Corsica
The land of rolling hills, Caribbean-esque beaches, untouched woodland trails, old women whose faces look like the aftemarth of an earthquake, and flesh eating Orcs.
Of course my trip was a bit off the beat and path, quite literally. There was no path to where I was staying in a highly remote farm. In exchange for food and accomodation in a cabin, I dug holes for about 5 hours a day. Me having a strange fascination with digging, most definitely from all the gangster films I watched when an infant, I chose this option in lieu of tending to the organic vegetable garden, setting up a solar shower, painting and suchlike. Also smashing into rocks and roots with an axe and mattock made me feel like a man. Just a bit though.
What I saw of Corsica was undeniably beautiful. The mountains were striking, and the beaches really were heavenly even out of season. My travelling was limited by my location, obligations and lack of public transport. I used a bike once which was a huge mistake in the 30 degree heat on roads so winding that you get a movement displacement high. The nearest phone was a 20 minte walk past a sheep farm and through woodland. The village included 1 shop, 6 bars, a pharmacy, and post office.
The drawbacks were that the notoriously unfriendly Corsicans were notoriously unfriendly. Passing some bars was scary. Even my oozing charm failed to bring a smile to a pregnant barmaid. Corsica is one of the only conutries without a Macdonald's. This is because if one is installed it will be blown up, quite simply. The nationalists in Corsica are so extreme they don't even like themselves. All roadsigns are in both French and the equivalent Corsican dialect. Many of the French signs are graffitied out. I hear that bombs going off in official places is not uncommon.
I did have a brief peak at the more touristy part on picking up 2 couples from Manchester on the way back to the airport. Even the heavier touristy places are tasteful and pretty. Corsica hasn't been tapped quite yet, unless the Manchunians get wind of it. Prices where apparently very high however according to my fellow holidaymakers, but that's what you get if you order rare animal dishes at 5 star hotels next to the sea.
Anyway, if you can find a cheap flight buy it, hire a car, try not to get in a crash, get a tan and see it before it turns into Times Square.