Day 2, Le Village Chiatra

I am fortunate to wake up each morning to my husband. He not only loves me but also thinks I’m magic. This morning, he greeted me with a loving smile. He had the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning, eager to start the day. While I’m normally a morning person, the holiday travel and festivities require an extra hour of sleep.

We enjoy coffee and canistrelli. This traditional Corsican biscuit has aromas of clementine, star anise, and vin. The neighborhood cat peers through the window. Today we are driving to surprise the family. My husband’s family currently lives on the coast and maintain familial homes in the village. Meeting the Corsican family is another level of my journey into French family culture. The element of surprise was on our side. Evidently his family is always ready, everyone was elegantly dressed, the homes were immaculate yet inviting. As the saying goes, “stay ready and you never have to get ready”. As an expat, I’m still working on my pronunciation, yet my husband understands, and translates when necessary. Thirty minutes into our visit, I was able to navigate conversation topics like politics, and travel with no assistance.

Later that afternoon, we drove into the mountain village of Chiatra, where the air was thick with the scent of pine and wildflowers. I find these tiny mountain villages mesmerizing, with their charming stone cottages, vibrant blooming gardens the crisp air peppered with the sound of gunfire as hunters pursue wild boars. With the sole cafe was closed for the holiday vacation, we strolled up the hill to the chapel to bask in the sun drenched view, and profit from the beauty of this warm winter day.

Strolling together with the loud silence of the village, I was feeling our bond deepening, reinforced by the beauty of the village and the simplicity of just being together, creating memories that would last a lifetime.