After the rocky entry hike and its tiny brook, we finally made it to the lake: Ibon de Plan. Only a handful of other folks were there on this weekday, whereas weekends can be much more crowded. Mrs Z and I saw clear evidence of this being a glacial valley. Mother Nature and her moraine had gouged and carved the terrain of Cotiella Mountain (2912 m) into artistic stony striations. The legend: a Moorish princess from long ago will dance above the water at sunrise for any who sleep shoreside.
After the rocky entry hike and its tiny brook, we finally made it to the lake: Ibon de Plan. Only a handful of other folks were there on this weekday, whereas weekends can be much more crowded. Mrs Z and I saw clear evidence of this being a glacial valley. Mother Nature and her moraine had gouged and carved the terrain of Cotiella Mountain (2912 m) into artistic stony striations. The legend: a Moorish princess from long ago will dance above the water at sunrise for any who sleep shoreside.
0 2025/01/30 23:50:43
A die-hard American mountain bike couple and their local guide navigating through the immediate Ibon de Plan periphery. Upon our earlier arrival at the parking lot terminus, we had just seen the 'Comlet' megalithic stone circle. That'd been unexpected. So had the filthy condition of the attached Refuge Labasar. Trash had been left uncollected. This had embarrassed Raquel. She was rightly disgusted. We carried on past the massive scree of avalanche-prone Mt. Punta es Litas (2623m).
A die-hard American mountain bike couple and their local guide navigating through the immediate Ibon de Plan periphery. Upon our earlier arrival at the parking lot terminus, we had just seen the 'Comlet' megalithic stone circle. That'd been unexpected. So had the filthy condition of the attached Refuge Labasar. Trash had been left uncollected. This had embarrassed Raquel. She was rightly disgusted. We carried on past the massive scree of avalanche-prone Mt. Punta es Litas (2623m).
0 2025/01/30 23:50:30
*Ibon de Plan is a pristine lake with an entry hike. Raquel picked us up. Juancho had earlier been busy transferring some cyclists to a mountaintop for sunrise. Those riders had been part of a major international cycle fest centered up at Bielsa. Raquel brought the Solomonte jeep, not the van. Note that she and Juancho speak good English. In addition, they guide various adventure water sports popular in the area e.g. canyoning. *image above shows elsewhere SOLOMONTE phone +34 617 99 5434
*Ibon de Plan is a pristine lake with an entry hike. Raquel picked us up. Juancho had earlier been busy transferring some cyclists to a mountaintop for sunrise. Those riders had been part of a major international cycle fest centered up at Bielsa. Raquel brought the Solomonte jeep, not the van. Note that she and Juancho speak good English. In addition, they guide various adventure water sports popular in the area e.g. canyoning. *image above shows elsewhere SOLOMONTE phone +34 617 99 5434
0 2025/01/30 23:50:03
There on the outskirts, we shopped at Queso del Artesano de Saravillo. If I caught their family name correct, these folks were Andres Miro and wife (shown here). They make their own varieties of goat cheese, plus 'arandanos' or Pineta blueberry jam, honey, yogurt and eggs. We bought a wide variety. It was amusing to hear their unseen goats bleating in their nearby pen.
There on the outskirts, we shopped at Queso del Artesano de Saravillo. If I caught their family name correct, these folks were Andres Miro and wife (shown here). They make their own varieties of goat cheese, plus 'arandanos' or Pineta blueberry jam, honey, yogurt and eggs. We bought a wide variety. It was amusing to hear their unseen goats bleating in their nearby pen.
0 2025/01/30 23:49:21
We headed north past Solomonte's Escalona HQ up the vale di Christau. The lovely aquamarine Cinca river was right beside. We passed the now-blocked shortcut to the lake, a route ruined by recent flooding. Then we went through the ex-hydro town Lafortunada and the Desfiladero des Devotas. A waterfall streamed atop us in the tunnel there. A historic pilgrim woman came from afar to worship there, hence the name. On the way up to Ibon de Plan we went to the village of Saravillo village (seen above).
