Lourdes - France Bernadette Soubirous

This is it, the approach to the Lourdes grotto or case. The church that was built on the site where Bernadette received her vision. Obviously the site is spectacular and very cosmopolitan. There were many groups of people from Mexico and Peru all photographing each other. The next photo is of the grotto itself, Grotte de Massabielle. A Roman Catholic pilgrimage site is obviously going to be very touristy; apparently there are more hotels in Lourdes than any other French town or city outside Paris itself. But the people there are also coming to be healed. In the three of hours or so we were there the number of people attending who had a helper with them. They were here because of the faith they had of a cure or rest from suffering was moving. In physical terms you attend the cathedral and then shuffle along and place your left hand over the grotto wall. I have not witnessed so many people showing believe in faith healing by attending to one site. The 'holy water' for sale in every shop really seems a con trick. I can't help but think of a 'Peckam Spring' episode of Only Fools and Horses. Final point, I was surprised that entry to the cathedral and the grotto were all without charge, I had expected us to be hit up maybe €20 each. Parking was not a problem either, we drove into centre of the town and got a parking space in an underground car park below the town tourist office charges for that were perfectly reasonable as well.I have included a few more photographs that I took so you can see the inside as well as another view of outside of cathedral.

Camping is not Slumming It

I think the British people have a misconception about camping and caravanning and view it a very much second rate holidaying. I really think this is just wrong. This is a snap of, well me sitting on the steps of the mobile home. These are obviously not very mobile but they can be moved. These on-site caravans are like playing at home. You have plumbed in fresh water. Your own bathroom with mains sewage. You get a full size gas oven and four gas ring hobs. As there was the two of us we booked 2 bedroom vans but they come in 2 or 3 bedroom styles. Then there is different trim possible. I we used Eurocamp so not all the options were available at all sites when we booked but the principal is there are 3 or 4 grade of vans available. This picture was at second site, on the first site it had outside decking which was nice to have. Also you are not forced to book for a week but you can book from 1 night upwards. Oh you also get a fair bit of space between the caravans, see below photograph, although you can still reverse into low stone walls which reversing sensors you don’t hear but that’s another story.

Pyrenees - The Spanish Side

This is what the mountains are all about. The views are spectacular. The mountains are so all imposing. The size of them makes anything man-made so insignificant. I love the way the high altitude cloud is in the east most is very high altitude cirrus cloud and in the bottom of the photo is the road. Which there is, as far as I can see, only one vehicle on? The view of the Pyrenees is different from the Spanish side though. It is lighter as it is viewing the mountains from the southern side so they look less dark and threatening than from the French side. Having reached this point we had driven over some quite exciting mountain roads needing to flick between 2nd and 3rd gear, no faster was possible or would be wanted. We had just passed ski resort of Port de la Bonaigua at 2072m altitude. For all the signs on the road for cyclist giving destination to the road summit the actual summit itself was not signposted. It was the car park for the ski base. Having made that part of the journey feeling a little tired at the wonderful Spanish restaurant.

Wonderful Spanish People

We had left Andorra and drove through the Spanish side of the Pyrenees and stopped for lunch in a small town called Vielha. This was just somewhere to stop as this had taken a good few hours’ drive, which was through truly spectacular scenery. But a stop was needed. This showed how although I speak very little French I do understand the language. If I have time to look at a menu in French I can have an idea of what the food will be like, I can least understand the main pieces of the dishes. Spanish, zero chance. At this wonderful restaurant proved. The Spanish waitresses were wonderfully helpful though. They too spoke almost zero English, no one spoke French, and NO way did they speak French. So we reached an impasse. But they were keen for us not to leave, so we sat outside and enjoyed the view. Then the head waitress brought out three of the five first course dishes which was my guess as the menu was split into entree, main course and dessert and an option of one of each. But that I found amazing they brought out three of the dishes on their arm and explained pointing at the menu what they were, in Spanish. What absolutely amazing service. The other two items were explained, in Spanish as well, so we ordered and then the main course was ordered and dessert. All of the food was so nice it was untrue and I saw €9.00 I thought that must be for each course maybe I was expecting maybe €27 each plus the drink cost. The whole menu was only €9.00. It was so good service and food was so nice. As we sat outside and though of the amazing countryside we had been through and another point was of interest. The main waitress who drew the short straw and was assigned to us was actually not Spanish, although she looked and spoke what seemed to be Spanish, she was from Colombia.

Andorra - Nice Place queues to Enter.

Our intention was to enter Andorra via the French side, we had a hotel booked in Andorra Ville which is close to the Spanish side of the country and next afternoon leave Andorra and go into and through the Spanish side of the Pyrenees. Tom Tom and local signs let us down in a critical respect after leaving Llivia. My Tom Tom is a slightly older version and Andorra whilst exists mapping to Andorra or street in the country is not possible. Therefore navigating had to be via the maps and the largest cities were over in Spain and so our plan changed and we entered and left Andorra via Spain. From Llivia, where there is not one road in and out of the Spanish enclave, we picked up signs for Puigcerda, which is over the border in Spain. From there we headed for La Seu d'Urgell, then from there the main road goes into Andorra. Above is that road just prior to the Andorra border post. Again this is what the crossing countries used to be like. Long queues, actually for us we were over the border in 20 - 30 minutes maximum delay and people check passports. Makes you feel that you have crossed into another country. As the photograph shows it was a cloudless hot day, when we finally wondered around from the hotel to the nearest eating joint in Andorra it was still 26oC at late afternoon..

The World's Tallest Bridge - Grand Viaduc du Millau

This is it, the world’s tallest bridge, here I'll get information from Rough Guide France quote, "in 2004 a 2.5km bridge supported by seven enormous pillars that, at times, puncture through the cloud level (the tallest is 326m high, taller than the Eiffel tower)." It really is an amazing structure. There is a visitor centre that is worth a look, not that I can remember the tonnage of steel needed to build it or all the other information. I do know that it is monitored by a security control room 24 hours a day 7 days a week and there is an enclosed deck beneath the motor way for access, I think. The figure I remember is that the Canary Wharf tower in Docklands is less tall than the motorway. The pyramid topped Canary Wharf tower in London could be beneath the motorway bridge. That to me is a French sign of engineering excellence. This is what I fear England would not do.

Llivia - A piece of Spain surrounded by France

On Route to Andorra I wanted to stop in an oddity, Llivia. This is a bit of Spain enclosed fully in France. The 'un enclavament singular als Prineus' is just what it says. Not that it is easy to find as it should be but with the TomTom with destination set for Llivia we got there. Places like this I love to visit. It's an idiosyncratic result from history. Apparently when the Roussillon area was handed to France from Spain every village in an area became French. The Spanish agreed to this then said Llivia was a town not a village hence it stayed Spanish, the actual meeting drawing up the new border was held apparently in Llivia itself. Hence from then on it's a part of Spain surrounded by France. It really is, the signs the language everything is Spanish as yet there are no Spanish flags at the border just this sign then a town sign showing the alt of 1224m. There is another benefit stopping here if you are driving, it is Spain so taxes are Spanish not French. Petrol is a little cheaper therefore too. If though you are heading to Andorra only fill up if you are less than a quarter tank of fuel as petrol is cheaper still there.