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Corsica is considered to be one of the most beautiful of the Mediterranean islands, and whilst you can fly direct there is also the option of taking the ferry across from the south of France or Italian ports – and get a 10 hour mini-cruise into the bargain.
 Moby are introducing a new service from Toulon (83 Var, Provence, Alpes. Cote d’Azur) to Bastia from April 2010. Moby and other ferry operators also sail from Marseille, Nice and numerous points on the Italian coast. You can also go via Sardinia.
Corsica differs from the idea one has of the Mediterranean islands. In fact, no other island is as green as Corsica: from its Laricio pine forests and emerald-green mountain lakes, to its fragrant maquis [scrub], cooling high mountain pastures and wine-growing lands. If Corsica is an “emerald isle”, it owes it to its unique topography in the Mediterranean: this “mountain in the sea” is well deserving of its nickname, with 120 peaks above an altitude of 2 000 m, which remain snow-capped until the spring. The 25 watercourses that flow through it make the island the best irrigated in the Mediterranean Basin. To top it all, Corsica offers the luxury of 1 000 km of the richest, most varied coastline. With a “Parc Naturel Régional” [Regional Natural Park] that covers two-thirds of its surface area, Corsica is a well-preserved island divided between nature reserves and listed sites.
Other ferry operators to Corsica include
S.N.C.M
CORSICA FERRIES,
see also Corsica Tourist Office website
Book Ferry crossings on MOBY and throughout Europe –
Rain Heron of Sweet French Cottages near Entraygues-sur-Truyere (12 Aveyron, Midi-Pyrenees) shares her thoughts about France at Easter:
 Easter is known as Pâques in France. Although it is a religious holiday, nowadays, it is treated as mostly a secular holiday and enjoyed mainlyby the French children. The children— as in many other countries— receive a gift basket, resembling a bird’s nest, containing colourfully decorated eggs and chocolates.
The French like to begin their Easter season several weeks before Easter arrives. The shop windows, particularly those of chocolatiers and confiseries as well as patisseries and boulangeries, are adorned with elaborately decorated eggs (les œufs de Pâques). Shops, even the butcher and the fashion boutique, also display bunnies, chickens, bells and fish, often created as edible works of art in either white or dark chocolate.
The symbol of flying bells (cloche volant)is also part ofthe French Easter tradition. Most village churches, many of which date back to the 12th century, have a bell, which is rung throughout the year to mark certain events and the passage of time. However, on the Thursday before Good Friday (vendredi saint), all the church bells are silencedthroughout France in acknowledgement of Jesus’ death.
It is said that the bells fly away to the Vatican in Rome on Holy Thursday (jeudi saint),and the bells carry with them all the misery and grief of those who mourn Jesus’ crucifixion. On Easter morning, the bells return to France from Rome and ring out in celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, declaring that Jesus is alive again. In some villages, people kiss and embrace one another when they hear the bells ring out.
French children are told that the church bells miraculously fly to visit the Pope in Rome and that the cloche volant will return to the villages on Easter morning in time for the Easter festivities. Les enfants de France are also told that if they’ve been good all year, that the bells will bring them goodies such as decorated eggs and yummy chocolates.
Barely able to sleep, French children greatly anticipate Easter morning. Parents wake up early and hide les oeufs de Pâques for their children in the gardens, playgrounds or homes. The chocolates (and sometimes, other candies) are usually placed in the baskets, and are typically hollow and shaped as eggs, bunnies, chickens, bells or fish.
Most Easter games played by French children involve eggs. Some of the games include rolling raw eggs down a gentle mountain slope. The surviving egg is declared the victory egg. There is also the egg toss, which requires tossing raw eggs up into the air and catching them on their way down. The first child to drop and break his egg is the loser, and in some versions of the game, must pay a penalty by giving up a piece of his Easter candy to his brothers or sisters.
French Easter fish, known as poisson d’avril are often presented by village chocolatiers or confiseries who create delicious and decorative chocolate fish for Easter, although Poisson d’avril is celebrated on the first day of April and is the French equivalent of April Fool’s Day.
French children stick a paper fish onto the back of as many tolerant adults as possible and then run away shouting “Poisson d’avril!” which means, of course, “April Fish”! This ritual dates back many centuries to 1564, yet its true origin is not known. One popular belief is that it has evolved from a trick where an unknowing French person was sent off to market to purchase freshwater fish when it was not in season. (Proof that almost everything has to do with food in France!).
There is usually an elaborate lunch with family (or friends) on Easter Sunday. In this area of France, an Easter menu might include a starter of baked, poached or scrambled eggs followed by a main dish of roast leg of lamb (gigot d’agneau), served with new potatoes and early spring vegetables. A cheese platter with an assortment of local cheeses would follow the main dish. And, finally, to “cleanse the palate”, as the French like to say, the meal would finish with a wonderful dessert such as chocolate fondant or a fresh strawberry tart with a dollop of crème fraiche and a sprig of fresh mint.
