As with other festive events, banners representing barrios (or in this case another town) were part of the show. The gegants that they lead about represent various historical figures.
As with other festive events, banners representing barrios (or in this case another town) were part of the show. The gegants that they lead about represent various historical figures.
0 2024/12/15 13:35:47
Gegants are lovingly created with paper machier and fiberglass. They can reach as high as 5 meters. The robust individuals who volunteer to go inside them and carry them around are always covered in sweat afterwards. The towering King above was from Zaragoza, a town whose name I could not begin to properly pronounce, nothing like its phonetic appearance! The guy inside this gegant was actually a young keyboardist named Andrieu. We had a long chat during a break.
Gegants are lovingly created with paper machier and fiberglass. They can reach as high as 5 meters. The robust individuals who volunteer to go inside them and carry them around are always covered in sweat afterwards. The towering King above was from Zaragoza, a town whose name I could not begin to properly pronounce, nothing like its phonetic appearance! The guy inside this gegant was actually a young keyboardist named Andrieu. We had a long chat during a break.
0 2024/12/15 13:41:01
The angry 18C painter Francisco Goya next to a character called Giganticus or somesuch. This pair were also from Zaragoza and like all other gegants would do a twirling dance to historical music during the various downtown parades. If the parade took them along medieval alleys here, it would be called a 'toc a plagar'. Btw, Goya's wife trailed behind.
The angry 18C painter Francisco Goya next to a character called Giganticus or somesuch. This pair were also from Zaragoza and like all other gegants would do a twirling dance to historical music during the various downtown parades. If the parade took them along medieval alleys here, it would be called a 'toc a plagar'. Btw, Goya's wife trailed behind.
0 2024/12/15 13:41:26
The Rioja town of Calahorra sent this historical trio: a noblewoman, a bearded Moorish Sultan and a Roman woman.
The Rioja town of Calahorra sent this historical trio: a noblewoman, a bearded Moorish Sultan and a Roman woman.
0 2024/12/15 14:03:51
Some gegants were more comical.
Some gegants were more comical.
0 2024/12/15 14:07:03
Spain's Jewish heritage was represented. First the husband...
Spain's Jewish heritage was represented. First the husband...
0 2024/12/15 14:08:13
There were many other traditional figures, African kings, Asian lords, humble fishermen, knights to name but a few. Children especially appreciated the smaller and more nimble 'capgrossos' or 'macers' (fat-heads). Those were cartoonish and comical alternatives to the much larger gegant collection.
There were many other traditional figures, African kings, Asian lords, humble fishermen, knights to name but a few. Children especially appreciated the smaller and more nimble 'capgrossos' or 'macers' (fat-heads). Those were cartoonish and comical alternatives to the much larger gegant collection.
0 2024/12/15 14:09:45
The crowd grew with each passing minute. It began to rain off and on. I'd arrived 2 hours early to stake my place right by the City Hall wall, advice given to attendees: more shade and less crowd crush. Uh-huh...
The crowd grew with each passing minute. It began to rain off and on. I'd arrived 2 hours early to stake my place right by the City Hall wall, advice given to attendees: more shade and less crowd crush. Uh-huh...
0 2024/12/15 14:14:10
0 2024/12/15 17:45:10
0 2024/12/15 17:45:40
0 2024/12/15 17:46:08
This was the first sight that greeted Mrs Z and I after coming through the abovementioned tunnel. The Sierra Pelada (Tramezaiguas) was 2430 m in height. These are its slopes after some rain. *image taken through window of moving taxi.
This was the first sight that greeted Mrs Z and I after coming through the abovementioned tunnel. The Sierra Pelada (Tramezaiguas) was 2430 m in height. These are its slopes after some rain. *image taken through window of moving taxi.
0 2025/03/24 15:18:46
That sneaky driver Alejandro may have skipped our requested D918 westerly route via Col Tourmalet but at least the first part of that loooong transfer went through some pretty French mountain towns in the Aure valley. We enjoyed seeing Guchen, Cadeac and St. Lary Soulan. As we expected, those Hautes Pyrenees places were less earthy than Spanish Pyrenees towns and more I dunno, 'antiseptic'. Cow herds had blocked us earlier back in Aragon.
