Just pretty flowers

From Paris to Berlin. Germans are human after all.

Theoretically it´s a long tiring journey.

But it was an exhausting awful journey.

Everything was alright till Meinheim. French TGV was on time and it seemed to be perfect.

But the perfect german machine failed and we were one hour and a half late..

Germans are human after all.

Paris never disappoints you. Place des Vosges

Every time I go to Paris I approach the square of the Vosges.

For me it has all the charm of the Paris of yesterday , which has seen the Bourbons pass, the people in arms in the nearby Place de la Bastille, …
Sure there are people who think that the Place Vendome or the Arc de Triomphe are prettier, but for me, the Place des Vosges never disappoints.
Walking under the arches that envelop the square it is easy to feel the spirit of Victor Hugo looking behind a column.
There are good resturants at not a prohibitive price. Although for a Spaniard, prices of the drinks always become excessive…
Wonderful art galleries and young people playing the guitar or having a beer in the green area of the center of the square..
The Place des Vosges never disappoints.

Let´s start at the beginning

After a copule of days with some problems with wifi, here we are finally and I´ll try to tell you the more I can about this journey.

As you can imagine everything started in Logroño, La Rioja, Spain, where I live.

Two hours driving and reached the frontier line with France, in Hendaye. I took the TGV (high speed train) and Paris was already waiting for me.

Paris never disappoints you.

Satisfaction after the trip

In response to the weekly challenge Satisfaction

Alabemos a nuestra Señora

Would you like an ice cream from those before?

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Gateway to Santiago.

La Bastide-Clairance

Where are the ladies of the bride?

The Artouste train

Just 11 kilometers from the Spanish border of Portalet you can discover a small tourist train, the Artouste train.

Built to facilitate the construction of the Artouste Lake Dam in 1920, the train began transporting tourists in 1932.

We´ll park the car in the parking lot of Lake Fabrèges, where you´ll find out a small infrastructure of shops and restaurants that during the winter season cover the coquettish ski area of Artouste.

Board an egg-like cable car in Artouste for a vertiginous climb and enjoy a spectacular panoramic view encompassing Artouste Lake and, above all, the majestic Pic du Midi d’Ossau mountain.

Up above, snap a few photos of the surrounding summits before hopping on the legendary Artouste tourist train.

A mountainside train ride

Take advantage of the peaceful, 50-minute ride to admire the bird’s-eye view of the Soussouéou Valley. Keep an eye open for marmots and discover the typical plant life of this glacial valley, including rhododendrons and mountain pines.

During the summer months, this peaceful valley becomes a centre of pastoralism, welcoming many a shepherd at the head of a hungry flock.

A departure point for diverse hikes

Upon reaching the La Sagette railway station, a short 15-minute walk will take you above Artouste Lake and its impressive dam. During the off season, athletic hikers can tackle the Ossau Valley peaks, continuing up to the Arrémoulit refuge (a 1 1/2-hour climb).

Afterwards, rest your legs aboard the Artouste tourist train for the ride back.

Like to enjoy an open-air, high-altitude tour of the upper Ossau Valley? Then hop aboard the Artouste tourist train, for the ride of your life!

Above the clouds

Camino del cielo, a 2000 metros de altura

Maison du Sire

Carcassonne. Aromas from another era.