Silver wedding anniversary on the Mein Schiff 2 in the Mediterranean - Corsica

Exactly at 07:19 am at sunrise, we entered the port of Ajaccio in Corsica. A beautiful experience which I enjoyed with Jessica and Renate over a coffee on the balcony. The great thing about the Mein Schiff ships is the Nespresso machine in every cabin, especially in combination with a balcony cabin. The capital of Corsica is located on the southwest coast of the island, on the northern shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio. With about 64,000 inhabitants, Ajaccio is the largest city in Corsica. The most famous son of the city is Napoleon Bonaparte. In the past, the French island was ruled by the Republic of Genoa, then by Pisa. The strong cultural ties to Italy are therefore omnipresent. Corsica is a mixture of elegant coastal towns, dense forests, rugged peaks, and beautiful nature. If you take the time to explore the island, you will be constantly surprised by new views, attractions, and natural spectacles. It was our second visit to Ajaccio, so we took our time and enjoyed a leisurely day.

After lunch, we went on a trip to the Prunelli Gorge. The Prunelli Valley is located on the western coast of Corsica, not far from Ajaccio. Six small villages hide in the rugged mountains: Cauro, Eccica Suarella, Ocana, Tolla, Bastelicaccia, and the main town, Bastelica. The roads are narrow, and it can get a bit complicated when a bus, like in our case, is coming towards you. But you will be rewarded with great views in a stunning mountain landscape. Our first stop of the excursion was a farm in the village of Bastelica with pigs, donkeys, cats, and a delicious tasting of regional specialties. We tried the bacon and ham produced there from black pigs, as well as the Corsican wine. Delicious. You could also buy the delicacies we tasted. Then we visited the farm. We had a lot of fun with the free-roaming black pigs and petted the friendly donkey. There is also a small train from Ajaccio to the farm itself.

The second stop was at the entrance to the gorge, and the third stop was at the reservoir. The reservoir was created by damming the Prunelli River and extends from southwest to northeast over about 3.5 kilometers with a width of up to 700 meters. The reservoir has a capacity of 34 million cubic meters. The dam was built from 1958 to 1960 and is located at the southwestern end of the lake. It was put into operation in 1965. The view from the parking lot was beautiful. We had a lot of fun with the free-roaming goats that could be found everywhere around the reservoir. There was a small kiosk at the parking lot where you could taste and buy coffee, cold drinks, and the very good Corsican honey. The honey is famous beyond the borders of Corsica and has been awarded multiple times. It has a unique taste and is perfect as a souvenir from the trip. The return journey took us through the stunning mountain landscape. One of the most beautiful stretches of the valley. Here, the narrow road winds its way through the hamlets of Tolla and Ocana, offering great views of the lake and the mountains.

We were back on board at 5:30 pm. The excursion was really worth it and is recommended. We watched the departure from the pool deck. From there, we had a great view of the Îles Sanguinaires. These are the four Blood Islands at the northern end of the Gulf of Ajaccio. The name comes from the colorful sunsets. Often, the sun disappears as a blood-red ball into the sea and bathes the already reddish rocks in a deep red, making the islands appear as drops of blood in the sea from the coast. We were lucky and were able to enjoy such a natural spectacle during the departure.