That sneaky driver Alejandro may have skipped our requested D918 westerly route via Col Tourmalet but at least the first part of that loooong transfer went through some pretty French mountain towns in the Aure valley. We enjoyed seeing Guchen, Cadeac and St. Lary Soulan. As we expected, those Hautes Pyrenees places were less earthy than Spanish Pyrenees towns and more I dunno, 'antiseptic'. Cow herds had blocked us earlier back in Aragon.
0 2025/03/24 15:21:33
Donc, pousser pour entrez cette TR. First, an overview.
Donc, pousser pour entrez cette TR. First, an overview.
0 2025/03/24 15:14:48
This trip seemed to feature lovely glasswork here and there.
This trip seemed to feature lovely glasswork here and there.
0 2025/03/24 15:17:41
Luz is a lively mountain village/ski resort within the Pyrenees national park. Our rental house 'La Caducee' was actually located in the upper Luz suburb known as Esquieze-Sere. It had five bedrooms, more than we really needed, but its location next door to one of the two Carrefours in town made it hard to pass up. We paid the artist owner Patrice Robert 310 euros per night.
Luz is a lively mountain village/ski resort within the Pyrenees national park. Our rental house 'La Caducee' was actually located in the upper Luz suburb known as Esquieze-Sere. It had five bedrooms, more than we really needed, but its location next door to one of the two Carrefours in town made it hard to pass up. We paid the artist owner Patrice Robert 310 euros per night.
0 2025/03/24 15:27:39
Moments after we arrived. The view of 12C Sainte-Marie castle from our large backyard. It was VERY windy that day.
Moments after we arrived. The view of 12C Sainte-Marie castle from our large backyard. It was VERY windy that day.
0 2025/03/24 16:15:43
Same view on our final day, with the top half of Soum de la Courbe mountain ridge covered in snow.
Same view on our final day, with the top half of Soum de la Courbe mountain ridge covered in snow.
0 2025/03/24 16:19:42
The Saligos hamlet and its dominant church were visible out our rear windows.
The Saligos hamlet and its dominant church were visible out our rear windows.
0 2025/03/24 16:23:34
Et finalement mes amis, je vous presnt mon ami Bianca de Gavarnie. Next: more Luz then the Cirque de Gavarnie hike and Cauterets town spa.
Et finalement mes amis, je vous presnt mon ami Bianca de Gavarnie. Next: more Luz then the Cirque de Gavarnie hike and Cauterets town spa.
0 2025/03/24 16:25:36
A couple shots from our rental house. Here, some interior decor. Pas mal.
A couple shots from our rental house. Here, some interior decor. Pas mal.
0 2025/03/25 18:31:04
A strange occurrence alarmed us on the second of our 10 nights there. Shown above is the front door which somebody knocked on around 2am. But when I checked, nobody was there. Zebi! Belek, telephone des condes? Our eventual guess was that it was some miskine young drunks from the Txchoco pizza joint/bowling alley directly across. Who knew? The French version of Nicky Nine Doors!
A strange occurrence alarmed us on the second of our 10 nights there. Shown above is the front door which somebody knocked on around 2am. But when I checked, nobody was there. Zebi! Belek, telephone des condes? Our eventual guess was that it was some miskine young drunks from the Txchoco pizza joint/bowling alley directly across. Who knew? The French version of Nicky Nine Doors!
0 2025/03/25 18:31:14
Wesh kayn, wesh rak? Je m'appelle Monsieur LaMarsh et je suis un resident de Luz. Et puis, je parle 'verlan Cefran' comme mes enfants.
Wesh kayn, wesh rak? Je m'appelle Monsieur LaMarsh et je suis un resident de Luz. Et puis, je parle 'verlan Cefran' comme mes enfants.
0 2025/03/25 18:31:40
Dead center in the Pl.de la Comporte shown above, one may see lovely Leslie's 'Zenitude' massage business. We each had a massage with her and wallah, would've returned again had we stayed another week. *Phone 0607 8203 07
Dead center in the Pl.de la Comporte shown above, one may see lovely Leslie's 'Zenitude' massage business. We each had a massage with her and wallah, would've returned again had we stayed another week. *Phone 0607 8203 07
0 2025/03/25 18:31:59
That same square also holds Luz's only typical historical attraction, the 12C fortified church known as Des Templiers aka St. Andre. Rather than the Knights Templar, it was actually the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem who built it to protect themselves from Aragonese brigands.
