Scottishnellies Mediterranean Cruise. day 6 Ajaccio, Corsica

[scottishnellie]

We docked in Ajaccio in Corsica around 6:30am and when I woke up and looked out you could see we were docked right in at the town.

Kevin went for breakfast, bringing back my tea and a latte for him which we had sitting on our balcony. We love doing this in the morning.

We hadn’t planned to get off at this port but since we could just saunter straight off the ship and be straight in town we felt we may as well. As always the daily planner tells you all you need to know.

It’s my birthday today and I opened my card from Kevin and from the kids. I’d left all my other cards begin when we had started managing the weight allowance so I will have those to go home to. I had lovely birthday messages from friends & family and it was lovely reading them.

Once ready we stepped off the ship and had a look at some of the stunning boats docked there. Hannah and I watch below deck (another guilty pleasure) and it’s great watching these real life crews around their boats and having an understanding of who’s doing what and seeing their uniforms and things.

Right at the dock the first thing we came across was a HUGE food market. Stalls both indoors and outdoors selling everything you could think of. The smells were divine and as we wandered around Kevin said ‘I really want cheese olives and red wine for lunch now’ me too! Fairly whet the appetite that’s for sure.

We had turned left at the dock to the old town rather than right to the new town as the old town looked prettier. I had read that Ajaccio was the birthplace of Napoleon so we knew we should be able to see his statue and maybe find his childhood home which is now a museum. Corsica used to belong to Italy then back in the 1700s they gave it to France to pay a debt so it’s a French commune and everyone there is french speaking. It was odd switching to hearing French everywhere after Italian everywhere yesterday!

We just started wandering around and it was really nice. Lovely shops and cafes, and really pretty buildings. Then we found the beach which was roasting but very breezy. Even the wind was warm!

As we were walking around all the streets were police taped off to stop cars parking anywhere even in actual parking areas. There were police everywhere in dress uniforms and the cafe owners were putting up decorations outside.

We couldn’t understand until I remembered my birthday 14th July is also Bastille Day! Only the French version of 4th July! So clearly there were going to be huge celebrations later and maybe a parade down these streets

As we were walking we noticed these little brass arrows inserted into the pavement with N on them.

At first we thought they meant North but as they pointed different directions we ruled that out. I mentioned to Kevin maybe they led us to something Napoleon related so we should just follow them.

So there we were following our wee trail, crossing roads, through squares when we walked straight into David & Susan. They had done quite a bit of shopping and we pointed out the arrows and told them what we thought. They decided to come with us and less than 5 minutes later there was Napoleon’s monument.

From here David n Susan were going to head to a cafe for a drink or ice cream whereas we fancied trying to find Napoleons house, so we split again. I just Googled the house and the walking directions were only a few minutes away so off we went.

Until we reached his house. It’s a museum but was closed today because of Bastille day so we only saw outside it.

Wandered back down to the ship

and up to the Oceanview cafe for lunch where we did indeed plump for cheese olives & wine, and a nice wee view of Ajaccio. Oh it was just lovely.

Kevin then had beef bourguignon which he said was very tasty and the meat beautifully tender

They had all different kinds of crème brûlée today so I lifted a Dulce de leche (which turned out to be coffee) and a strawberry one. Very nice.

We bumped into a couple from Glasgow that we’ve chatted with a few times. We were laughing as they hadn’t used any of their On Board Credit so she had been for a massage which she said was great, and he was about to go for a $110 haircut! Bonkers. I’d rather blow it in the casino. They asked us how we’d spent ours. We had $300 as part of our booking so I’d spent $260 on tomorrows trip to Florence and we thought we would probably just spend the rest in the casino.

They were saying this was their 15th cruise. They’ve done Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, TUI, & MSC (and others I’m not remembering) all different ships and said in their opinion this has been the best yet. They said Celebrity are, for them, very hard to beat. I’m not at all surprised. If you could come on this cruise and not love it there would have to be something wrong with you.

Lunch over we went down to the room to get ready for the pool to find this

So nice! When we thanked him later he asked if it was an ok wine or did we want it changed. He said ‘I know nothing about wine but I see your birthday cards and I go ask my friend in the wine cellar. He help me’. Bless him!

Up to the pool and I got my ice cream before settling on a lounger. So hot again today. If doing this in summer when it’s really hot its definitely best to go off ship and explore in the morning then be back on by lunch. For us anyway.

One of the live bands were playing by the pool today. They are SO good. I do love a live band but beside a pool is a real treat when it’s usually a DJ you would get.

We had a go on the moulded pool beds today. Poor kevin was wobbling back n forth like a weeble at first!

Had a lovely hot sunbathing afternoon, trying to make the most of our last pool time, before going down to get ready.

While getting ready I look forward to Captain Tasos daily announcement. The man is hilarious. I’ll give you an example. He’s Greek so you need to read this in a Greek accent.

‘Many of za guests were impressed by my accurate predictions of last nights super moon and have asked me - Captain Tasos, how do you do zis? Well I explain. I study long time 12 years maritime academy, I work very hard to be best Captain and build my knowledge. I demonstrate for you now. Siri - what time will za moon rise tonight?’ Then he laughs this big booming laugh. It’s something different every day but he’s always so funny.

