BaroqueW

Ants always persevere

While I would love to upload all the photos of all the animals, I’m extremely hindered by this extremely low quality computer connection. It seems that the camera is taking pictures that are of too good quality, it takes ages to try to convert them to something lower – and then they refuse to be adjusted. So pooh. It also somewhat dampens my idea of blogging every day and putting up pictures, since it takes hours and hours and hours of struggle to get anything up (no inuendo intended.)

But I will persevere! Inspired by the ever pervasive ants. The field outside of one of our campsites was literally crisscrossed with barren paths where the ants had cut a swath through it.

That said: let the blogging begin!

Goat Crossing!

Corsica was GREAT! Plenty of tiny winding roads, clear blue sea, tiny fishes (of which I have no pictures since I don’t have that kind of camera), goats, turtles, tortoises, churches, dragonflies, birds, cats, dogs, néolithique standing stones, boats, sand, pebbles, waterfalls, cliffs and CARS. Seriously, people park like madmen in Ajaccio. However, this particular little blog will focus on the animals.

He's so big, he dwarfs the car in the back. 250kg at least and freaking HUGE.

As you may or may not be aware, Corsica is famous for its cheese, charcuterie, and wine. Quite a lot of that cheese comes from goats. Cute tiny little goats that are actually herded from pasture to pasture, across the tiny twisty Corsican road you’re trying to navigate with your giant camping van. And then they sneak off to the side of the gate to nibble on some tastey bushes before bleating and throwing themselves along with the rest of the herd. They’re adorable. Goat cheese is also my absolute favourite kind of cheese, possibly since I couldn’t digest regular milk as a baby and had goat’s milk instead. Mmmm unpasturized French goat cheese.

Tortoise eyeballing me

Another well-known delicacy is wild pig, which is not to be confused with wild boar as wikipedia does. Wild boar is sanglier, and they feature in the popular Asterix comic universe. Wild pigs, on the other hand, are called cochon sauvage and are much more closely related to domestic pigs than boars. They also seem to have a complete lack of fear for human beings, as this one digging around near a parking lot near Vizzavona. Some are only half-wild, and have been let loose to gorge on chestnuts, acorns and truffles to improve the quality of the meat.

Turtles... on a stick (Jeff Dunham rules!)

People seem to let their dogs wander loose in the city, and the cats are nearly feral but quite happy to take a bit of your sausage. We found out that the cats at A Cupulatta – the City of Turtles, were actually put to good use as hunters to protect the tortoises from the ravages of rats while they hibernate.

Babies eating frisée lettuce

The reserve is the center for breeding and protecting turtles and tortoises, as well as rescuing the illegally trafficed and healing the injured.
You can also view the tiny baby turtles that are kept separately for their protection against predation. They’re so tiny and adorable, like itty bitty button helmets!

Corsican dragonfly in a rare moment of rest

Of course, the park is not only a haven for useful cats and turtles. Birds, dragonflies, frogs and fish all make use of this refuge – as well as hot, sweaty followers of A’tuin!

One last creature has no name, because no one knows what in the heck it is. Is it even living? Thousands of them were floating around near the beach by Porto. After a lot of fear, I managed to get in the water with them – and don’t seem to have suffered any ill effects. But the weird little blue blobs were not fun to swim with and definitely spoiled the experience. At least they weren’t sharks! I had spotted a jellyfish out in the water, but these weren’t jellies.

Mysterious blue blob in the sand (thousands more in the water)

Max daring to hold the blob and photograph it for posterity

If you know what they are, feel free to leave a comment!