Visit to Les Pyrénées

August 16, 2009 5:23 pm

Our Picnic Site on the Canal du MidiThis week we drove to the Pyrénées for a short visit. On our way there, we stopped to picnic alongside the Canal du Midi, built in the 17th century to connect the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and thus to avoid the then month-long journey through the pirate-laden waters around Spain. It was so breathtakingly beautiful there that I didn’t want to leave. But the lure of the mountains got us back on the road.

We stayed with French friends in the little village of Momères, which is just at the base of the Pyrénées and very close to Spain. There aren’t any foothills; rather, the mountains seem to just rise straight up. The first day, we drove up Le Pic du Midi de Bigorre – which visit Kevin is going to write about. Later that day, our friends took us to Lourdes, where thousands of “malades” come daily looking for miraculous cures. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in a grotto along the river Gave de Pau in 1858. That apparition converted Lourdes from a tiny village into a huge pilgrimage-tourist site. (The only city in France with more hotel rooms is Paris.) The Catholic church built huge cathedrals on the site, both above and below ground.

PyrenéesThe next day, we drove back up into the mountains, this time towards the Col d’Aspin. We hiked up to a small lake, where we were surrounded by cows, sheep, and horses. It’s August and hot, but there were still plenty of wildflowers there – including tall blue delphiniums. Hiking in the Pyrénées looks superb and I cannot wait to get back.

Of course, when visiting France, we always dive head first into the Gastronomic Specialties of the region. We bought a Pic Bigourdan, a type of cake that is meant to resemble a mountain peak (hence, “pic”) but looks more like a fir tree. It’s made by pouring batter over a spindle as it twirls in front of a fire. We also bought a Tourte Myrtilles, another cake, much different in shape – small, high, and round – and filled with blueberries.

At the market in Tarbes, we bought Haricots Tarbais from a bent-backed woman who looked over a hundred years old. These are the beans the French make cassoulet with. I cooked ours today with bacon, onions, carrots, hot peppers, tomatoes, and a bouquet garni. Incroyable!

We keep intending to start a diet but we never seem able to empty the refrigerator first. Maybe if we stopped buying all these tasty delights …

Check out our photos!

Ruth

3 Responses to “Visit to Les Pyrénées”

Nancy Keough wrote a comment on August 16, 2009

Ruthie and Kevin-
This is your best blog entry thus far…..and that is saying something! Loved all the photos but especially the ones of the canal (absolutely beautiful) and the cow! Looking forward to Kevin’s commentary.
Mad Dog aka Lamb Chop

SurEsq wrote a comment on August 16, 2009

Beautiful photographs, Ruthie. I wish you could post bigger ones. I am with Mad Dog on the cow shot — Happy Cow love the Pryrénées!! Perfect composition.

Looks like a wonderful trip. I want to come back!! WAH!!

Sammie wrote a comment on August 29, 2009

Beautiful post Ruthie! Love the cow picture! You and Kevin rock!

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