0 2025/03/26 18:06:47
The POPOTES section (ie 'those who make good food'). Oo-la-la! As Rhon had mentioned above, Luz has a few boulangeries and butchers. They are all excellent, and the lasagna at the butcher beside the smaller Carrefour was among the best we've ever had. Boulangerie Gave makes VG clafouti and also wonderful fig-berry Charlotte cake. Self-caterers will do well in this town.
The POPOTES section (ie 'those who make good food'). Oo-la-la! As Rhon had mentioned above, Luz has a few boulangeries and butchers. They are all excellent, and the lasagna at the butcher beside the smaller Carrefour was among the best we've ever had. Boulangerie Gave makes VG clafouti and also wonderful fig-berry Charlotte cake. Self-caterers will do well in this town.
0 2025/03/26 18:07:41
This friendly lady ran a honey table. We bought some of her 'bruyere' variety, of which there are two sorts: spring and fall. They each have a distinctive taste, as does bourdain (buckthorn). We used miel in the tea that we made from the freshly-picked spearmint and regular mint from our rental jardin. Other honey sellers in this general area include Rucher Pentu and also Rucher de Tourmalet.
This friendly lady ran a honey table. We bought some of her 'bruyere' variety, of which there are two sorts: spring and fall. They each have a distinctive taste, as does bourdain (buckthorn). We used miel in the tea that we made from the freshly-picked spearmint and regular mint from our rental jardin. Other honey sellers in this general area include Rucher Pentu and also Rucher de Tourmalet.
0 2025/03/26 18:07:58
The sunrise was just starting and the first stretch was paved. Given that it was a Sunday and the popular hike would soon be populated with local families, I cherished the solitude while it lasted. Later, I saw one dad who'd brought his newborn along inside a baby-sling. Given the stretches of unpaved rugged pieton further down the trail and the possibility of tripping there, he seemed foolishly stubborn. In high season, many take a donkey ride to-and-from the cirque with local guides.
The sunrise was just starting and the first stretch was paved. Given that it was a Sunday and the popular hike would soon be populated with local families, I cherished the solitude while it lasted. Later, I saw one dad who'd brought his newborn along inside a baby-sling. Given the stretches of unpaved rugged pieton further down the trail and the possibility of tripping there, he seemed foolishly stubborn. In high season, many take a donkey ride to-and-from the cirque with local guides.
0 2025/03/30 16:05:39
Whereas much of the Pyrenees National Park is hard granite, the Cirque had a lot of limestone. Folks had taken some bits of that rock to create some Innuit-style inukshuk piles along the route. Shown here: Mt. Poutine as seen from the Arribam bois.
Whereas much of the Pyrenees National Park is hard granite, the Cirque had a lot of limestone. Folks had taken some bits of that rock to create some Innuit-style inukshuk piles along the route. Shown here: Mt. Poutine as seen from the Arribam bois.
0 2025/03/30 16:05:48
Bellevue plateau. I really don't know the demographics, but it felt like local French families outnumbered foreign tourists by a large margin. One sizable group of Lebanese 20-somethings broke the rules by blaring music from their portable radio. I am a music lover who did not mind, but possibly other hikers took offense. Young Spanish men also ignored the 'keep dogs on leash' rule, which is actually law here.
Bellevue plateau. I really don't know the demographics, but it felt like local French families outnumbered foreign tourists by a large margin. One sizable group of Lebanese 20-somethings broke the rules by blaring music from their portable radio. I am a music lover who did not mind, but possibly other hikers took offense. Young Spanish men also ignored the 'keep dogs on leash' rule, which is actually law here.
0 2025/03/30 16:06:02
We'd been warned that Luz's weekly market was too small, but in fact we were pleasantly surprised at its depth and breadth. It felt tightly-organized and was definitely not too small for our needs. *Folks will tell you that the biggest and best local market in their estimation is up in nearby Argeles-Gazost town.
We'd been warned that Luz's weekly market was too small, but in fact we were pleasantly surprised at its depth and breadth. It felt tightly-organized and was definitely not too small for our needs. *Folks will tell you that the biggest and best local market in their estimation is up in nearby Argeles-Gazost town.
0 2025/03/26 18:04:47
Ines Du Pouy runs a very good organic produce market. It is located in the center, next to one of the butchers and set back in a courtyard. He also has a cool carved mailbox beside a similar home-made birdhouse.
Ines Du Pouy runs a very good organic produce market. It is located in the center, next to one of the butchers and set back in a courtyard. He also has a cool carved mailbox beside a similar home-made birdhouse.
