Is anyone worried about the fact that FLNC have stepped up their activities since they broke the ceasefire last September? I know when I worked in Corsica the party line we gave to tourists was that they never do anything that would affect tourism as it%26#39;s the island%26#39;s main source of income. Now however, I am wondering if that was something the UK travel company made up to ensure they did not lose business. Now I am a tourist myself I am feeling a little apprehensive.
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This simply emphasises that absolutely nowhere in the world can ever be guaranteed as 100% safe. If you let this sort of thing worry you, you would never go anywhere, but then staying at home is not 100% safe. My closest shave was to be in LONDON on July 7th at Kings Cross at 8 am!!
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I agree with Aardvark. We’ve been going to this wonderful island for 20 years and have an apartment here - and we’ve never had anything but a friendly welcome from the Corsican people we’ve met and become friends with.
Like everywhere else in the world, there are issues (e.g. Corsican independence) and yes, there are security issues too. Separatist extremists have assassinated politicians here in the past and empty villas belonging to rich French people are blown up occasionally, but holidaymakers don’t come to harm here. I don’t condone extremism, but this is kid’s stuff compared to the horrors that Aardvark refers to in London. Come to Corsica and enjoy yourself – and the more support you give to Corsica’s tourist industry, the weaker the extremists’ position will become.
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Thanks chaps. As I said I did work there for a couple of years and have been back since many times so I do know the island and the people very well. It was actually my OH who has been questioning the safety - which is odd because I have never even contemplated being anything but safe when I am thereand it suddenly got me thinking. And you are right about London Aaardvark - I live here too and the threat is much greater than Corsica! Silly me for listening to the scare-mongers!
Thanks for putting things back into perspective for me. Thinking about it over the past few days, I was suddenly reminded of a story I was told when I was out there working - apparently years ago when a certain UK Holiday company first %26#39;set up shop%26#39; in Corsica, the separatists bombed a hotel out of season, not realising that a holiday rep was still living there. She was only slightly injured thankfully, but the leader of the organisation behind the attack wrote to the owner of the tour operator to apologise and told him that they had not realised there was anyone in the hotel.
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The security issue on Corsica did cross my mind years ago when we took our babies there regularly in the 1980%26#39;s but I can honestly say thatI have never come across anything but a warm welcome in Corsica. Over the years we have driven into some remote inland areas and always been courteously treated (probably having children in tow helps). I have a lot of family in France (my mother was French) and during discussions with them it seems that the over riding problem is between government in Paris and the Corsicans, and the tourists do not feature in any of the separatist plans (unlike terrorism in Turkey and Spain). Paris feels they give enormous financial help to Corsica but gets nothing but trouble in return ! My family all holiday on the Cote d%26#39;Azur and would not dream of going to Corsica. I get the feeling that the majority of tourists now on Corsica are British, we come out of season too which must be good for the tourism industry, and we are welcome. This is my personal view and open to contradiction however!
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The majority of tourists in Corsica are still French - by a very large margin. The next biggest group are the Italians, with whom the Corsican people have a certain amount of shared heritage. The Brits are a long way down the list, but the numbers grow each year. I have also noticed more Americans here for their holidays than in earlier years - perhaps they come here on cruises, love the place and decide to return.
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Yes but do the French and Italians come out of season ? In Calvi last September there seemed to be an awful lot of English about - perhaps the English speak louder than everyone else !
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This may be one of the last places on earth where an American tourist may want to actually %26quot;stand out%26quot; and not blend in with the French locals.
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Another funny story. Once when I was accompanying a group of Scottish tourists to a wine-tasting trip (It%26#39;s a tough job but someone%26#39;s got to do it!). The vinyard%26#39;s tour guide was very entertaining and was fiercely patriotic. He was extolling the virtues of the Corsican people. He went on to be less than complimentary about the French and the English and the Germans!! He said he admired the Scots as they faced the same struggle against their opressors as the Corsicans (!). He then went on about how much he liked the Italians as they were their %26#39;cousins%26#39;.
Anyway, later on in the tour the question of payment for ordering wine arose and our host told the visitors that they could order a crate which would be sent over to them in Scotland with an invoice. They all thought that this was odd indeed and queried that they wouldn%26#39;t be expected to pay until the wine had been received! He assured them that it was fine and that they trusted them to honour their contract. At which point one wise-cracker piped up (in a broad Scottish accent) %26quot;and if we don%26#39;t pay up do you send your cousins over%26quot;? :-))
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Before we get on to wine... Sarastro, we%26#39;d easily spot you in a crowd of French people with a photo as distinctive as yours - so better take care!
Seriously though, w62 raises an interesting point about Corsican wine. Why can%26#39;t we buy the stuff in the UK? There are some wonderful wines here and with the exception of one or two specialist importers it%26#39;s impossible to buy in Britain. You can only take so much back on the plane with you.
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Pretty much the same with Corsican beer. Very pleasant and somewhat different, but I%26#39;ve never seen any in the UK.
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