Tour Tidbit du Jour - 6/29/2013

The 100th Tour de France started on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. Corsica is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and Christopher Columbus. Up until 1764, it was ruled by the Republic of Genoa, when it was purchased by France, who took another 5 years to put down a 26 year rebellion by the natives against the Genovese. The main language of Corsica is now French, but the native Corsican language, which is related more closely to Italian, is still spoken fluently by 10% of the 300,000 people living there, and at least 50% have some proficiency.