I was trying to curl my hair tonight. Nightmare. I’m rubbish at doing my own hair but always worse on holiday. I’m the end I had to pin the front bit up as I just couldn’t get it to sit. Nightmare.

Once my hair was done Kevin and I opened the bottle of wine and had a wee cheers on the balcony. Then Kevin headed into the shower while I did my makeup. He wasn’t long in when I heard the 2 girls next door out squealing on the balcony so I jumped out to see. There was a HUGE pod if dolphins jumping in and out of the length of the ships wake going back a good distance. What a sight! Kevin got out of the shower in time to see them too.

Chic night tonight, which is as formal as Celebrity gets so I wore my sparkly dress but I really wasn’t happy with my hair. I took a mirror selfie anyway.

We’d had another positive update from Kevin’s sister and when that happens Kevin’s shoulders drop with relief and he relaxes again.

Down for our 8pm Normandie booking. Now if you remember, this was the restaurant where the manager had come over when we hadn’t eaten the desserts and Kevin’s wine hadn’t been topped up.

So we check in at the front desk, she looks it up and says I have a beautiful table for you. The waiter leads us through and we pass the manager who says ‘good evening Mr & Mrs McNicol, welcome back’. We get a lovely big table in the corner with full sunset view. I see him speaking to the sommelier and gesturing at our table and when he later serves our wine he asks if we mind if he just leaves the bottle with us. The manager was clearly taking no chances on an empty glass tonight!

I had a blue cheese soufflé

Kevin had the baked Brie again as it was good last time

Then I had the lavendar salmon - delicious agsin

And Kevin had……..Beef Wellington which he said was delicious. I think he was close to licking the plate.

The sun set before desserts

Kevin had Opera cake with his usual double espresso

and I had baked Alaska

Both nice and we polished off the bottle of wine too.

I didn’t want another drink yet so we popped into the martini bar and got Kevin 2 of his beloved espresso martinis to take to the theatre.

Tonight’s show was this

When they came on stage I recognised them as 4 lads who’d been sat at a table next to us a few nights before, we’d said hello to them at the pool, and last night they were sitting right in front of us watching the show. So they’d been on the ship all week. And then last nights Motown boys were sitting to the side of us now watching the Barricade Boys!

They. Were. Brilliant! Again I sat there thinking how much my parents would have loved it too. Bit of Motown, big show tunes. At one point they sang ‘bring him home’ from Les Mis and I sat there with tears streaming down my face and dripping off my chin. My brothers best friend died in his late 20’s. I’d grown up with him and this was played at his funeral. I’ve never been able to listen to it for the past 20 odd years without balling my eyes out and their performance of it was just stunning.

The song finished to a standing ovation even though the show wasn’t over. Their finale was an incredible rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. It was outstanding. And again a standing ovation. What a show.

We went from there to The Club which was having a 20s speakeasy type night. It had the ships performers doing dances with acrobatics and a saxophonist.

Then it went onto a disco with lots of dancing and laughs

We also had a nice chat with the Motown group who were in the club. Lovely boys so they were

We didn’t go to bed til nearly 2, even though we have an early start tomorrow for our trip! Help!

[Loopylooloo]

Happy belated birthday! What a fabulous way to spend the day! Corsica is another place I have never been, looks lovely, especially the food market yummm…

How sweet of your steward to gift you wine!

We had on board credit, we bought slot machine token with all of it, played a bit, until we had won or broken even, then cashed it all out.

Baked Alaska is my all time favourite dessert and yours looks amazing 🤩

What a great evening of entertainment too, am making notes as am back at Freds now, in the entertainment department, the Barricade boys look brilliant.

[JoJo88]

Another perfect day, a perfect birthday, just wonderful. Many happy returns! You talking about your brother’s friend brought a tear to my eye - I have a few songs that make me spontaneously ball too x

[JudeB]

What a way to celebrate your birthday! Another great day by all accounts.

[ducati211]

Happy belated birthday, what a lovely day to have, Corsica looks lovely for a stroll around and a beautiful sunset as well as seeing the dolphins and a dance at the end of the day

[MarionG]

Happy belated birthday, and what a wonderful way to celebrate it.

[WIGGYSMUM]

Helen what a lovely way to spend your birthday 🥳
You both look to be having a great time , so happy Kevin had a positive update from his sister too 👍🏻
Xx

[JAF]

The first cruise port we ever docked at was Ajaccio and when we opened the curtains we looked straight out onto a Corsica ferry which was something we had not expected. It is a lovely town. We went on an organised tour in the morning and after lunch on board went exploring on our own. We were very taken aback when walking past a church when a large black limo screeched to a halt in front of us, out got a couple of men in dark glasses who looked like most people’s idea of a typical mafia person. We still sometimes talk about it today with fond memories.

[margyloveswdw]

What a great way to spend your Birthday!

[OB1LukeLucas]

Sounds like a perfect birthday celebration….hope you were ok for your early start!