On the Monday after Marti's birthday we drove up to Ribera de Cardos, a favorite little hideaway
in the Pyrenées. The Hotel Cardos, where we always stay, was closed for renovations but our friend
Maria from the Cardos sent us to her cousin's place, La Ribera, just up the road.
The food & accommodations there were impeccable.



I had pissed & moaned when Marti suggested that we change my car rental booking
to a company that offered discounts to British Telecom France, fearing that I'd be
stuck with a bottom-feeder car class. Imagine my delight when we were upgraded
to a BMW! Of course I pimped our ride with the Dashboard Monk.



The hotel was conveniently located next to a lumber mill . . . in case we felt like
pitching in by installing a new deck.



Pallars Sobira.



This is as close to nature as Marti & I ever get. (Not the kayaking.)



We drove the little Beemer up & down the winding mountain roads.



One afternoon we discovered a hidden lake with blackberry bushes on its periphery.



We brought the blackberries we'd picked to Maria's cousin at La Ribera
& she added them to the breakfast buffet the next morning.



We visited the lovely little village of Espot one afternoon . . .



. . . & wound up at the annual Festa Major, where we were entertained by a trio called Third Millennium.



After the ball, we had a delicious dinner in a local restaurant called Juquim. The musicians from
Third Millennium arrived just before we left, so we were able to compliment them on their performance.



The next day Marti & I returned to Espot & took a Land Rover taxi up to the high mountain
lake of Sant Maurici. This is one of our favorite places on the planet.



The church in Ribera. A bridge & church in Tavascan.



Tavascan.



After several days of chilling in the mountains, it was hard to leave. We promised Maria (center)
that we'd be back soon to inspect the renovations at her hotel. When she was out of earshot of her
cousin (right), Maria told us she was building a few junior suites from which we'd have first pick.



Before we left, Maria sent us on a sausage quest to a friend's shop in the neighboring village of Ainet.



When we arrived the shopkeeper was on the phone with Maria, who was specifying
which sausages we were to have!



We drove down through the beautiful mountains & wound up at the sea.



Philos, who lives in the charming oceanside town of Sitges, had invited us to have lunch
with him & his visiting friend Simon before we caught our flight back to Paris.
We hit an outdoor restaurant on the beach & enjoyed one last leisurely Spanish lunch.
Then the guys led us in their car to the airport & even humped our luggage to check-in!



During our stay in Barcelona & Ribera we shopped for
& were given lots of tasty items. We'll have to content
ourselves with them until our next trip to these
marvelous destinations.

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