We headed north past Solomonte's Escalona HQ up the vale di Christau. The lovely aquamarine Cinca river was right beside. We passed the now-blocked shortcut to the lake, a route ruined by recent flooding. Then we went through the ex-hydro town Lafortunada and the Desfiladero des Devotas. A waterfall streamed atop us in the tunnel there. A historic pilgrim woman came from afar to worship there, hence the name. On the way up to Ibon de Plan we went to the village of Saravillo village (seen above).
0 2025/01/30 23:48:45
Below one saw the curiously-named village of Sin. Its neighbor there in this Feixon Ziego area was Gistain. Clearly audible far below was the Paso Inclusa d'Escun man-made hydro embalse/dam.
Below one saw the curiously-named village of Sin. Its neighbor there in this Feixon Ziego area was Gistain. Clearly audible far below was the Paso Inclusa d'Escun man-made hydro embalse/dam.
0 2025/01/30 23:48:34
Spectacular is the only word to describe the Freda Mirador. It was worth the by-now bumpier ride on dirt trails. What far-reaching views! We were most of the way up to the lake by this point and the fresh smell of pine was wonderful. Base-jumpers sometimes utilize the area.
Spectacular is the only word to describe the Freda Mirador. It was worth the by-now bumpier ride on dirt trails. What far-reaching views! We were most of the way up to the lake by this point and the fresh smell of pine was wonderful. Base-jumpers sometimes utilize the area.
0 2025/01/30 23:48:21
Next: our first daytrip with Raquel (Solomonte): the Ibon de Plan lake.
Next: our first daytrip with Raquel (Solomonte): the Ibon de Plan lake.
0 2025/01/30 22:47:33
It was the very end of the viniculture season here.
It was the very end of the viniculture season here.
0 2025/01/30 22:47:21
We found more than one variety of grapes on the outskirts of the village.
We found more than one variety of grapes on the outskirts of the village.
0 2025/01/30 22:47:11
Spanish wine has a looooong history, just like Usana.
Spanish wine has a looooong history, just like Usana.
0 2025/01/30 22:47:00
In addition to old rakes, ropes and tools, these dried flowers decorated the tunnel. One day there in the tunnel, I learned that I'd been calling Pepita's dog by the wrong name. Whereas I'd called him 'Charcoal' in fact he was actually named 'Choco(late)' for his brown fur.
In addition to old rakes, ropes and tools, these dried flowers decorated the tunnel. One day there in the tunnel, I learned that I'd been calling Pepita's dog by the wrong name. Whereas I'd called him 'Charcoal' in fact he was actually named 'Choco(late)' for his brown fur.
0 2025/01/30 22:29:43
...the mind delights.
...the mind delights.
0 2025/01/30 22:29:28
In flowered fields...
In flowered fields...
0 2025/01/30 22:29:21
Local laundry.
Local laundry.
0 2025/01/30 22:29:10
This painting is of her husband. Pepita owns other rental properties within the tunnel. We met one of her other vacation renters, a couple from the States now living in Panama.
This painting is of her husband. Pepita owns other rental properties within the tunnel. We met one of her other vacation renters, a couple from the States now living in Panama.
0 2025/01/30 22:28:58
Our landlady Pepita was incredibly spry for someone her age, let alone while recovering after recent surgery to mend a broken leg! That hospital stay had been near her son's home up in St. Lary just across the French Pyrenees border. She was a citizen of both countries. Mrs. Z is totally bilingual and carried the conversation during our visit to her home next door to Casa Blas. She grasped some of my clumsy Spanish and French. I think.
Our landlady Pepita was incredibly spry for someone her age, let alone while recovering after recent surgery to mend a broken leg! That hospital stay had been near her son's home up in St. Lary just across the French Pyrenees border. She was a citizen of both countries. Mrs. Z is totally bilingual and carried the conversation during our visit to her home next door to Casa Blas. She grasped some of my clumsy Spanish and French. I think.
