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
The second historic tunnel, which was located one lane below us. Usana was a paradise for both shutterbugs and painters.
The second historic tunnel, which was located one lane below us. Usana was a paradise for both shutterbugs and painters.
0 2025/01/30 21:28:20
The corner of that same garden. Once during our 9-day stay, a hiking teen couple obsessed with the perfect Insta image posed while standing directly atop those beautiful flowers shown to the right!
The corner of that same garden. Once during our 9-day stay, a hiking teen couple obsessed with the perfect Insta image posed while standing directly atop those beautiful flowers shown to the right!
0 2025/01/30 21:25:51
A sunset view from our terrace. Such an endless expanse of sky. Perfect for drinks, be they a sunrise coffee or a sunset Rioja. And a great place to dry wet laundry!
A sunset view from our terrace. Such an endless expanse of sky. Perfect for drinks, be they a sunrise coffee or a sunset Rioja. And a great place to dry wet laundry!
0 2025/01/30 21:25:43
Dramatic, heart-stopping views are but one advantage of staying here. The above manager Jayne Calvert lives not far off and will take care of all your concerns.
Dramatic, heart-stopping views are but one advantage of staying here. The above manager Jayne Calvert lives not far off and will take care of all your concerns.
0 2025/01/30 21:25:37
The knocker on that same door.
The knocker on that same door.
0 2025/01/30 21:23:11
The rustic door to Casa Blas. Note the symbolic scallop shell, so meaningful to those along the Camino trail.
The rustic door to Casa Blas. Note the symbolic scallop shell, so meaningful to those along the Camino trail.
0 2025/01/30 21:22:41
Same spot seen from opposite direction. This is Casa Blas. For us it was indeed 'Basa Bliss!' Property manager Jayne Calvert had described this house to us as being cozy and having a prime location and she was right.
Same spot seen from opposite direction. This is Casa Blas. For us it was indeed 'Basa Bliss!' Property manager Jayne Calvert had described this house to us as being cozy and having a prime location and she was right.
0 2025/01/30 21:21:21
The view from the end of the aforementioned tunnel is wonderful. An effort has been made to decorate both tunnels with some artifacts. Shown here was our rental's garden, with its nocturnal jasmine and more.
The view from the end of the aforementioned tunnel is wonderful. An effort has been made to decorate both tunnels with some artifacts. Shown here was our rental's garden, with its nocturnal jasmine and more.
0 2025/01/30 21:12:10
One enters sleepy Usana from this tiny chapel shown on the left. In the distance, we see the tunnel that is the hamlet's key feature. Usana has a pair of historic vaulted tunnels, apparently the longest in Spain. They are authentic and the cobblestone footing is both gnarly and uneven. In other words, the real deal. Casa Blas is found at the very end of the tunnel shown here. On Solstice days, locals gather for a celebration as they watch the sun rise to fill the entire length of that tunnel!
One enters sleepy Usana from this tiny chapel shown on the left. In the distance, we see the tunnel that is the hamlet's key feature. Usana has a pair of historic vaulted tunnels, apparently the longest in Spain. They are authentic and the cobblestone footing is both gnarly and uneven. In other words, the real deal. Casa Blas is found at the very end of the tunnel shown here. On Solstice days, locals gather for a celebration as they watch the sun rise to fill the entire length of that tunnel!
0 2025/01/30 21:08:34
Here is a shot from nearby and larger Ainsa (ah-EEN-sah) , a proper town with a population of 1,640. Seen in the foreground is the less attractive modern part of Ainsa. It has a much more photogenic heritage section with Spain's largest village square, one which we will show later.
Here is a shot from nearby and larger Ainsa (ah-EEN-sah) , a proper town with a population of 1,640. Seen in the foreground is the less attractive modern part of Ainsa. It has a much more photogenic heritage section with Spain's largest village square, one which we will show later.
0 2025/01/30 21:03:59
This is the secluded village of Usana (oo-Sa-nah), nestled 600m up a hilltop in the heart of the Pyrenees. Our rental Casa Blas is located smack dab in the middle where you can see white shutters. The site is directly along the Camino di Santiago Compostela GR19 route. It is one of nine hamlets that compose the Banaston municipality.
This is the secluded village of Usana (oo-Sa-nah), nestled 600m up a hilltop in the heart of the Pyrenees. Our rental Casa Blas is located smack dab in the middle where you can see white shutters. The site is directly along the Camino di Santiago Compostela GR19 route. It is one of nine hamlets that compose the Banaston municipality.
0 2025/01/30 20:58:19
This is Isabel, one of the local sheep. She begged us not to tell her parents that she was pregnant. "Oh, no need to worry about that Izzy," we assured her. "We ate them last night."
This is Isabel, one of the local sheep. She begged us not to tell her parents that she was pregnant. "Oh, no need to worry about that Izzy," we assured her. "We ate them last night."
0 2025/01/30 16:06:36
Did I mention mountains? Ordesa-Perdido park's Circo de Soaso with the famed Cala Caballo (horse's tail). *Next=our wonderful Casa Blas rental house.
Did I mention mountains? Ordesa-Perdido park's Circo de Soaso with the famed Cala Caballo (horse's tail). *Next=our wonderful Casa Blas rental house.
0 2025/01/30 16:06:27
Ainsa town.
Ainsa town.
0 2025/01/30 16:05:46
Friendly Mia, Julian's ESL tutor.
Friendly Mia, Julian's ESL tutor.
0 2025/01/30 16:04:45
Julian Garcia ('Excursiones 4x4') was our guide at Anisclo canyon, the daytrip we completed before meeting Raquel and Juancho. He is also a trained masseur based in Boltana. Julian brought his ESL tutor pal gal (see next) to serve as interpreter.
Julian Garcia ('Excursiones 4x4') was our guide at Anisclo canyon, the daytrip we completed before meeting Raquel and Juancho. He is also a trained masseur based in Boltana. Julian brought his ESL tutor pal gal (see next) to serve as interpreter.
0 2025/01/30 16:04:36
Jesus was my guide at Ordesa-Perdido Park proper. Mrs Z. passed on that loooong daytrip, preferring to chill back in Usana. I will later describe the unusual set of rules regarding visits to that park (see 'Torla').
Jesus was my guide at Ordesa-Perdido Park proper. Mrs Z. passed on that loooong daytrip, preferring to chill back in Usana. I will later describe the unusual set of rules regarding visits to that park (see 'Torla').
0 2025/01/30 16:04:27
Raquel's husband Juancho, co-owner of the outfit and also a highly-qualified mountain expert. Their young son was taking drum lessons, so after each daytrip I prepared a tip sheet for the boy. Those included different songs to practice playing along to and like that.
Raquel's husband Juancho, co-owner of the outfit and also a highly-qualified mountain expert. Their young son was taking drum lessons, so after each daytrip I prepared a tip sheet for the boy. Those included different songs to practice playing along to and like that.
0 2025/01/30 16:04:13
Lovely Raquel, the incomparable mountain guide and co-owner of Solomonte Excursiones. She led us on three separate daytrips. Her idea of a fun holiday is to climb cliffs. Very tall and oft-ice-covered cliffs.
Lovely Raquel, the incomparable mountain guide and co-owner of Solomonte Excursiones. She led us on three separate daytrips. Her idea of a fun holiday is to climb cliffs. Very tall and oft-ice-covered cliffs.
0 2025/01/30 16:04:05
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