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So you think the weather is bad at home........ well, it probably is but we
have had 4 days of rain now, 2 in Northern Spain and 2 in the Pyrenees (we've
moved to a beutiful little campsite called "Camping Natura Etaing" the
nearest town is 5km away and we are about 1,000m above sea level - the
surroundings are stunning to say the least - well, they are when you can see
them through the clouds. We've been wearing our long sleeves, fleeces, long
trousers and hats for a couple of days and feeling a little bit miserable
with ourseleves because it's stopping us doing some serious cycling and
walking which we were intending. Fair weather walkers I hear you cry, well,
yes I suppose we are - it's ok getting wet if you have somewhere to go dry
out afterwards if you are in a tent then you don't have that luxury......
Lourdes - Blackpool for God botherers
Pikeys - everywhere around here - not sure what the draw is unless it is
Lourdes.
A bit more about the camp site, the family that run it are very enthusiastic
and friendly, they bake the bread fresh every morning for the site and it's
all ready for you when you go to collect it. They do food on site as well
which is half decent (we had rabbit in mustard sauce and chicken supreme
yesterday as it was throwing it down and we (I) didn't fancy standing outside
under the tarp cooking! :-) The toilet blocks are worth mentioning (I don't
make a habit of talking about toilets but when they are a bit special........
well, I can't resist) the buildings are heated, as opposed to most of the
French sites which are vitually open air (they are covered but if it's cool
then getting a shower can be a grim experience), they have timber roofs and
double glazed doors and windows all around...... and they are absolutely
spotless! Claires only complaint - no toilet seats but that is fairly
standard in France. At least they have UK style toilets and not the hole in
the ground French ones :-) The site is a 4 star site and has a games room
solarium, sauna, shop (which is unattended all the time), bar (that only open
until 2100) and 2 toilet blocks with all the usual facilites. The shop is in
a little stone hut which used to be a wheel house, the spring that runs
through the site flows under the wheel house..... the shop is well stocked
and is run on an honesty basis.... you just write down what you've had and
pay at reception when it's open - it has racks of wine, gas bottles,
everything really....... fab. Right enough of the campsite review.
We intended to go to the local market today but it was raining so hard and we
couldn't get a parking spot within 3/4 of a mile that I refused to go get wet
for the sake of it and insisted that we went to a super market instead - at
least it was dry there!
We stopped off in Lourdes which is known for it's healing baths and is the
focus for Catholic pilgrimages - apperently. St Bernadette once did something
of note and is somehow related to the town - no idea what or why though :-)
As I said the baths are supposed to be healing but judging by the number of
people with problems wandering about the powers must be waining........ :-)
Lourdes itself is a nice enough little town, much the same as any other BUT
the shops are like Blackpool trinket shops for God botherers - it is truely
unbelievable (the shops not the story :-) ) if you wanted a 5 litre carton to
take your holy water home in then you've come to the right place.......
everything from a small Jesus shaped plastic vessel all the way up to the 5
litre (imagine a car oil can size - the plastic ones you by from the motor
factors), pendants, carvings, paintings and all sorts of other plastic
rubbish..... the mind boggles. I think we found the inspiation for Betty
Suarez' wardrobe as well, Lourdes had several Poncho shops that would have
not gone awry in Betty's collection (thats Ugly Betty for anyone who hasn't
watched it) - I swear we saw her family today as well.....in fact several
different versions of them :-)
Once we had got fed up of all that we headed up into the moutains (for more
rain) and managed to drive about 40km without seeing another car, which was
lucky really because one side of the road was a sheer drop and the other was
a rock face (or trees) and there was no-where to pass - we had a fantastic
drive up and down hairpin bends, through small (one donkey) towns, there were
cows, sheep and horses roaming freely..... it was fantastic and the scenery
was absolutley stunning.
We are back in camp now laid in the tent listening to two different sorts of
owls hooting and hoping for better weather tomorrow...... if it is then I
have a serious bike ride planned :-) and then there is an evening walk
organised by the owners of the camp site ending in a meal and wine at the
local farm..... could be good.
Adios Bon nuit for now.
Ian and Claire
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