He is great Danon. Do you know from which town he hails? I seem to recall another post from ages past wherein you posted this same great song,

Yes, I posted it before..it is just so upbeat..The lyrics are fun, too.
I think he was a supporter of the Catalan independence movement.
Pedro Pubill Calaf[1] 24 March 1935 – 27 August 2014),[2][3] better known as Peret, was a Spanishgypsysinger, guitarist and composer of Catalan rumba. He was born in Mataró, Catalonia.

A shot taken early morn from the gas station at Salinas village. Juancho (Juan Jose) had just fetched me from our new lodgings up at the Bielsa parador and he and I were en route to Torla. Torla was the location of the sole van-tour outfit authorized to take visitors to Ordesa-Perdido park proper. Mrs Z wasn't interested in either the loooong two hour drive from Bielsa to Torla (around the entire bottom half of the park) nor the actual hiking ahead.

Btw, this is the Bielsa parador. We enjoyed our three nights there, with VG food, excellent service and a fine fireplace in the lobby common area. The latter came in handy as it rained 90% of the time. Waterfalls such as Cascada Cinqa streamed down the cliff face of Mt Perdido and company.

Heavy rainfall a month earlier had resulted in serious flooding within the Circo di Pineta. This was the valley that we looked down onto from the Estiva refugio on the previous daytrip. The Ermita di Pineta chapel beside the parador was unharmed and the Visitor Center still stood. But the riverbed was littered with tons of flood refuse.

Here is but one example, branches stripped of their bark. The cows and their calves had the run of the valley floor. Cue the (for us) humorous sign without words, just a cow symbol with a red line across it. That meant 'Por favor Parador guests: please keep the gate closed.'

This map shows the heart of Ordesa-Perdido park proper. It receives the most visitors and those visitors are tightly controlled. To the best of my knowledge, no private vehicles have ever been allowed and there have been but three van tour companies allowed to operate inside the park. My Torla connection was one of them and an outfit with the same name also was in nearby Broto. The third van company was in Fanlo, but it seems out of business now.

Our drive across to Torla took us through Ainsa. Juancho took the time to clarify Bielsa's past tragedy. Franco had forbidden any further carnival celebrations, but the stubborn residents of Bielsa were justly proud of their own annual Carnavale. They went ahead anyway. Franco sent in his troops as a reprisal. Many women took their kids across the border to safety in France, but the males of Bielsa paid a heavy price. After Ainsa: the N260/rio Ara with Boltana, Fiscal, Servise then Broto.

This is Torla, a town with a peerless location with Mt. Mondaruego looming above. Just as I took this shot, a young Chinese tourist couple tried to squeeze their rental between two tightly parked cars. There was an audible SMACK!! There'd been plenty of open spaces elsewhere in that parking lot, so the local owner of the most damaged car came running with a WTF?! look on his face! Btw, just west of Torla was the site of that recent ski lift accident.

This park is gorgeous (heh heh). There were nine of us in the tour van, including Jesus the guide. The 45 euros fee was very reasonable. The were four or five stops and the views just kept getting better with each one! We began by crossing the Romanesque Glera bridge. Soon we were in an ascent through the Llanos plains (Diazas) with the Sta Ana chapel. Cruceta-Herradura was the first stop, followed by Molar with its view over St. Elena's gorge. Then as seen here: Punta Acuta Cuta (Vio valley).

We were up among the clouds. It got cooler.

It was fantastic. Here we see the mirador with two names: Bacarizuala by the Brecha(finger) de Azares/Tito Basta. Just across was the Roland gap, Taillon and Marbore mountains.The geology reminded me of Yosemite and also the Canadian Rockies. The heights gave most of us mild headaches so we took Tylenol.

Same location.The forested escarpment scenery just did not quit.

Pretty sure that this was mirador Ziarazils along the Faixa Pelai. It had a muddy-floored, well-defined stone perimeter. Its sign read: 'Don't throw stones down into the valley because you could hit those below.'


Dots of colour. Fall was just beginning to show its true colours. On this slope we spotted a resting brown male 'sarrio' goat-antelope. Jesus had brought a telescope. We also saw vultures, marmots and one chamois. *Above: the unique 'lapiaz' rock forests that one sometimes sees in this region.

The Soaso steps looking west towards Punta Munesma aka Tobacor. This was the final spectacular lookout. It came with the most strenuous hike. By the time that we all reached the summit, there was a whole lotta' huffing and puffing. A few stayed behind in the van at the trail base. One member of our troupe went up anyway, despite her recent surgery! If you visit the Pyrenees, put this tour top of your list. Trust me. *next: Ainsa conclusion.

Our final selection of shots. Here, that final Ordesa-Perdido park daytrip troupe on its way back down to the two vans. The alternate van company had caught up to us (see top R)

It is Ainsa.

It is Ainsa again.

It is Ainsa again in Aragon.

A typical sign. Some claim that Ainsa's square is the largest such medieval one in all of Spain.

The square had a pleasant vibe.

We were there for visiting, plus 'quiveres' or grocery shopping.

Another nice sign.

Ainsa's historic ramparts.

The end of a fine day. The end of a fine stay too.

A strange signal light at the entry of the Bielsa-Aragounet tunnel, the way through which vehicles travel from Aragon up to the French Hautes Pyrenees. Our young driver ignored my request that after entering France, he then take us westwards to our destination through the picturesque Pic du Midi region. I napped and thus did not notice til it was too late. Whatever. Pic yer battles.

This map shows the route that we took in that transfer ride from the Bielsa parador and the Pirineos Sobrarbe district up to the nearby French border. The French Pyrenees area leading into St. Lary is also fantastic, really pretty mountain country. That'll be our next and final installment of 'From Born to Bielsa', which will be posted sometime during the spring. THANK YOU FOR READING. MAY YOUR NEXT TRIP BE THE BEST!!

Stunning zebec. I love the photos where clouds and mountains get equal billing. A friend is heading somewhere to that region this summer. I'll share with him. Thanks for posting.

Stunning. Awesome. And everything between. The maps are helpful.so thanks for those as well.

Love your report and photos of the Ordesas Perdito park. Stunning scenery! Love the photo of the vibrant red sunset. Don’t know if we will visit this part of Spain so I really appreciate your effort in doing this report.

On your map there´s a town called Hospital de Parzán. You may know that this is not what we understand nowadays as a "hospital". Hospitals, in the medieval ages, were places where pilgrims and travelers, wanderers and traders, that were crossing the mountain ranges, could rest and find refuge from the adverse weather conditions.

Phenomenal pictures, thanks for sharing! Hope to visit this part of Spain some day

Ashwin, we just returned from our next trip (Sta Barbara) and wanted to thank you for joining all of us here on this Pyrennial exploration.
I'm about to alert Raquel and all the others above to whom we'd promised shout-outs.
Where to next for you?
I am done. the clouds