Corsica

Recently we took ourselves on a wonderful trip to Corsica, which is tucked away down in the Mediterranean. Although it is a hell of a lot closer to Italy than it is to France. (Barely 20km north of Sardina) and only 40km off the coast of mainland of Italy, Corsica is part of France, and was given to France by the British around about 250 years ago.

That being the case the Corsicans are a fiercely independent bunch. They have their own language that has developed over many hundreds of years (which sadly now is dying out) and they still have a good degree of animosity towards foreigners (especially the French) A lot people seem themselves a lot more as descendants of Italians (the Island was part of the Genoeese kingdom from the 1500's)

During the last 30 years or so there has been a very strong Corsican Independence movement who want to restore the Corsican language, and basically sever all ties with France and go about things on their own. Throughout the 80's and 90's there was a lot of terrorist acts both on the Island and on mainland France by the Corsican independence movement. They targeted banks, real estate agents, famous people's holiday homes, and any other major instruments of the French authoritities.

People here speak their native Corsican language, however it is slowly dying out, and it's mainly older people who speak it. Most young people only speak French nowdays. Most of the road signs around the island are written in both Corsican & French (however some of the Nationalists have gone around and graffitied out the French ones on quite a lot of road signs)

Recentlythings have quietened down a lot, thanks to a lot of investment in infrastructure by the French goverment on the island, in an attempt to win over the people.

Mercifully for us, a lot of this money has been spent on improving the roads around the island. Roads in Corsica a narrow and very windy, as the island is quite mountainous and lots of roads wind their way up and through the mountains, and also around the cliffs near the sea. Some of the smaller roads are barely large enough to fit one car on, let alone a car coming the other way. Oh and also people let their animals graze on the sides of the roads here. So don't be suprised to see some cows, pigs, sheep, or goats casually wandering down the road and nibbling away at the grass on the verges.

At the time of the year we were there it was great for some summer activities. In winter there are even ski resorts up in the mountains. For my mind though the best part of Corsica was the food (as it always is) Like elsewhere in France, they have the big 3 things that make for a yummy meal. Cheese, Wine & Meat. All of these three things are absolutely exceptional in Corsica (i think I ate a plate of Charcuterie every night)

Most famous French people in France (Personnalités préférées des français)

Every year there is a poll done amongst French people to find out who the most famous French person is amongst French people. This has apparently been going on since the early 90's. For over 10 years, the head of this list was Jacques Cousteau.Just recently this list has been released for 2010, and for the second year running the most famous/preferred personality in France, is tennis player come musician Yannick Noah.
Most kids these days have absolutely no idea that back in the late 80's early 90's Yannick Noah was actually an exceptionally good tennis player (although he only ever made it to number 3 in the world, but if you were regularly up against people like Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Ivan Lendal, you would probably be number three also.)
Once he hung up his Dunlop Volleys, and went to cash converters to trade in his tennis racquets for a guitar and some synthesisers, Yannick decided that he was going to ply his trade in the music business. So much so, that he is soon to be playing a sell-out 80,000 seat concert at Stade de France this weekend.

Needless to say, going down the list there are a lot of people I have not heard of. Number 2, Danny Boon (no relation to David) is a comedian, and if you have seen a few funny french movies, you have probably seen him.
Number 3 you have probably heard of, Zinazine Zidane. Despite retiring 4 years ago, after being chested in the head by a diving Italian, he still remains popular with the French masses.
Pardon my ignorance, but the rest of the top ten reads like a who's who, of people I have never heard of, or lets face it are never to likely to have heard of growing up half way across the world.

Heading further down the list (looking for people I actually have heard of) number 12 is Sophie Morceau, a famous French actress, who I only know as the hot chick in Bond Film, 'The World is Not Enough'

Searching further through the list its getting hard to find other people I know, as sadly it is choc full of singers and actors/actresses I have never heard of, and unless you are a massive fan of French cinema/music, you are likely to not know also.

Number 22, is previously posted singer Jonny Halliday, whom I read in the paper yesterday is back in the studio recording his new album, a year after he nearly died.

Number 26, is recently disgraced French soccer player (wow there seems to be a few of those these days), Franck Ribery. Who got his hands all over an under aged prostitute just prior to the World Cup. (She's 18 now and trying to become a celebrity, a bit of a Paris Hilton type)

Number 35 is Robert de Niro's favourite sex counsellor Gerard Depardieu. (If you don't believe me, read here) http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/sep/14/gerard-depardieu-de-niro-erection

Number 37 is another disgraced French Footballer whose hands touched things he shouldn't Thierry Henry

At number 41 is French (Neanderthal) Rugby player Sebastian Chabal, who manages to squeeze his big frame, massive beard and hair in just ahead of French President Nicolas Sarkozy at number 42. (His wife Carla comes in at number 48)