By this point, you could tell that everyone was anticipating the REAL adult Correfoc.
By this point, you could tell that everyone was anticipating the REAL adult Correfoc.
0 2024/12/14 20:35:49
This figure was much taller than a basketball player. Dig the claws. Next: *The Adult Correfoc, one of Barcelona's Great Travel Moments. We recommend that you wear eye goggles and like that.
This figure was much taller than a basketball player. Dig the claws. Next: *The Adult Correfoc, one of Barcelona's Great Travel Moments. We recommend that you wear eye goggles and like that.
0 2024/12/14 20:36:10
I second what Percy says about wishing those with health concerns all the Best. Those interested in Spain may want to view our new TR 'From Born to Bielsa.' Born is one of the neighborhoods where we rented in Barcelona, while Bielsa is a mountain town up in the Pyrenees. We also visited the French Pyrenees. I am done. the pyrennial travelerz
I second what Percy says about wishing those with health concerns all the Best. Those interested in Spain may want to view our new TR 'From Born to Bielsa.' Born is one of the neighborhoods where we rented in Barcelona, while Bielsa is a mountain town up in the Pyrenees. We also visited the French Pyrenees. I am done. the pyrennial travelerz
0 2024/12/14 21:54:02
We rented two different apartments in Barcelona. The first week was in Born (la Ribera) then the second week was in Gracia (thx Maribel). Details to follow.
We rented two different apartments in Barcelona. The first week was in Born (la Ribera) then the second week was in Gracia (thx Maribel). Details to follow.
0 2024/12/14 13:15:40
We had a good time in Barcelona. Everywhere we met with friendly residents and good vibes.
We had a good time in Barcelona. Everywhere we met with friendly residents and good vibes.
0 2024/12/14 13:21:39
But Barcelona has plenty of other attractions. Seen here, the colorful glass dome of the city's Palau de Musica. Thanks for the tip to visit this gruezi! We skipped the famed Sagrada Familia, BUT are happy to pass along the following logistical tip for those interested in seeing it from nearby. Both the Colon plus the Sercotel Rossello hotel roof terrace cafes offer excellent views. Reserve ahead.
But Barcelona has plenty of other attractions. Seen here, the colorful glass dome of the city's Palau de Musica. Thanks for the tip to visit this gruezi! We skipped the famed Sagrada Familia, BUT are happy to pass along the following logistical tip for those interested in seeing it from nearby. Both the Colon plus the Sercotel Rossello hotel roof terrace cafes offer excellent views. Reserve ahead.
0 2024/12/14 13:24:43
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
Some gegants were more comical.
Some gegants were more comical.
0 2024/12/15 14:07:03
followed by his 15' wife.
followed by his 15' wife.
0 2024/12/15 14:08:23
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
Un chien exotique.
Un chien exotique.
0 2025/03/25 11:36:03
Un batiment historique.
Un batiment historique.
0 2025/03/25 11:36:12
Stonework detail.
Stonework detail.
0 2025/03/25 11:36:21
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
Ornate gate.
Ornate gate.
0 2025/03/25 11:36:38
Luz was a quiet town and that was just what we needed for our final dozen days. The previous 25 days combining Barcelona + Aragonese Pyrenees had left us running on gas fumes. Our knees, quads and calves were about to sue us both. Frankly, when we learned that our planned daytrip hike to nearby Pont d'Espagne and its Lk. Gaube was cancelled coz its chairlifts were just finished for the season, we were thankful!
Luz was a quiet town and that was just what we needed for our final dozen days. The previous 25 days combining Barcelona + Aragonese Pyrenees had left us running on gas fumes. Our knees, quads and calves were about to sue us both. Frankly, when we learned that our planned daytrip hike to nearby Pont d'Espagne and its Lk. Gaube was cancelled coz its chairlifts were just finished for the season, we were thankful!
0 2025/03/25 11:35:42
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
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
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
Luz had several fancy doorknockers spread throughout.
Luz had several fancy doorknockers spread throughout.
0 2025/03/25 11:37:34
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
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
The center of town. Luz had a close-by Tourism Office in Pl. du 8 Mai run by patient, clever women. Young staffer Nelly introduced herself, "But I'm not Nelly Furtado!" As non-driving self-caterers, we'd come prepared with a thousand questions. Nelly and her colleagues answered them all. They also assisted with taxi arrangements. With the latter, language was not the issue. It was more a matter of logistics and availability.
The center of town. Luz had a close-by Tourism Office in Pl. du 8 Mai run by patient, clever women. Young staffer Nelly introduced herself, "But I'm not Nelly Furtado!" As non-driving self-caterers, we'd come prepared with a thousand questions. Nelly and her colleagues answered them all. They also assisted with taxi arrangements. With the latter, language was not the issue. It was more a matter of logistics and availability.
0 2025/03/25 11:35:49
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
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
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
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
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
The Pic de Bergons peek up through the bottom left corner of this image. From our rental (not shown), it was a mere 10 minute walk into the center of Luz. It could get very windy there. The hamlet Sassis was directly across from us, on the slopes of Soum de Auheres. The stars were very visible at night.
The Pic de Bergons peek up through the bottom left corner of this image. From our rental (not shown), it was a mere 10 minute walk into the center of Luz. It could get very windy there. The hamlet Sassis was directly across from us, on the slopes of Soum de Auheres. The stars were very visible at night.
0 2025/03/24 15:47:58
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
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
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
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
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
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