La Spezia

On the drive over to Lucca from Milan, we stopped for lunch here,

a return visit after 13 years away. The early 19th century English cannon still here.

A familiar place,

this time with Alice and our new friend, Rebecca, who hails from Taiwan.

Boffalora

Our first stop  on this trip to Italy

An old,old town with an agricultural heritage.

Italian cuisine in a very posh restaurant run and worked by people from China.  Sumptuous, was it. 

Figols to Manlieu

Our last view of the mountains at a picnic stop.

Look enthralled, don't I?

Ramonde, Fourth Generation Blacksmith.

Living in the apartment above us was Ramonde and his young family.  We visited him in his workshop in Figols where he makes the artifacts designed by Merce, his partner.  Some of their joint efforts you can see on the bench. Tubes of tooth paste with paste squirting out. Together, they sell there creations at the craft fairs across the region.  Of course, Ramonde also does the conventional work associated with a blacksmith, benches, railing etc, but these craft items are very special.  We bought a rose.

so delicately made for such a big bloke.

Foix

A couple of nights  stop over at Hillary and Julian's place.

And what views from their balcony.

A day out a remarkable town, Mirepoix.

Under the walkways, cafes galore.

Montbel Reservoir at sunset.

Hostess and host, H and J. Thanks you guys for your hospitality which we both enjoyed very much.

Drive out 4 - Isona

This was perhaps the most rewarding drive out, scenic wise.

Just the scale of this place makes you stop and stare.  Note the town in the bottom left hand corner of the picture.

The Pyrenees are older than the Alps but unlike the Alps they have never been glacial.  On top of that they have only been slightly 'weathered', resulting in a crumpled look.

Great cliff views.

Can you spot the village?

Drive out 3 - Gosol

La Seu d'Urgell as viewed from above on our way to

Gosol.

The reason for the trek, Picasso.  He stayed in the village for the summer of 1906. This young woman became the subject of a number of his paintings. His pallette was also influenced by the the colours in the local geology, as evidenced in this portrait.

Local festival icons(?). Gek there for scaling.

That lady again.

Drive out 2 - Andorra

We drove straight through la Vella to Ordino.  La Vella far too busy for us.

Callino as seen from the Roc del Quer.

3,000 + metre peaks,

getting Gek's attention, 'The Wanderer' style.

And no we didn't join the others on the sky walk.  Too damn scary.

On the Road

OK, looks slow here, but imagine driving this and trying NOT to look at the scenery.  Not easy.

Drive Out 1 - The Solsana Loop

The town on a hill.

The Catalana referendum in less than a weeks time and the towns have plenty of blue and red 'Si'flags

Evidence of old water mills,

but we are here for the vistas.

Miles to view.

Strange valleys too.

Through the rear wheel of a iron cycle piece to commemorate a Tour de France that passed this way.

Cat 'Bridge' in Figols

Somebody loves their cats..  No need to jump or climb in this house.

Espot to Figols

Not a good day for the old camera.   Driving above the clouds this day.

Our pad for the next week,

with a lovely courtyard.

The view from the balcony, one hundred plus goats just to the left off camera.

And across the other side of the valley. Another fab base from which to explore the mountains.  5 stars on the door for Gek's research efforts, as the following posts will testify.

A valley we would explore later, as seen from the hill behind Figols.

Espot

One night stop over in Espot gave us the chance to take the 3 hour return hike into the National Park to visit,

Lake Sant Maurici.

 Quite a trek that was.

But well worth the effort.  There is the option to take a taxi back to the town from the lake, which we forgoed (?). Down hill all the way back.  Besides we needed the exercise after so much car sitting. Did mean blistered feet though. Double socks in our boots from now on.

Vielha to Espot and Snow

Our hire car came with built in sat nav, which included an altimeter.  Why you would need a altimeter in your car, I am not at all sure but it was fun to have.  Oh look, we at 6,798 feet and above the snow line.

But only a short drive through the snow before we passed over the ridge and onto the long decent to Espot.