That same square also holds Luz's only typical historical attraction, the 12C fortified church known as Des Templiers aka St. Andre. Rather than the Knights Templar, it was actually the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem who built it to protect themselves from Aragonese brigands.
0 2025/03/25 18:32:11
Victor Hugo drew this unusual church from his bedroom window during his stay in Luz in 1843.
Victor Hugo drew this unusual church from his bedroom window during his stay in Luz in 1843.
0 2025/03/25 18:32:21
We are not at all religious but there was something very harmonious inside the church. The French photographer whom I've mentioned above likes to visit such historic places with stained glass in order to take abstract shots of the colored glass reflected onto the walls and floors.
We are not at all religious but there was something very harmonious inside the church. The French photographer whom I've mentioned above likes to visit such historic places with stained glass in order to take abstract shots of the colored glass reflected onto the walls and floors.
0 2025/03/25 18:32:32
We were alone there for an hour, then some local tourists arrived.
We were alone there for an hour, then some local tourists arrived.
0 2025/03/25 18:33:01
Next: some music before the final Luz imagery (eg. the weekly market), then the Cirque de Gavarnie hike.
Next: some music before the final Luz imagery (eg. the weekly market), then the Cirque de Gavarnie hike.
0 2025/03/25 19:01:49
The Bastan river cut through the town.
The Bastan river cut through the town.
0 2025/03/25 19:01:36
Our landlord Patrice was up in Paris at his own Le Marais Art Show, so we were welcomed by property manager Helena. Patrice's dad Alain soon arrived to help us get settled (shown here). Later, Patrice's mom Christine Diez also assisted. By fluke, she also turned out to be the owner of a certain folksy restaurant that we had long-planned to visit!
Our landlord Patrice was up in Paris at his own Le Marais Art Show, so we were welcomed by property manager Helena. Patrice's dad Alain soon arrived to help us get settled (shown here). Later, Patrice's mom Christine Diez also assisted. By fluke, she also turned out to be the owner of a certain folksy restaurant that we had long-planned to visit!
0 2025/03/25 11:37:58
Rue d'Ossun was more or less pedestrianized. Our fave of the two local Carrefours ('Montagne') was located on this corner. Despite its being smaller, we preferred its friendly welcome.
Rue d'Ossun was more or less pedestrianized. Our fave of the two local Carrefours ('Montagne') was located on this corner. Despite its being smaller, we preferred its friendly welcome.
0 2025/03/25 11:37:41
Luz had several fancy doorknockers spread throughout.
Luz had several fancy doorknockers spread throughout.
0 2025/03/25 11:37:34
During our Luz flaneurs, we saw very few folks in the quieter corners. The vast majority of tourists in town seemed to be French. We did not notice a single person who seemed to be non-European.
During our Luz flaneurs, we saw very few folks in the quieter corners. The vast majority of tourists in town seemed to be French. We did not notice a single person who seemed to be non-European.
0 2025/03/25 11:37:14
An ancient building had been repurposed with a bevy of new roles: cinema, Pyrenees Park headquarters and art gallery. The official name for that historic building was Maison du Parc National et de la Vallee.
An ancient building had been repurposed with a bevy of new roles: cinema, Pyrenees Park headquarters and art gallery. The official name for that historic building was Maison du Parc National et de la Vallee.
0 2025/03/25 11:37:02
It also served as the town public library, a great place to get dry during rain, to use computers, ask more questions and you know, read.
It also served as the town public library, a great place to get dry during rain, to use computers, ask more questions and you know, read.
0 2025/03/25 11:36:45
Same as seen in broader context of Pl. de la Comporte.
Same as seen in broader context of Pl. de la Comporte.
0 2025/03/25 11:36:30
Stonework detail.
Stonework detail.
0 2025/03/25 11:36:21
Un batiment historique.
Un batiment historique.
0 2025/03/25 11:36:12
Un chien exotique.
Un chien exotique.
0 2025/03/25 11:36:03
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