The Palal Nacional, Barcelona
The Gaudi designed Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, Barcelona. The building of the church commenced in 1882, they hope to have it finished by 2026, the centenary of Gaudi's death (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Fam%C3%ADlia).
Gaudi Casa Batllo
More Gaudi, it is everywhere in Barcelona
More classic style, Carrer del Bisbe, Barcelona
More great classic architecture, Monestir de Pedralbes, Barcelona
Day 1 of our walk through the Catalan Pyrenees. We had caught a regional train north from Barcelona to Ribes de Fresser (Girona Province) where we spent the night enjoying great Catalan hospitality. Next day we took the mountain cog railway up into the Pyrenees to Nuria (1963 m ASL) where we actually started walking, in fact spending the day walking back down to Ribes for another night of great food (8 km). Nuria, which is about 3 km from the French border, is both a site of religious importance and a focus for outdoor adventure sports.
The track between Nuria and Ribes de Fresser
Mountain stream not far from Nuria
Small walker and large mountains
It's all down hill-walking between Nuria and Ribes de Fresser, Catalan Pyrenees
Queralbs, a small mountain village and a great spot for lunch at the local cafe
Back at Ribes de Fresser for the night
Day 2: Looking back at the village of Pardines as we head for Llanars 16 km further up the trail.
Heading for Llanars through the Collada Verda Pass (1570 m ASL)
Our destination for the day in view
Day 3: We had planned to climb a local mountain but decided that staying closer to home on a rainy day was a good idea. We walked to the local town of Camprodon (5 km round trip) and spent the day enjoying the mountain scenery and local architecture.
El Pont Nou in Camprodon was originally built in 13th century. I wonder when the old bridge it replaced was built across the River Ter.
El Pont Nou, Camprodon.
Camprodon on a busy day
Mountain food
12th Century Monastery of San Pedro, Camprodon
Mountain architecture
When all else fails, use twine
Day 4: A pleasant 12 km walk high above the valley to Setcases
Meeting the locals
Lunch in the hills
We were sitting having lunch and enjoying the scenery when a man suddenly appeared out of the bushes carrying a basket of much sought after local seasonal mushrooms and a knife (which is what we saw first).
This is not one to eat but beautiful anyway
Not sure about this one
This one definitely looks out of bounds although something has been chewing around the edges
Beautiful
Probably not for eating either
It's all downhill to Setcases
Vertical gardening, Setcases
Day 5: We were supposed to do a 13 km circular walk from the Vallter ski area (2200 m ASL), up over a saddle (2532 m ASL) next to Gra de Frajol (2700 m ASL) and then down to our hotel at Setcases. Our notes did indicate that the track was a bit difficult to find and we can attest to that. We climbed to the saddle and then followed the main, well marked track for about 5 km, dropping to an elevation of 2000 m before realising we had gone the wrong way. It was more logical to retrace out steps than to continue on which meant walking back the same 5 ks and retaining the ~500 m elevation we had lost. We got back to the ski area and then faced a 12 km walk down the road to the hotel which was very unattractive by this stage of the day. I thought that maybe we could hitch so stuck out the thumb ( haven't used that skill for about 45 years). The first car picked us up with the German couple delivering us back to the town-most grateful. Our longest (~23 km) and most challenging day but also stunningly beautiful.
France is over that hill. On the saddle beside Gra de Frajol
Heading down the other side, and the wrong way as it turned out
Down the valley with the French border at the top of the peaks
We should have headed left and across a small saddle to the next valley but we went straight down
Beautiful scenery
Back up the valley
Day 6: Another 13 km day, ascending out of Setcases on a steep track and then across the tops through the Lliens (1800 m ASL) and Femba Morte Passes and down to Mollo.
Lunch break
Mollo in sight. The end of a great walk of 82 km over 6 days. Should have borrowed a horse.