0 2025/03/26 18:04:59
Flaubert: 'The purpose of Travel is to show you how small we all are.' It was a measure of just how high these mountains are, that the cirque was still in shadow at noon. The Grande Cascade shown above is the highest waterfall in Europe. Above them: jagged l'Epaule (3073m). The Lacoste family have re-opened their traditional hotel seen on the left and it's back patio was a great place for a restorative cocoa at 1580m. The hotel transfer van was the only authorized road vehicle.
Flaubert: 'The purpose of Travel is to show you how small we all are.' It was a measure of just how high these mountains are, that the cirque was still in shadow at noon. The Grande Cascade shown above is the highest waterfall in Europe. Above them: jagged l'Epaule (3073m). The Lacoste family have re-opened their traditional hotel seen on the left and it's back patio was a great place for a restorative cocoa at 1580m. The hotel transfer van was the only authorized road vehicle.
0 2025/03/30 16:06:15
Local geology: the rock walls along the way were impressive.
Local geology: the rock walls along the way were impressive.
0 2025/03/30 16:06:58
They gave the shutterbug the opportunity to get artistic.
They gave the shutterbug the opportunity to get artistic.
0 2025/03/30 16:07:04
I rest my case.
I rest my case.
0 2025/03/30 16:07:14
Although I saw none of it beyond vultures and other birds, there is a variety of wildlife throughout the Pyrenees park.
Although I saw none of it beyond vultures and other birds, there is a variety of wildlife throughout the Pyrenees park.
0 2025/03/30 16:07:21
Domestic animals.
Domestic animals.
0 2025/03/30 16:07:28
Mt. Taillon (3144m) and its shorter glacial neighbor Gabietous are no doubt both the source for this river. Hardy hikers overnight at the cabane des Soldates just below gabietous.
Mt. Taillon (3144m) and its shorter glacial neighbor Gabietous are no doubt both the source for this river. Hardy hikers overnight at the cabane des Soldates just below gabietous.
0 2025/03/30 16:07:49
never ceases to please.
never ceases to please.
0 2025/03/30 16:07:59
I tipped a pair of young female photographers about the golden reflections here. We three enjoyed a productive half hour tryna capture the moving imagery.
I tipped a pair of young female photographers about the golden reflections here. We three enjoyed a productive half hour tryna capture the moving imagery.
0 2025/03/30 16:08:10
This shot of the above gurgling waters was Mrs Z's fave and she plans to do a painting of it.
This shot of the above gurgling waters was Mrs Z's fave and she plans to do a painting of it.
0 2025/03/30 16:08:27
I rest my case.
I rest my case.
0 2025/06/07 16:04:25
Sunrise at Summerland beach looking over to Loon point.
Sunrise at Summerland beach looking over to Loon point.
0 2025/06/07 16:04:03
The sport still attracts enthusiasts of all ages and genders.
The sport still attracts enthusiasts of all ages and genders.
0 2025/06/07 16:04:34
The new Dart Coffee branch in the marina (a must) featured this stained-glass collage of local themes: sailing, water birds, land and sea, lighthouses, the Channel islands, oil platforms, dolphins, fish, seaweed kelp, seals and sea lions, a regatta.
The new Dart Coffee branch in the marina (a must) featured this stained-glass collage of local themes: sailing, water birds, land and sea, lighthouses, the Channel islands, oil platforms, dolphins, fish, seaweed kelp, seals and sea lions, a regatta.
0 2025/06/07 16:35:53
Good quality street art can be found throughout. The best have important social messages, as opposed to sloppy gang tags.
Good quality street art can be found throughout. The best have important social messages, as opposed to sloppy gang tags.
0 2025/06/07 16:37:06
Norah is the manager of justly-popular Brophy Bros seafood restaurant. We had a lovely chat after discovering some things in common.
Norah is the manager of justly-popular Brophy Bros seafood restaurant. We had a lovely chat after discovering some things in common.
0 2025/06/07 16:37:27
Maybe a western snowy plover? The end of our overview. Next: beach culture. But first some music.
Maybe a western snowy plover? The end of our overview. Next: beach culture. But first some music.
0 2025/06/07 16:54:20
Tony the sand sculptor.
Tony the sand sculptor.
0 2025/06/07 16:34:32
We began in LA. by staying overnight in a cheap hotel on the border of Chinatown. Not two minutes after we'd plopped our luggage down, a few shots rang out on the streets below.
