DI mare a Monti

After lunch we take a short drive around the Vallee de Niolo passing through the small villages of Calacuccia, Albertacce,  and Casamuccoli. We've got some time to kill before the tourist office opens up and this seems like a nice way to do it as we stop the car on several occasions to get some photos of the dramatic landscape. 

The center square of Casamuccoli is virtually deserted but for some cows and bulls just hanging out in the park like teenagers without anything better to do. 

There is a cow hidden behind a tree in this photo, can you spot it?

Once the tourist office is open (sign says 230 but it really means 3PM) we get information on a nice short hike that we can take to an old stone Genoese bridge next to a mill. The hike turns out to be a part of the Monti a Mare trail which leads all the way to the coastline if we were going to continue following it. 

We thought that the hike would likely be an unexciting trek through the woods but within minutes we are treated to incredible vistas as we hike on a ridge above a river. This brings us even closer to the mountains that we had seen earlier. 

Within about 30 minutes we reach the bridge and mill. The bridge is a great example of the structures that the Genoese built all over the island to help with transportation of people and goods. 

After returning from the bridge hike, we check into Casa Balduina, our residence. The woman who runs the place is both quirky and likable. We end up going back to the center of town for dinner. I try Beignets  de Brocciu which is essentially fried batter with a little Brocciu cheese. There is so little cheese in the batter it's mostly just empty calories without much taste. Still, the cheese is tasty. 

For a main course I have Souris d'Agneau in a myrtle and thyme sauce. The sauce is very good although the particular piece of lamb (is it a shank? Can't quite tell) could have been a little better cooked. Not bad though.