Well-being and cocooning

Bonifacian winter: time to live it up

The days have been getting shorter for some time now. We’re slowly entering winter, but in Bonifacio, the northernmost tip of the island, we’re lucky enough to have a lot of sunshine – sometimes accompanied by wind, it’s true. But whether the days are rainy or sunny, winter is the ideal time to recharge your batteries and take care of yourself, and around here, you’re spoiled for choice: you can take your time, without stress, or at least a lot less than in the summer. Life seems to flow more quietly, and that’s perfect for concentrating on yourself, enjoying a treatment, taking long walks by the water in unspoilt nature… Follow me as I share with you my little well-being and cocooning secrets gleaned from a holiday with my girlfriends!

Ermitage De La Trinite Balade Culture Bonifacio

A breath of fresh air!

Take the time to breathe

When it comes to well-being and relaxation, there’s plenty to do in Bonifacio. And the first thing that comes to mind is a long walk in the countryside. I headed for the Ermitage de la Trinité this morning. The place is incredibly quiet: just a few minutes from the road, all you can hear is birdsong and the occasional meow from a cat. Some of them come and rub against my legs… They’re said to be empathic, so that’s a good way to get the endorphins flowing! A walk along the Hermitage paths recharges my batteries: contact with nature has always had this soothing effect on me. And then, the view of the Piali, the Bonifacian countryside, the town and Sardinia in the background… No matter how well you know the place, you just can’t get enough of it, Bonifacians tell us.

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Head for the spa

Scrubs, massage, sauna, hammam...

As we’re in Bonifacio for a few days with our girlfriends, we decided to treat ourselves to a half-day of absolute relaxation, with massage, scrub, sauna, hammam, heated pool… It’s going to be hard to beat that! So we headed for the Hotel Genovese, right in the middle of town, and yet the calm that reigns there is already having its little effect as soon as we enter. There’s no doubt about it: we’re going to relax. Each of us has chosen a treatment from the Cinq Mondes SPA menu to suit our mood – and there’s something for everyone! But before that, we headed for the sauna and hammam to enjoy the facilities with each other, a good opportunity to chat while applying the practitioners’ advice to optimize the benefits of these treatments from afar. And as I’m a bit peckish while waiting for my girlfriends after my Balinese massage, I’m going to take the opportunity to have a manicure done. And I’ve spotted some treatments for two, when I come back to Bonifacio with my boyfriend!

Guide Eglise Sainte Marie Majeure Patrimoine Bonifacio

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Well-being and cocooning can go hand in hand with personalized tours. While many places are easily accessible without a guide, it’s great to have a professional tell the story of these places, before enjoying a hot chocolate to warm up…

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Shopping Decoration Fabbricasa Boutique Bonifacio

Prettywoman

Shopping session activated!

We may not have Julia Roberts’ bank account, but today it’s shopping time! Who said shopping in Bonifacia was reserved for summer visitors? For several years now, many small boutiques have chosen to offer year-round collections, whether for jewelry, fashion or home decoration. And as there won’t be the summer crowds, it’ll also be a chance to chat with the shopkeepers, and certainly unearth some nuggets we’ll be envious of when we get home. Before setting off, we made a stop at the tourist office, to get some recommendations and try to unravel one or two little secrets… Apparently, there are some very nice things to discover from Corsican designers, and quite a few artisans whose workshops you can visit. Here’s to sweaters that no one else will have and candles with typical scents!

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In the sun on the port

A gourmet breakfast overlooking the fishing boats

The great thing about a small town on the water is that there’s always a terrace waiting for you, summer or winter! And don’t worry if you’re a bit chilly: even though outdoor heaters are now banned, most cafés with open terraces offer plaids to wrap up warm and enjoy a cup of tea or a hot chocolate. That said, given the more than generous sunshine on the marina, we probably won’t need them. We decided to have breakfast in front of the boats this morning. The impressive summer yachts have given way to fishing boats and small family hulls, giving the port a real charm. You can hear the waves lapping… It’s the perfect way to start the day.

Did you know?

In winter, Bonifacio has a village atmosphere, where everyone knows everyone else. You’ll soon realize that here, people are on a first-name basis, they know each other’s families, and they really do live the old-fashioned way. This contributes greatly to the charm of the place.

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Head for the mountains

How about a visit to the mouflons?

After breakfast on the harbor, we decided to do a bit of driving today and discover the nearby Alta Rocca mountains. The guide who offered us a personalized tour of the town gave us the contact details for A Muvrella Randonnées. The company’s name alone was enough to make you want to go: a muvra stands for mouflon, the rare and protected animal that lives in the Bavella massif, where we decided to visit. There’s no guarantee that we’ll come across any, but we’ll keep our eyes peeled, and we’ve made sure to bring along a pair of binoculars. Our guide for this outing has provided snowshoes for all of us, as well as snacks and thermoses of coffee and hot chocolate. Sipping a hot drink in the middle of nowhere, with no one around, in what looks like a magnificent landscape, I think we’re going to feel pretty privileged. One thing’s for sure: we’re going to fill up on oxygen and be invigorated for the whole winter. We won’t be going through the seasonal blues – quite the contrary!

Finish recharging the batteries

Personalized sports session

To recover from all our emotions and get back on the right track for the rest of the winter – including eliminating the meals based on pulenda and figatellu, and the brocciu in brandy that punctuated all my desserts – we decided to call on the services of a sports coach specializing in well-being and getting back into shape. His advice will be invaluable, as it will be adapted to each of us, according to our needs and schedules. A truly personalized moment, once again, to close this Bonifacian interlude, which was a great way to recharge the batteries.

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