What you didn't stay on the Island though that in the summer all that female form on the beaches in Calvi.
Hi Martin, I know what you mean about the talent on the beaches in Calvi. It started in early spring with the Scandinavians and then the French, Brits ,Italiens and Germans in Summer, followed by the Scandinavians again in Fall/Automn.
When I first got there I was already a corporal but the rule was that if you weren't and had less than 1 year's service you had to stay on the island. In those days the REP had a centre de repos (leave centre) in the citadel which is at the far end of the bay of Calvi. It was an old military hospital converted to house legionnaires during their leave. The meals were brought up by Norweigen containers (hay boxes) from the officers mess.
During the day you could go down into the town in tenue de plage (beach clothes) which some bright spark had the great idea of it being all in white. You were allowed into town and the bars with it on until 18:00 and then it was in uniform, kepi on so on.
I spent my leaves at Malmousque which is in Marseille (as you know).
The centre de repos in Calvi was given back to the mayor's office and it was up to the commanding officer's discrection if the legionnaire's could go to the continent or not.
Calvi and the REP have changed and moved with the times. I'm not sure if I would regongize it nowadays, but I don not think I would need a GPS to get me to the Son Des Guitares (major legion bar) on the rue des Schtiffman with my eyes half closed and a bucket of beer down my neck.