The following day, Monday (Pâques de lundi), is declared as a national holiday in France so everybody enjoys a three-day weekend, which is time often spent with family. Schools observe a two-week spring holiday, usually around Pâques; however, the school holiday periods differ slightly for the children in accordance with their designated school zone.Since there are so many families taking holidays in France, the French have devised a special system where they stagger certain school holiday periods into three zones. Easter is one of these popular travel holidays so a child in the Aveyron enjoys a different holiday time than a child in the Loire. This, as the French rationalize, is done to share and manage the flow of French tourists!
Easter marks the beginning of the tourist season in many places in France with smaller hotels and restaurants making their annual debuts. While many restaurants in Paris and other large cities typically close for Easter, here in Entraygues-sur-Truyere and in other resort villages, many of the local restaurants open their doors for the first time in the new year and offer a special Easter menu to local families and tourists alike.
Plus, to tempt you to this enticing part of France, there is a special offer for Easter at one of the Sweet French Cottages
**SPECIAL HOLIDAY OFFER**
Book a Cottage for Easter Week (April 3 – April 10)
& receive 15% off our usual Holiday Rates!
Bonne Fête et Joyeuses Pâques!
For more info see www.frenchduck.co.uk
Another supposedly British tradition has been hijacked by those Frenchmen! – This time it is the veritable Black Pudding, previously thought to be the highlight of Scottish and northern breakfasts – but in its guise as Boudin Noir (a well-establshed French delicacy, the French town of Mortagne-sur-Perche (61 Orne, Normandie) is holding a Black Pudding Festival from 20-22 March 2010
 Those who thought black pudding was a purely Scottish affair need think again, as the international contest to find the best black pudding takes place next March in the historic French village of Mortagne-au-Perche in the Orne area of Normandy.
The 46th annual black pudding festival will celebrate the culinary traditions of the region, with local cook-offs, celebrity chefs as well as a host of gastronomic stalls and exhibits open to the public.
The main part of the festival is the black pudding competition which sees over 650 competitors from across Europe but there are also two fiercely fought culinary competitions open to professional and amateur chefs who reside in the Orne. They are charged with creating and cooking the best dish – fish-based for the professionals, and a desert for the amateurs – using local produce such as apples, calvados, cider, pommeau, cream, butter and cheese to create their dish.
Specialist butchers and delicatessens will be demonstrating the art of making a black pudding, and visitors may sample and be their own judge of the best recipe.
For more info see www.normandy-ornetourism.com
Where to stay (B&B) in Normandy?
We tend to connect Brass Bands with gritty northern towns in the UK, but by way of contrast the town of Limoux (11 Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon), south of Carcassonne. is hosting a Brass Band Festival (Festival Limoux Cuivrée Spéciale) from 29 April to 2 May 2010.
 Amongst the bands appearing are the UK’s BBC Big Band, the French Band of the Republican Guard and a quintet of trumpets “Les Trompettes de Lyon“. There are also fringe events so the otherwise quiet town will be full of rich sound.
For more info see www.festivalcuivre.fr
Limoux is a good base for visiting the Pyrenees, Cathar country and the spectacular fortified medieval city of Carcassonne. Local wines include the still and sparkling white wines of Limoux (visit Antech), and furthe east you enter Corbieres country.
Interesting that the French refer to Brass in this context as “cuivrée” which is more literally “coppered” – in general the term “brass” does not necessarily imply that the instrument is made from brass, but it belongs to a group of instruments where the sound is made by “lip vibration” – and of course includes the Saxaphone which is promarily made of wood. Presumably the same applies to the French use of the term “cuivrée”!
Ryanair have announced a new twice-weekly route from Poitiers (86 Vienne, Poitou-Charentes) to Barcelona/Girona in Spain starting 23 June 2010. This is in addition to its already established route from London Stansted to Poitiers.
Although no great fan of Ryanair’s outrageous pricing policy which ends up charging you extra for almost anything they can think of, such as luggage, payment by credit card etc – the airline has enabled many Brits to access parts of France by air which might not have been possible. So, you could spice up a stay in Poitou-Charentes with a few days in Spain – and Barcelona is well worth a visit with its architecture, proximity to the Mediterranean and vibrant day and night life!
