DL travelers-anyone been to Sardinia and/or Corsica?

In Sardinia and Corsica all seems to breathe freedom and peace and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils.

are Sardinia and sardines linked etymologically?

^^ Yes, r2.

"Sardine" is a diminutive of "sarda," a genus of fish commonly known as "bonito."

"Sardinia" derives from Egyptian "šrdn" or "Sherden," also known as "Shardana," an ancient tribe of Sea People who may have originated from Sardis, and sailed the Eastern Mediterranean attacking and pillaging coastal communities in Egypt, Syria, Canaan, Phoenicia, and Anatolia. When the Sherden were finally defeated, its remaining members sailed for Sardinia and established settlements there.

I've been to Corsica as a stop on a cruise. Although it's French, it seems more Italian.

Sardinia is sublime. Highly recommended. Spectacular scenery, great food, beautiful men, not too pricey. It's like Italy in the Caribbean, but with much better food. I dream of returning.

Both islands have long stretches of completely undeveloped, white sand beaches, with a surprisingly green interior.

My ancestors are said to have come from Corsica. Some day I hope to be able to do more research on the subject and perhaps visit some historic sites there.

I have

Etymology

'Sardine' first appeared in English in the 15th century, a loanword from French sardine, derived from Latin sardina, from Ancient Greek σαρδίνη (sardínē) or σαρδῖνος (sardínos), said to be from the Greek "Sardò" (Σαρδώ), indicating the island of Sardinia. Athenaios quotes a passage from Aristotle mentioning the fish sardinos, referring to the sardine or pilchard.

Corsica used to be part of Italy (or more precisely, the Republic of Genoa):

Corsica was ruled by the Republic of Genoa from 1284 to 1755, when it became a self-proclaimed Italian-speaking Republic. In 1768, Genoa officially ceded it to Louis XV of France as part of a pledge for debts and in 1769 France forcibly annexed it. Napoleon Bonaparte was a native Corsican, born that same year in Ajaccio, and his ancestral home, Maison Bonaparte, is today a significant visitor attraction and museum. Because of Corsica's historical ties to the Italian peninsula, the island retains many Italian cultural elements, and the native tongue is recognized as a regional language by the French government.

Sardinia

La maison de Dalida en Corse.

Corsica is like a miniature France (without the sophistication - or crowds - of Paris).

Beautiful seaside towns, great beaches, breathtaking mountain passages (Gorges of Restonica) and delicious food, all manageable within a several days.

Sardinian men are gorgeous.

The guy at R15 reminds me of Bradley Cooper.

Sardinian woman...

I spent a year in Italy and met a guy who said he wouldn’t go to Sardegna (Italian sp) as his life would be ruined upon return since it was reportedly Heaven on Earth.

There's a hot guy on a beach in Porto Torres.

Haven't been there but I'd love to go. Have heard the Costa Smeralda is supposed to be nice

Went to Corsica about 18 years ago. Quite beautiful in some places and run down with separatist graffiti in others. The Calanques in the northwest offer a dramatic coastline. The interior roads to the old capital of Corto are, on the other hand, almost alpine with tons of mountain goats visible along the circuitous drive. It was certainly more affordable and less touristic than mainland France, although I went in May and August is supposedly a very different experience with the influx of French vacationers.

Goats?

Oh and the smell of the marquis, the wild scrub shrubbery comprised of broadleaf evergreens and wild herd like thyme and rosemary and lavender is an incredible local fragrance

Yes mountain goats and also domesticated goats. Corsica is quite mountainous.

Herds of goats?

Are there ferries that take you from Corsica to Sardinia?

You would see flicks of domesticated goats roadside in lots of locations. Or in fenced in fields. Mountain goats could be seen in the more mountainous interior from the road, up on mountainsides and escarpments but not generally in flocks.

Thanks, R27 and R24.

Bela Flicks?

how does the food differ from France and Italy?

Corsica. Very good hiking (the well-known GR20), crap food, middling to nice beaches. From Ajaccio, head north or east to experience the best of Corsica. The farther south you go on the island, the more expensive it gets.

Sardinia is a large island with many regional peculiarities. Northern coastal Sardinia, especially around La Maddalena archipelago down to Costa Smeralda has a glitzy, glamorous vibe, with many rocky bays and coves, and the local main dialects Gallurese and Sassarese are closer to Corsican than to Sardinian.

Southern coastal Sardinia has long stretches of breathtaking white sandy beaches that are less crowded than in the north. The feel is more like the Caribbean, and the local vernacular Campidanese Sardinian differs slightly from the Logudorese and Nuorese Sardinian spoken North Central Sardinia.

In Alghero on the Northwestern coast, the traditional mother language is Catalan, but Italian and Sardinian are commonly spoken. The architecture and cuisine is a fusion of Catalan and Sardinian.

And down in Isola San Pietro and Isola Sant'Antioco off the Southwestern coast, the people speak a variant of Genoese called Tabarchino; its ancestors having fled the Genoese colony of Tabarka in Tunisia after having surrendered it to the Bey of Tunis in the 18th century.