Pyrenean Mountain Faces
The faces of the Peña Arties and the Peña San Martin are very familiar to me as I see them on nearly a daily basis: driving in and out of Chistau Valley, walking between them from San Juan de Plan to Gistain to Plan, looking down on them from my cycle rides and treks in the mountains of San Juan...Their colours constantly change depending on the weather conditions. Here they are early morning on what was to be a bit of a temperamental day: sun, cloud, wind, drizzle...
Posted by Jayne at 15:30 ·
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Springflowers, rockery gardens...in the Pyrenees
If you have time for a visit to the Pyrennes, now is a great time for viewing the springflowers. The sheer diversity of flowers, forms, scents and colours is a delight.
How about this for a rockery garden?
How about this for a rockery garden?
Posted by Jayne at 15:12 ·
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Pyrenees France: Saint Girons
Market day in Saint Girons is every Saturday morning from 8am to 1pm. It's a 2 hour drive from the Spanish/French border near Bielsa.As always, it was a real pleasure to experience the delights of the market stalls: 700g of ceps for 10€, tray of delicious smelling stawberries for 5€, freshly baked crusty loaves, flowers galore, painted stones, african dresses, moroccan slippers, sarongs, teas, handcrafted wooden jewellery boxes...Not forgetting of course the cured meats, fruit and veg and the cheeses-Cantal, Beaufort, Tomme de Savoie, Saint Marcellin mmmhhh...
A busy morning with lots of people buying their weeks supplies in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Top of the morning with a nice big cup of "café au lait" in the bar terrace while watching the colourful selection of shoppers that come to the Saint Girons market.
Posted by Jayne at 12:07 ·
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Pre Pyrenean Springflowers
Between Ainsa and Alquezar, you can see fields full of poppies - a sign that the field has not been treated with fertiliziers, chemicals...
From Ainsa direction France, poppy fields are visible up until the Meson de Puertolas. With the Peña Montanesa and some of the ever circling vultures, you are guaranteed a good photo opportunity.
From Ainsa direction France, poppy fields are visible up until the Meson de Puertolas. With the Peña Montanesa and some of the ever circling vultures, you are guaranteed a good photo opportunity.
Posted by Jayne at 21:08 ·
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Pyrenees Walk: Gavarnie
The Cirque de Gavarnie is classified UNESCO and has the highest waterfall in Europe. After a very twisty 2 and a half hour drive round the mountains from the Pineta Valley in Spain via the Col d'Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet, I arrived in Gavarnie. In summer, it would no doubt be a better idea to walk over!
There were a few tourists around but not as many as hinted at by the numerous carparks all specifically for restaurant/shop/bar clients only. My next walk to the Bujaruelo pass was a much more enjoyable experience: big green pastures tipped by white peaks, herds of sheep, deer, marmots, vultures, springflowers... From Bujaruelo, you look into Spain and it is a short descent into the Ordesa National Park. On our left walking up to the pass, we also saw the Col des Sarradets which leads to the famous Brecha de Rolanda. Another walk in Ordesa on my list to do.
Posted by Jayne at 14:53 ·
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Special Places to Stay: Spain
The scent of bodega envelops you as you walk through the vaulted stone archway that leads to Casa Blas, a 17th-century farmhouse in an elevated village with sweeping mountain views... &
Barely 20 souls live in this sleepy, charming village in the Sobrarbe. To the north, the rugged contours of Monte Perdido can be seen; to the south, the waters of the Mediano reservoir ...
We are delighted that two of our properties-Casa Blas & La Antigua Abadía- feature in the 2007 edition of Alastair Sawday's Special Places to Stay. You can purchase a copy of the book from Alastair Sawday Publishing or alternatively see brief description and photographs at www.specialplacestostay.com
We are delighted that two of our properties-Casa Blas & La Antigua Abadía- feature in the 2007 edition of Alastair Sawday's Special Places to Stay. You can purchase a copy of the book from Alastair Sawday Publishing or alternatively see brief description and photographs at www.specialplacestostay.com
Posted by Jayne at 17:07 ·
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Spanish Pyrenean Wildflowers
Currently, you are guaranteed sighting of hundreds of orchids as they come into bloom in the meadows along the path to Viados in the Chistau valley. Hundreds in number not in variety: there are two types along path. Another favourite is the daffodil: really glorious when you see a field completely covered.
Posted by Jayne at 16:51 ·
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Walking in the Pyrenees in May
The Barrosa Valley near Bielsa start May. A must at this time of year as you will have the valley to yourselves: in height of summer can be busy though you can escape the crowds with an early start. For seeing marmots and deer, it is either best to visit now or elso get up early in summer months.It's a nice easy walk to end of valley, approx. 1 and a half hours and for those more adventurous souls at the end of valley you can turn right up to the Barrosa pass and into France.
Posted by Jayne at 18:23 ·
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