bouillabaisse for lunch in Cassis

outdoor café in Cassis, France (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

One of the coolest things about a cruise is that you can go to sleep in Italy and wake up in France. Our first stop, after leaving Rome aboard the Seabourn Ovation, was in the port of Bastia (on the north coast of Corsica). The next morning, we awoke in Toulon, a small town in Provence on the Cote d'Azur.

Did you know that we can arrange private shore excursions? You're not limited to the group tours that cruise lines offer. Our visit was designed by Virtuoso onsite We Travel France. It included a wine tasting experience at the E. Bodin winery in Cassis, followed by a visit to the Port de Cassis. My highlight of the day was the utterly fabulous lunch I enjoyed at Chez César. Right on the water, their bouillabaisse was utterly authentic (and unlike what passes for bouillabaisse in the US).

Cassis is a cute town with at least a dozen open-air restaurants overlooking its small harbor. I captured the image above in our free time following lunch. I recommend a visit!

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Bastia in Corsica | crumbling charm

crumbling façade in Bastia (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Aboard the Seabourn Ovation, we left Rome yesterday and woke up this morning approaching the seaside town of Bastia on the north coast of Corsica. I signed up for a shore excursion, a guided three hour walk through the streets of this interesting town. "Crumbling charm," is how I described it to a colleague. Attractive buildings with crumbling mortar, Bastia does not enjoy the wealth of Paris or many other towns and small cities of France ... but it exudes charm and authenticity.

We visited several architecturally interesting churches from across the centuries (styes including Baroque, Neo Classical, and Rococo), We passed large public squares,  walked down a shopping street with opportunities to purchase souvenirs, and saw the beautiful marbler fountain pictured below.

fountain in Bastia (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

A fun morning that ended with a "taste of Corsica" (i.e., a plate of meats and a wonderful wedge of goat cheese), cruises offer the opportunity to visit see the sights of multiple destinations without ever having to unpack.

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.