We began in LA. by staying overnight in a cheap hotel on the border of Chinatown. Not two minutes after we'd plopped our luggage down, a few shots rang out on the streets below.
0 2025/06/07 16:03:01
Actually, we flew on United up to Santa Barbara. Above shows our take-off. We see (I think) Playa del Rey and the Marina del Rey peninsula, maybe possibly Venice canal on the far left?
Actually, we flew on United up to Santa Barbara. Above shows our take-off. We see (I think) Playa del Rey and the Marina del Rey peninsula, maybe possibly Venice canal on the far left?
0 2025/06/07 16:03:34
A wine-tasting room in the Funk Zone had the above notice. Their neighboring alley had some excellent street art including an old comic strip showing two young women commiserating. One had just broken up with her boyfriend and wailed, "Oh, what will I do without him?!" Her pal's response: "WINE OBVIOUSLY!!"
A wine-tasting room in the Funk Zone had the above notice. Their neighboring alley had some excellent street art including an old comic strip showing two young women commiserating. One had just broken up with her boyfriend and wailed, "Oh, what will I do without him?!" Her pal's response: "WINE OBVIOUSLY!!"
0 2025/06/07 16:35:14
Animal topiary.
Animal topiary.
0 2025/06/10 12:41:07
"Nooooo!"
"Nooooo!"
0 2025/06/10 12:41:30
The ocean holds a lot of life. That life plays an important role in the health of our planet. We used Reddit as a source for researching this trip and someone there had rare photos of a shark egg backlit by the sun. Another shutterbug displayed her imagery of nudibranchs, surely one of Mother Nature's most alien-looking life forms.
The ocean holds a lot of life. That life plays an important role in the health of our planet. We used Reddit as a source for researching this trip and someone there had rare photos of a shark egg backlit by the sun. Another shutterbug displayed her imagery of nudibranchs, surely one of Mother Nature's most alien-looking life forms.
0 2025/06/07 17:51:27
Sealife here has many forms. That includes dolphins, sharks, sea stars, sea slugs and sea hares. Two common anemone species include the green 'moonglow' and the red 'sunburst' kinds. Tide-pooling was dependent on checking out Low Tide times in the weekly newspaper chart.
Sealife here has many forms. That includes dolphins, sharks, sea stars, sea slugs and sea hares. Two common anemone species include the green 'moonglow' and the red 'sunburst' kinds. Tide-pooling was dependent on checking out Low Tide times in the weekly newspaper chart.
0 2025/06/07 17:51:59
Low tide brought out a lot of things, including artistic rocks. These boulders had equally beautiful cousins on land, especially at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
Low tide brought out a lot of things, including artistic rocks. These boulders had equally beautiful cousins on land, especially at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
0 2025/06/07 17:53:07
This shot is actually responsible for a Rick Steves story---see later.
This shot is actually responsible for a Rick Steves story---see later.
0 2025/06/07 17:53:33
Including this ex-pat gal from Toronto. She saw a bag that I was using to beachcomb and immediately recognized it as being from our city's biggest pharmacy. "Toronto, right?" she approached. She turned out to be a family friend of the guitarist for my heroes 'Rush' (the pride of Toronto). Next day at perennial local fave pizza joint Rustys, we saw another unlikely Rush connection: a pinball machine with a vintage Rush theme! Didn't realize that today's kids celebrated birthdays to Rush songs!
Including this ex-pat gal from Toronto. She saw a bag that I was using to beachcomb and immediately recognized it as being from our city's biggest pharmacy. "Toronto, right?" she approached. She turned out to be a family friend of the guitarist for my heroes 'Rush' (the pride of Toronto). Next day at perennial local fave pizza joint Rustys, we saw another unlikely Rush connection: a pinball machine with a vintage Rush theme! Didn't realize that today's kids celebrated birthdays to Rush songs!
0 2025/06/07 17:53:43
The sun sinks low.
The sun sinks low.
0 2025/06/07 18:50:08
And lower.
And lower.
0 2025/06/07 18:50:53
Le soleil sont disparu.
Le soleil sont disparu.
0 2025/06/07 18:51:14
The Cito Fire Station. Brave folks. Respect. See their Fire Indicator on the far right. *Would you believe it: some of the thieves arrested for raiding homes in Pasadena during the height of the fires were wait for it...dressed as firefighters!
The Cito Fire Station. Brave folks. Respect. See their Fire Indicator on the far right. *Would you believe it: some of the thieves arrested for raiding homes in Pasadena during the height of the fires were wait for it...dressed as firefighters!
0 2025/06/10 12:53:26
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