Tuesday 6 May 2014

Hairy Bikers

An open letter to the Hairy Bikers; why you should come to Corsica.


Dear Hairy Bikers,

If you’ve not been to Corsica, then it’s about time you did.

The island

It really is one of the last hidden gems of Europe and is a MUST SEE in everyone’s life time. Both the French and the Italians have strongly influenced the island and its food; and yet, Corsica stands proudly and fiercely in its own culture and traditions. Corsica can only be described as unique, in terms of its people, its language, and its landscapes and importantly to you, in its cuisine.

The Food

The history of the island is fascinating and has had a big influence on the mouth-watering dishes cooked and served up here. Having been fought over continuously throughout history, the islanders fled from the coast and settled in villages perched high within the mountains. As a result the islanders mainly lived off food they could forage or grow in the forests and the mountains. The result is a cuisine rich in meat, wild herbs and cheeses. Wild boar stews; dishes flavoured with the herbs of the maquis (the thick green scrub which covers the whole of Corsica and in which bandits used to hide); brocciu (a local sheeps cheese); cured meats; chestnut polenta and chestnut beers. Now that the locals are no longer in hiding, fish is also an important part of their diet with fresh lobster and urchins from the Mediterranean, whilst muscles are harvested in the salt water lagoons on the east coast. With the influence of Italy comes a strong tradition in locally hand crafted ice creams; with fresh fig, chestnut and local honey being amongst some of the particularly tasty flavours on offer. If the food was good enough for Napoleon, we feel that it is good enough for you, dear Hairy Bikers.

The scenery and the rides

As well as having a very specific cuisine of its own; a unique culture and history, the island is also one of the best places in the world to motorbike. Experienced motor bikers have travelled the world and claimed that Corsica is their number one destination. People return again and again to take in the scenery; around every corner is another breathtaking view.

The island is known as 'Kalliste'; which translates as the 'beautiful one'. It is known as both the 'emerald isle' as it is the greenest island in the Mediterranean and also as 'the mountain in the sea'; the coastal roads are extraordinarily beautiful, whilst a few kilometres inland you are in the heart of the mountains. The mountains are renowned for the famous walking trail, the GR20, which crosses the island from the north west to the south east; it has been described as the toughest long distance walking trail in Europe. It is certainly one of the most beautiful.

The Tour de France came to Corsica last year, for the first time in all of its history. Here's a quick U Tube clip from the Tour de France, as it passed through one of our favourite areas, the Calanches de Piana; to ride a motorbike here (or a bicycle for that matter, we like bicycles too) is like nothing else: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuhAUMmjvBg

It is our dream to bring you, the Hairy Bikers to Corsica. We would be happy to host you; you can ride one of our motorbikes (we have a fantastic range from the classic Triumph Bonneville, to the latest BMWs). We don't want anything from you, it's just that we think that it is an amazing island for motor bikers and foodies alike and it's hardly on the radar of the British public. We think it's about time Corsica was put on the map!

With kindest regards,

Europe Active 

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