Albarracin
After departing Valencia, we set off towards France our first stop being one of the most beautiful villages in Spain Albarracin, we had been before and had fond memories of it. It did not disappoint truly beautiful the village nestles into the cleft of the valley like a pink mirage. The town has a campsite and an Aire both owned by the community. Oddly enough they have the pricing a little off €14 for the aire and €19 for the campsite with full showers and facilities and a very good restaurant. We spent the extra €5, and the view was amazing. We wandered into the village and explored it again and it is still as wonderful.
Stopping off while it was still sunny had a drink before we walked the 2km back to the site. Ah the Gapper’s weather struck the rain came down in sheets. But we had our umbrella and decided to stop at the site restaurant for another drink, we had been driven to it! We sat and watched pour and after a small glass of wine walked back to the van and cooked dinner a lovely Thai beef curry while watching the lightning flash all around us. The noise was deafening, and it went on all night. The next morning was lovely and were able to take that perfect photo of the town from our pitch!.
But first stop was to be a famous Jamon producer about 20km away Jamones Bronchales, the area around Teruel is legendary for Jamon production and this is one of the best producers. It is set in a wonderful location, and we spent a little bit more that we wanted on some of their jamon. We will be able to have some treats in the van when we are in France as it will be expensive to eat out there compared to Spain.
Jaca
We set off for a village called Sabinanigo which had a free place to park, but there was a major sporting event planned there, and they had closed the Aire so more than anything in hope set off to another town we had visited before Jaca. This has a free park up, but the latest reviews said there were issues. But we arrived and no problems and we parked in the same place as we did in 2016. Back then we were always exploring food options this time we took the time to explore the town fully and the Citadel along with it’s museum of miniatures and museum of Spain’s mountain troops was brilliant. We treated ourselves to a last ‘Menu del Dia’ before our last stop in Spain Estation Canfranc a place I have wanted to visit for many years and did not realise we were only 20km away in 2016.
We had been lucky with the weather for the visit to Jaca, and the next day with our fingers crossed headed further into the Pyrenees to Canfranc. Well the gods smiled and we had perfect sunshine. Plus there is a brand new arie right next door to the 5* hotel that the old Station has been restored into.
Estation Canfranc
The railway station was built in the early 20th century with the ambition it would be the major link between Spain and France but as the gauges of the tracks in the two countries are different it never took off and it was closed in the 70’s. But the station really has ‘if you build it they will come’ feel. They built it, and we came, originally just to stop and head on, but we were captivated by its grandeur and location. For me it was fun to see lots of Camino signage along the roads. It seems to me if you have done one it follows you around!
We took advantage of the sunshine and decided to stay two nights. The walks around were amazing, plus we found a flavour of how Franco was worried after WW2 that Spain would be invaded from France there were lots of bunkers and defensive emplacements in the area. The town that surrounds the station is lovely and has lots of very good restaurants, so one more Menu del Dia was had before we left Spain, for me Migas to start, lamb chops and a whisky tart, Karen having melon and jamon, a Parradilla of fish and apple ice cream. Also included a bottle of wine and water. I think we will miss Spain!!
The next morning, we were up early to head over the Somport pass into France on our way to our first stop Pau. That sporting event I mentioned reared it’s head and we were stuck until 12.00 while 1000 cyclest made their way through the town from Sabinanigo, now we knew what the sporting event was! But we were able to set off in lovely sunny weather for our next adventure in France.
Pau
The drive over the Pyrenees was stupendous, the narrow windy roads putting Buster through his paces as descended to Pau. Our stop here is a little campsite that has seen better days, but it does have lovely swimming pool. The temperature had risen and we had 30 degrees and humidity to match. Dinner in the van and we waited for the thunderstorm to start or ‘Rage’ as they call them here.
We di not have to wait too long and boy did it pour ‘welcome to France’! Today was a cycle to Pau and for me a visit to the oldest Golf club in mainland Europe, Pau Golf Club formed in 1856 by some English and Scottish residents of the town. A ball marker for my friend Barry and a golf shirt for me.
Then it was on in to the town which is lovely but like a lot of French town’s we sometimes wonder where everybody is. It was Sunday so not a lot to look at and Monday is also a closed day! But we found a bar and had a drink our waiter was ‘desole’ that Ireland were going to be second best in the world cup and would not make the semi’s. France is the best team in the world in waiting and that was that. Welcome to rugby country! We can recommend Pau, it is compact and lovely, if it was not raining again with thunder and lightning it would be better, but it is lovely.
Tomorrow it is off Lourdes as neither of us have been before and it is another start point for the Camino de Santiago
Gary and Zoe says
God, you guys pack away the food! Seems like the rain is after you again too but you never seem that fazed by it. More lovely places visited and its great that you do the ‘smaller’ stuff to get a real feel for the country.
Is that comment about the Pau Golf Course being the oldest in Europe really true. Do you mean mainland Europe?
Great to see you are both in good form and we hope to see you both in the near future.
Stay safe and continue to enjoy!
Gary and Zoe
David says
Yes the rain does continue to follow us. But for the past days we have had Keely over and amazingly the weather is supposed to be good until the day after she leaves. So yes we are the bad weather people.
As for Pau Golf Club yes mainland Europe I did think I mentioned that! Ooops. Love to you both David and Karen