0 2025/01/30 22:28:49
Usana eggplant.
Usana eggplant.
0 2025/01/30 22:28:34
Usana beans.
Usana beans.
0 2025/01/30 22:28:23
Usana pomegranates.
Usana pomegranates.
0 2025/01/30 22:28:14
An antique coffee grinder.
An antique coffee grinder.
0 2025/01/30 22:28:02
Some of our grocery purchases shown inside Casa Blas. Olive oil plus pimenton. We'd actually bought the latter in Barcelona at Casa Gispert.
Some of our grocery purchases shown inside Casa Blas. Olive oil plus pimenton. We'd actually bought the latter in Barcelona at Casa Gispert.
0 2025/01/30 22:27:29
Style here and there.
Style here and there.
0 2025/01/30 22:26:54
Such moody clouds.
Such moody clouds.
0 2025/01/30 22:25:45
Bucolic landscape was never far away.
Bucolic landscape was never far away.
0 2025/01/30 22:25:14
Mrs Z likes to paint.
Mrs Z likes to paint.
0 2025/01/30 22:25:05
...to enthrall us.
...to enthrall us.
0 2025/01/30 22:24:54
Ethereal sunrises never ceased...
Ethereal sunrises never ceased...
0 2025/01/30 22:24:44
The latter flowed into a stretch of quasi-submerged trees lining its banks.
The latter flowed into a stretch of quasi-submerged trees lining its banks.
0 2025/01/30 22:24:36
That same southerly view shows the sheep farm in the foreground and the Embalse de Mediano dammed lake in the distance.
That same southerly view shows the sheep farm in the foreground and the Embalse de Mediano dammed lake in the distance.
0 2025/01/30 22:19:29
Some outdoors decor speaks to the arty steak of Dos Arcos.
Some outdoors decor speaks to the arty steak of Dos Arcos.
0 2025/01/30 22:07:50
More of same.
More of same.
0 2025/01/30 22:07:37
That same wonderful terrace view also included a nearby semi-derelict church in neighbouring Banaston village. It was located across some gnarly bluffs, raw and wild (see below).
That same wonderful terrace view also included a nearby semi-derelict church in neighbouring Banaston village. It was located across some gnarly bluffs, raw and wild (see below).
0 2025/01/30 21:30:15
A village of stone and...
A village of stone and...
0 2025/01/30 21:30:00
That second tunnel features a sudden glimpse of history: a press from that fast vanishing yesteryear. Olives? Grapes? Both?
That second tunnel features a sudden glimpse of history: a press from that fast vanishing yesteryear. Olives? Grapes? Both?
0 2025/01/30 21:29:39
also inside.
also inside.
0 2025/01/30 21:29:28
There were artifacts both outside and...
There were artifacts both outside and...
0 2025/01/30 21:29:15
There was a full-on rural quality to the village. We just loved it.
There was a full-on rural quality to the village. We just loved it.
0 2025/01/30 21:28:50
...also wood.
...also wood.
0 2025/01/30 21:28:41
There, one finds the excellent four-bedroom Dos Arcos B&B. Owners Emma and Yiftach had agreed to be available for assistance if we'd needed any upon our arrival. Mrs Z and I appreciated their gesture, even though we eventually found the secret location of our hidden door key aided by the actual owner lady. Yiftach also operates a Bike Workshop with tours. Their impossibly-clever children are trilingual and will be quick to tell you that!!!
There, one finds the excellent four-bedroom Dos Arcos B&B. Owners Emma and Yiftach had agreed to be available for assistance if we'd needed any upon our arrival. Mrs Z and I appreciated their gesture, even though we eventually found the secret location of our hidden door key aided by the actual owner lady. Yiftach also operates a Bike Workshop with tours. Their impossibly-clever children are trilingual and will be quick to tell you that!!!
0 2025/01/30 21:28:29
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