Dragonfly

Even the dragonflies are making the most of this extended summer!

Click on the photo for a larger view.

Let's hope that this one was not intended to hatch out next summer!

I've just checked on the lifecycle of the dragonfly and evidently in this part of the world they are flying around from July until late October - early November. This one will be looking for a mate quite soon as it is well away from water. They eat lots of horrid mosquitos and other obnoxious insects. Their life span is only one year. What a pity!

Sunset

We are having a spell of amazing weather right now, summer has forgotten to end!

This evening the sun set behind the castle ruin at La Fresneda - quite spectacular!

A weekend in Benasque.

Benasque nestles in it's own valley in the heart of the Pyrenees and is surrounded by the highest peaks in that area.

From the town it is a short drive and then a short walk to ...



...the Gorgas de Alba, a picturesque spot with lots of water cascading down the gorge.


Conveniently there is a bridge to enable visitors to cross the ravine.


Nearby is a hotel with its very own tame local mountain goat. Notice the curved horns.


6kms from Benasque by road, or 1km as the eagle flies, is the highest village in the Pyrenees, Cerler, which during the winter season is a very popular ski resort and for the remainder of the year just a lovely place to visit.

A little further up the main road, (which incidently doesn't lead anywhere as it can't pass through the mountains), is the Hospital de Benasque which was an old shelter and mountain police barracks. The main feature of the building, which is now a hotel with a restaurant and bar, is the carved wood which is everywhere.

Further up the valley and after a short journey by special bus and a rather longer trek we see the Forau d'Aiguallut with even more impressive cascading water and where there is permanent snow on the top of the nearby mountain. The water runs underground to the north and surfaces in France.

One of the local inhabitants can be seen in the photo above.

Meanwhile, there is some fantastic scenery en route.

Our favourite hotel in Benasque serves great food and is very hospitable.

A brilliant weekend!

To see 200 more photos of the weekend, click HERE.

To see my video of Benasque, click HERE.

To see my video of Cerler, click HERE.

To see my video of the Gorgas de Alba / Hospital de Benasque / Forau d'Aiguallut , click HERE.

Misa en honor a San Ramón y comida de hermandad en la Plaza Mayor

It's the final day of the village fiesta and it starts in the church at midday with a mass for San Ramón who is the patron Saint of the village and we celebrate his day today!

The statue of San Ramón is carried around the village and...

...it's another opportunity to dress in regional costume.

Around 300 hundred people were in the Plaza Mayor for another great paella!
It certainly doesn't feel like a Wednesday!

To see more photos of the events of the day, click HERE.

El Parrissal

A fine morning and we set off with 2 of our friends to El Parrissal, a spot about 35 minutes drive from Torre del Compte, just past the village of Beceite which nestles in the foothills of Els Ports, the mountain range between us and the Mediterranean.


The valley we are walking up has the river Matarraña flowing down it and the path crosses the river in many places.


To help you cross the river there are logs to walk across but like me, you can take the more direct route.


Also, where it is impossible to walk up the side of the river as it travels through various ravines there are planks to walk on against the cliff face even though getting onto them might appear a little tricky!



To see more photos of the intrepid expedition, click HERE.

¡FIESTA! (including "disfraces")

Fiesta week kicked off on Thursday 18th with chorizada en la cooperativa, sausages in the yard of the village farmers cooperative.


There was lots of smoke but unlike London these weren't burning buildings but bonfires to cook the sausages on!



Later on that evening there was lots of running and screaming in the streets but unlike London this was not a riot but the sound of people enjoying themselves with the annual waterfight!



Everyone was totally drenched as they followed the band through the streets of the village going from peña to peña to have a drink while the people in the houses poured buckets of water on them from their balconies and even used hosepipes.


The following morning, Friday, the was the mass for San Ramón. Click HERE to see the video on YouTube.

Meanwhile during the fiesta period, the "Amas de Casa, Lo Portal" had an exhibition of their work in the town hall. To see photos of the work on display, click HERE.


In the evening was the communal meal with everyone in the Plaza Mayor to eat their own food which was followed by a comedy act which was actually quite funny.

On Saturday the jota group "Calandria" gave an excellent performance in the school yard. (They have their own section on this blog - don't miss it!).

Later that night it was time for the "Concurso de Disfraces" or Fancy Dress Competition. There were 7 peña groups this year and the standard was very high.


First up, Peña Lo Serapio as a female volleyball team - they came 7th. Click HERE to see their video.


Next, Peña David Gimeno as a swarm of flies - they came 5th. Click HERE to see their video.



They were followed by Peña Lo Skaldat, a group of protesters who came 6th. Click HERE to see the video.


Next, Peña Lo Corral who were running with the bulls, Pamplona style. They came 3rd. To watch their performance, click HERE.


The circus arrives in Torre del Compte care of Peña Lo Karkas who after a most entertaining performance came 2nd. Click HERE to see it.



The pope was in Madrid but made a detour to visit Torre del Compte with his friends in Peña Lo Topi. To see the winners, click HERE.


Finally Peña Cata-croc re-enacted the tale of St George and the dragon - they came 4th. Click HERE to see their performance.

Even the potatoes are happy here!

Throughout the fiesta there seemed to be a lot of emphasis on eating and drinking!

One popular demonstration was on how to make furniture from logs using your chainsaw. However, I don't think IKEA has anything to worry about just yet!

After the chainsaw demo, hot chocolate was served.
Delicious, thick, creamy chocolate which always goes down well, (with everyone, not just the chocoholics!)

And throughout the fiesta there was not one drop of rain - come to think of it, it hasn't rained this month!

The village trip to Sos del Rey Católico

At 6:30 28 of us set off in the coach from Torre del Compte.

We have a guided tour of the village, a museum and the church...

...then it's time for a very nice lunch.

To see (lots) more photos, click HERE.

Another great day out.