The Fabulous Ventura – Part 4 Corsica and then home.

So following on from an amazing day in Rome, we woke up on our last full day to glorious sunshine at the port of Ajaccio, Corsica http://dawnonacruise.co.uk/the-fabulous-ventura-part-3-rome/

I really didn’t know much about Corsica to be honest, my previous perception from all my years in travel, was that it was a playground for the rich, an Island off of the south of France once being ruled by Italy and now France.

After breakfast we headed off of the ship, we was due to set sail mid afternoon so wanted to try and make the most of the area whilst we could. As soon as we came out of the port we was met, yet again, by various tourist guides offering tours of the surrounding area. There was several deals being offered for a train ride or an open top double decker bus for just €10 for an hour and a half. Not a bad deal considering we didn’t want to go to far from the ship.

Corsica or Ajaccio in particular was the birthplace of it’s most famous son Napoleon. As we walked around the town, which still has the beauty of the old town, you see lots of references to Napoleon and areas dedicated to him. As Corsica was once Italian and now french, you find that the majority of the Islanders have french first names with Italian surnames. It has a mix of french and Italian architecture and really is a beautiful port town.

Lots of boutique shops, bars and restaurants, there was even a large market on in the centre of the town. For a small place it was very busy and we decided after a stroll around to head back towards the port and take the open top tour bus.

We paid our €10 and and headed to the top deck, it was the first real day of sunshine that we had had, so wanted to make the most of it, although I am glad I did have a cardigan as the wind on top deck was a bit cool.

We headed out of the port area and towards the main town, all the whilst being given a running commentary of places of interest for the city. We then headed out towards the west coast and along some of the most stunning coastline I have seen for a long while. Sea and sand on one side and beautiful villas on the other.

We stopped at an area called Parata or also know as Pirates point, where the sandy coastline ends and the rocky mountain coastline begins. The views was stunning and you could see small islands jutting from the sea where the forts was placed to keep intruders at bay.

After a short stop here, we then returned on the journey back towards Ajaccio, again taking in the magnificent coastline and sights.

Once we was back into the town, we walked towards the nearest bar and had a refreshing glass of wine to take away the thirst from the heat and then headed back on board ready for the P&O Great British Sail Away.

Corsica had never been on my places to visit before, but now after just a small taster of this beautiful Island, it certainly is somewhere I now have a desire to go back to for a holiday.

After a bite to eat we placed ourselves with our stalkers Bill and Sandra and enjoyed the afternoon in the sun joining in with the sail away.

If you have never been on a P&O ship before, as they sail away from each port they generally have a sail away party, mostly low key with a live band playing or the entertainment team doing some dances and encouraging you to join in. However, at least one particular port departure (normally the last port before disembarkation) they like to arrange a Great British Sail Away and encourage everyone to join in. The Union Jack flags are flying and classic british songs are played. It’s a great afternoon in the sun having some fun as you sail out of a magnificent port.

When we finally returned to our cabin it was time to pack and get everything ready to leave the following morning. As we was on a fly cruise, we had already been checked in via the ship for our return flight home and our boarding passes and luggage labels had been delivered to our cabin. We was asked to  have our luggage outside our cabins no later than 11pm that evening and advised we would next pick them up at our return airport Gatwick.

After we headed off to an early show to see the comedian Tucker again, we had an early dinner and was back to the cabin to have our last bits packed and ready to be collected before an early night.

We had to be out of the cabin by 7am the morning of disembarkation and after breakfast we said our goodbyes to the wonderful people we had met on board, some was also leaving today and others remaining on for another 7 days.  After departing from the ship at Genoa, we headed straight to the airport and without much hanging about was on our way home.

We landed at Gatwick and true to their word, we meet back up with our luggage and then it was back to reality.

My week on board the Ventura was fantastic, the ship as I have mentioned before, has something for everyone and is great for seasoned cruisers or first time cruisers, those with children and those without. For parties of friends, couples or singles, you will always have something to do, someone to talk to and mostly have a great time.

Thank you P&O for a fantastic cruise and I look forward to my next one.. hopefully the Caribbean!

Dawn x