From the "south of France"

Hi there

Well a few days have turned to a week and we are now in Sablet, France ( a small village about 15 miles east of Orange (recommended by Jon and Beth Schneidler....thank you Jon and Beth); what a wonderful place.  We are staying in a small apartment down the hill (30 yards) from the village church which rings at the hour and half hour (Leslie is loving it???? ). Have spent time wandering through the countryside, visiting village markets ( each village has a market day) and tasting the local wine.  More later.... First things first

Pamplona to Barcelona

We left Pamplona and headed east to Barcelona via Zaragoza for the night.  We have been very impressed with both the French and Spanish focus on the energy and the environment.  We have found many windmill fields along the way and recycling in most towns and villages.

We have seen hundreds of windmills and

Recycling in towns and villages

Arrived Zaragoza after dusty ride (from Pamplona to Zaragoze is one long high desert plain--- La Mancha), spent the night and saw a few sights.

Les and le car after the journey

 Zaragoza we check out the sites ( not really that many) and here are a few. 

La Pilar

Moorish castle now a hotel (our room is in the second opening on the first turret to the left-- water view.

Roman ruins--- Augustus Caesar loved it here.

So our visit to Zaragoza was quick and it was a good call. Next morning headed to Barcelona and the views along the way.  Bars open early for expresso and .....

An early morning (9:30 am) conversation

 About 30 miles northwest of Barcelona we happened upon the Monserrat mountains. What an amazing geological formation. It simply popped into view so we decided to explore and have a picnic, yes, none other than jamon y queso with a fresh loaf of bread, vino and apples.

Monserrat mountains

Monastery--- 1250-1350ish.

The mountains from the east side on our way to the Pyrennes and Andorra a few says later.


What an incredible welcome to Barcelona. I will stop here for now because I want to think a bit more about how to show you Barcelona.  Initially, I wasn't really excited about coming here because I visited many years ago and remember it as a huge tourist city. Yes, it is that but after we spent a day seeing all the varying degrees of architecture and visiting the Church of the Sacred Family ( of Gaudi fame) I was truly impressed. It's architecture and creativity our astounding. You can see yourself. But first, a few touristy things.

Yes, even here in Barcelona

Where the train drops you from Montag (town near where we are staying is 20 minutes by train to Barcelona)
To stay in town would be "noisy" and basically insane.

Waiting for the start of Ireland v. Wales in the Rugby World Cup.

The Ramblas (pedestrian walkway) "rambles" through the heart of Barcelona's high end shops and tourist haunts.

You can create the caption for this one!!!!!

Two touristas having a gelati--- Les (mango) and Gene (chocolate)


Now on to the architecture.  Barcelona is famous for its many creative architects and artists and you can see it in the wide range of building designs. We heard the names of many but you know how it goes... we only recalled Gaudi. First, the buildings ( there were lots of them) and then "La Sagrada Familia (of Gaudi fame). 

Some apartment building:  All shapes and sizes for all pocketbooks.

Some community building from gothic to modern:

Gothic cathedral

Building center

Community Center

Provincial legislative center (our Olympia)

Palace of yesteryear

Hotel we didn't stay in.

Barcelona Marriott

Plaza Catalonia area

Rooftops

Renovated corrida de toros--- built 1885 and renovated in 1990's: Shopping mall with 180+ stores.

And the centerpiece of it all, "La Sagrada de Familia" (better know as Gaudi's church built between 1885-1925. It is currently being renovated and will be completed in 2026.  The architectural genius speaks for itself. We were amazed to learn that Gaudi was not even recognized as an artist by the larger artistic community until the mid 1950's and that it was the greater Barcelona community that decided his church must be saved from decay, expanded and eventually preserved. The actual modern renovation began four years ago. 

Entry facade

Another angle

Samples of the life of Christ

Birth of Jesus

So with those wonderful photos, we will bring you back to the day to day world of soccer....

The home of Barcelona soccer and a local fan.

And two adventurers meandering their way from Zaragoza to Barcelona and now on to Andorra, Carcassonne and Sablet.  More in a few days...... Hope this blog finds you well and thinking of your next adventure.  Best regards and hugs to all. Gene and Les.

From Pamplona to a hilltop in Tiana near Barcelona

Good evening

Well, we have made it to Barcelona, actually a little town, Tiana, just north on the coast. From our bedroom window (our home away from home in the hills above Tiana---shot from the soccer fields) we can see downtown Barcelona... a zoo of turistas. Today, we took a day of "rest". Went to a kids soccer game down the hill and across the valley at the Tiana recreation play/pool. Fun to watch the 8 years (see photos) preparing for their later years on Barcelona's soccer time.

Our B and B in the center of photo

Future Barcelona team players--- 2032.

Oops!

Barcelona in the smoggy distance.

Well more about Barcelona later. Let's catchup with our wanderings. Let off in St. Jean Pied de Port, Atlantic Pyrennes.  We spent early last week in Pamplona after searching for our Hotel Navarra for an hour in busy Pamplona... What an adventure. We covered the same ground 4 times only to discover that the hotel as right where we began the search. Lest we appear to be "less that bright", Pamplona has lots of pedestrian only streets and it is a challenge to access a hotel. BUT,  alas, Leslie looked up and there it was! Nice little place in  the center of old town and lots within easy walking distance. Here are a few photos the " the path of the running of the bulls" (series of photos to the corrida).

Believe it or not, it actually all starts in this small parking lot at the bottom of the hill. Each morning, 30 bulls await the signal, the gates open and up the street the go.... Stomping and goring crazy runners along the way.

Up the street and passed the officials

Through the streets that today are quiet.

Into the corrida and crowds of thousands... As you can see the streets were quiet to day but July 8th-July 15th you can just image......

Mural at the Corrida de Toros, Pamplona honoring the runners.

Bronze memorial of runners in the pedestrian walkway. Beautiful bronze piece.




 Gene's 65th birthday dinner at Hemingway's old haunt "La Iruna" raising a glass with his "senorita" and a cup of Rioja with the "old man of the sea".

The big 65th with the best looking lady in the bar.

The boys at the bar...... This bronze is actually at the bar seat that Hemingway used to "hold court" and spend those "wild and crazy drinking nights while in Pamplona.  The walls are covered with amazing original photos of Ernest and his compadres partying the nights away.  To many people, he is still alive and well at La Iruna.

OFF TO RIOJA AND WINE COUNTRY

The next day we headed to the Rioja Alvesa (upper Rioja Valley near Laguardia) to visit wineries and see the area. It is much more than expected. In the valley (much like the Napa Valley in size but a bit bigger) there are 1800 wineries with 108 in the La Guardia area alone. Here are a few photos to give you "a taste".

Altar in a side chapel-- Church of Our Lady of Assumption @ Villaurelta

Beautify eyes on an amazing wall mosaic (1300's)

A Roman bridge along the way.

AND THE RIOJA VALLEY

Cantabrian Mountains

A village in the Rioja

The vines of tempranillo

100 year old vines

The Ysios Winery....Beautiful architecture

Leslie and the wine cart---- note the rearview mirror shot.

Streets of Laguardia, the heart of the Rioja

In the underground caves of the Carlos Pedro Viniperra wine cellar.
(over 50 wine cellar caves in Laguardia with four used today).

Clock in the town plaza.

Red peppers and other verduras

The fruit of the vine.... this was an amazing wine.

 And so we headed back to Pamplona and then off the next day to Zaragoza and east to Barcelona..... the next chapter in a few days. Hope all is well. Enjoy.