Leslie drove back to Calenzana where we ate a restaurant called Chez Micael's which we had read about in the Washingtonpost. Leslie had the roughtest boutchered but the best tasting fire roasted lamb and Marc had stewed boar with a spegetti side. A great chestnut cake with lots of chocolate on the top finished the meal. It was a totally wonderful day in Corsica.