AJACCIO, CORSICA: NAPOLEON BONAPARTE I, RADISHES, AND IMMORTAL OIL!

Friday, October 23, 2026
Corsica, France (Ajaccio)
67F, cloudy, then sprinkles, then sun

 

Today’s port was Ajaccio, a very pleasant city just a few steps from the area where the Island Princess docked.  We visited Corsica previously, so we opted for a stroll around the city. Napoleon Bonaparte is the man of the hour here, as this was his birthplace. 

Rarely do we see corn!

Isn't this a great display of radishes??

1 Euro = about $1.15 / Clementines

Corsica has a Mediterranean climate along the coast with hot, dry summers and mild winters; alpine conditions exist at high altitudes.  Its population is about 365,000, and Ajaccio has 80,000 people.   Tourism drives the local economy, causing the population to swell during summer months.

Halloween is around the corner!

Toys!

Naturellement and Immortelle Oil

Helichrysum italicum

This is a botanical aside:

In 2022, our last visit to Corsica, I checked out Naturellement, a shop that sells creams and potions. Corsica is renowned for its natural beauty and biodiversity, and the immortelle flower is a prime example.  The flower, scientifically known as Helichrysum italicum is cherished for its longevity and is cultivated in Corsica’s unique Mediterranean climate.  The island’s family farms, such as L’Occitane en Provence, have been instrumental in the cultivation and production of this essential oil, known for its rejuvenating and anti-aging properties. These farms are committed to organic practices and sustainable agriculture, ensuring the preservation of the plant’s genetic heritage and the quality of the essential oil.  

Napoleon is in the house!

As we were looking for a café while reviewing our map, a lady approached and asked if we needed help. It turned out that she studied in Aix-en-Provence in 1968 too.  A chance encounter!

The Université d'Aix-Marseille was founded in 1409, one of the oldest universities in the Francophone world.  Since 2012 the university unifies the University of Provence, the University of the Mediterranean, and Paul Cezanne University, resulting in the creation of the largest university in the French speaking world in terms of its student body, its faculty, and staff.   When I was a young lass, 1967-1968 was a great year to be studying in France!

 

We did not really have a goal today—we visited the Bonaparte residence, checked out the market, and briefly watched a military ceremony. 

 

Here is what I believe they were honoring in that military ceremony:

Today in history:

On Oct. 23, 1983, 241 U.S. service members, most of them Marines, were killed in a suicide truck-bombing at the U.S. Marine Corps barracks at Beirut International Airport in Lebanon, while a near-simultaneous attack on French barracks in Beirut killed 58 paratroopers.

When it started raining, we returned to the ship.  Fair weather friends today. Of course it stopped raining about a half hour later.  Corsica is another beautiful island!

 TK's Takes: He is taking on my quest for sfogliatelle, none in Corsica. Rain cut our visit short. He still had 10,000 steps (Janie too).  maybe more later