Unlike some airline destinations, Poitiers-Biard Airport is close to the centre of the town
There is also a new route starting in March 2010 from Pau (64 Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Aquitaine) in the foothills of the Pyrenees to Beauvais (60 Oise, Picardie), north of Paris. – which takes just 90 minutes in the air! – and Edinburgh to Bordeaux (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) from March 2010
For more info see www.ryanair.com
 Eurocamp has introduced a different option for your holiday in France Fly-Hire – a flight and motorhome hire in one package! We are used to seeing this for trips to the USA and Australia, but there is no reason why it should not work as well in France
The popularity of motorhomes has risen dramatically in recent years, as has the standard of the motorhomes themselves. All the models we offer are either brand new or at the most one year old. Add to this our selection of some of the best campsites in Europe, featuring all you need from pools and play areas to bars and restaurants and you have all the
ingredients for a truly memorable holiday.
France is well-organised for Motorhomes with modern and well-equipped campsites, even in the rural regions away from the popular tourist areas. And of course, Eurocamp has its own systems for selecting and monitoring sites. You need only watch the TV coverage of the Tour de France to see how many motorhomes (camping cars) embark on French roads in the summer. Fortunately it is a big place which absorbs so many tourists, except for the most popular coastal resorts.
Anthony Peregrine in the Times tried the deal out with a trip from Lyon.
For more info see the Eurocamp website and select Eurocamp Independent/
Caravan and Campsite Holidays in France with Siblu Holidays
Yapp Brothers‘ Christmas Sale takes place at their premises in Mere, Wiltshire on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th November 2006.
Now this is how an independent wine merchant should be – with a raft of interesting and some lesser-known wines from hidden corners of France!
The former dentist’s main specialisation is in the Loire and Rhône (North and South), but also includes good selections from Languedoc, South West, Savoie etc. So on his list you will discover excellent Bandol (mourvedre-dominated red from Provence) Lirac from the superb Domaine Maby in the southern Rhône, superb Jurancon Sec from Domaine Bellegarde; Collioure from Roussillon; Thouarsais and Saint Pourcain from the Loire – I could go on and on!
Their Christmas Offers list is available now.
For more info see www.yapp.co.uk
 For a rather different and eco-friendly B&B experience you could try this modern, well-equipped treehouse in southern Normandy
situated in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional du Perche, in southern Normandy, Perché dans le Perche is a two-bedroomed treehouse with a shower, panoramic views of the countryside and even internet access!!!
The Parc Naturel Régional du Perche is situated in the Orne departement, the nearest big town being Le Mans (72 Sarthe, Pays de la Loire). It covers an area of southern Normandy and is a great area for rambling, horse riding and exploring the gentle unspoilt countryside.
For more info on the treehouse see www.perchedansleperche.com
Paris is a city full of culture and is home to some of the most recognisable tourist attractions in Europe – including the Eiffel Tower, the cathedral at Notre Dame and Arc du Triomphe. According to price comparison website travelsupermarket.com: “whether you’re a romantic, a culture vulture, or a foodie, there’s loads to keep you busy in Paris.”
There is a wide variety of things to see and do within Paris, from sightseeing tours of the iconic city quarters to nights at the opera in the historic theatre district - travelsupermarket.com offers this guide to things to see and do in Paris:
• Take a scenic sightseeing trip at night
There are many historical sights to take in during your visit to Paris. For those who want to explore, there are a wide variety of tours around the capital available, all within easy reach of many Paris hotels– from the artistic museum tours to the bizarre tours of the ancient sewer system beneath the city.
Paris is also known as the City of Light, and night tours are a fantastic opportunity to see Paris’s most famous monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower and the cathedral at Notre Dame, in stunningly beautiful illumination against the night sky.
• Explore the Louvre
The world famous Musee du Louvre is one of the world’s largest museums, and houses some of the most culturally significant works of art in the world. From ancient Egyptian artifacts to the iconic Venus de Milo statue to Da Vinci’s world famous Mona Lisa painting, there is a lot to explore in the Louvre.
• Take in a show
Paris is renowned for its Opera and Theatre districts, and there are opportunities to take in dinner and a show through a range of packages. From the Opera National de Paris to the Theatre des Champs-Elysees, there is a wide variety of shows and music events to satisfy a range of musical and cultural tastes.
• Go on a gastronomic journey
Speaking of tastes, Paris is home to a wide variety of dining options, giving you the chance to sample some authentic Parisian cuisine. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a coffee and croissant at a quaint little cafes or bistro or indulge in a meal at a Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant, you can really get a taste for Paris during your visit. There are a variety of food-based tours available to satisfy all appetites and palettes, so you’ll never be short of choice in this fine gastronomic capital.
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Moby are introducing a new service from Toulon (83 Var, Provence, Alpes. Cote d’Azur) to Bastia from April 2010. Moby and other ferry operators also sail from Marseille, Nice and numerous points on the Italian coast. You can also go via Sardinia.
