Punta Calba: Aneto, Posets & Perdido

At 2377m of altitude, Punta Calba offers a 360º view of the surrounding mountains including giants such as Aneto, Posets, Perdido and Vignemale. You can either start walking from Saravillo, or if you have a four wheel drive from the Sta.Isabel refuge. Go well prepared with water as the 3 fountains crossed on the ascent offered just a trickle of water yesterday.

Next stop Cotiella!

Posted by Jayne at 20:32 · 0 comments

Property for Sale: 16th Century Church, House, Barns and Land.

In the village of Latorre, near Castejon de Sobrarbe, you will find this stunning property for sale. A serious opportunity for someone interested in creating a spectacular home in this quiet country landscape near Ainsa.

The property in question is alternatively known as Iglesia San Jose, Casa Morillo or Casa
Elvalenciano. The latter name being cause for an anecdote as it is said that a former servant who had settled in Valencia returned to Latorre to buy Casa Morillo from his former employer after the latter fell on hard times.

The property consists of a Gothic Church with houses and barns in ruins in the surrounding
9 000m2 of land. It is easily accessed by car. Water and electricity are at hand. Peace and quiet are guaranteed as it is set in its own grounds at 200m from village.

There are many fantastic features; vaulted church cielings, tower with possibility of converting this into living accommodation, faces sculptured in stone, barn with arched cellar... All the basics are there to do a really beautiful project.

All interested parties are invited to contact me by email at info@populationsix.com or by telephone on 00 34 690 039 999 for more information.

Posted by Jayne at 15:39 · 0 comments

Lago Sen

14th May and the Sen has still got a covering of ice and snow. A 2 hour walk up from L'Engrota. Marmots whistled but there were no sightings. We did see some "sarrio" Pyrenean mountain goats at L'Engrota: they come down early morning and late evening for salt placed on large stone slabs, normally for sheep. Flowers has always a delight: late July holds the promise of slopes full of irises.

Posted by Jayne at 23:22 · 0 comments

Mad for Spring

Better to be an early bird if you want to have any chance of gathering a bagful of spring mushrooms. Good eyesight would also be an advantage as they tend to be hidden away under grass and bushes.

Nowadays alot of locals sell their pickings to buyers from Ainsa, Barbastro ..., hence the early bird warning. Still, it's always a pleasure to go for a walk in the mountains and even more so if you return home with enough mushrooms for an omelette or risotto.

Posted by Jayne at 01:01 · 0 comments

Path to Es Plans

Off the main track to Viados you will find a path to Es Plans, where there is a small hut and also a bridge crossing over to the camping Forcalla. It's an enjoyable walk through the woods on a gentle track with the river accompanying you. From the turn off to Es Plans, its an approx 45 mins walk. These days, you will see lots of gentians, orchids and other wild flowers. Quite soon there will be wild strawberries.

Posted by Jayne at 17:33 · 0 comments

Río Cinca

Picnic lunch today on the banks of the Cinca river with a great view of the Peña Montanesa, warm sunshine and the soothing flow of the river. I also got to add a new entry to my growing list of recognisable flowers: snapdragon, a pink flower with white and yellow touches. Much passed from parent to kid is the fact that you can squeeze open the jaw of the flower and watch it snap shut.

Not to be missed, the weekend of 20/21 May is the descent of the Cinca River by wooden rafts that tradionally transported logs. Nowadays, two to three rafts race down the river from Laspuña to below Ainsa. Festive start in Laspuña village with wine and canapes.

Posted by Jayne at 19:49 · 0 comments

Pheasant's Eye

Along the "ribera de Gistain", you can currently find fields full of yellow daffodils and white pheasant's eye or "narcissus poeticus". A splendour to behold and a delight to smell. Both flowers have an elegant fragance, though the pheasant's eye is slightly stronger like a mixture of jasmine and vanilla. Needless to say, my flat smells wonderful these days.

The flowers really need to be picked in their prime, a day to late and their heads will already start to droop. Just like the gathering of wild fruits, mushrooms, nuts etc..., if you do not go out on the right day/period, then you miss out. Having said that, everybody is awaiting the spring showers in order to revive the landscape and to help start all the vegetables planted in the gardens.

Posted by Jayne at 17:11 · 0 comments