In the early Autumn of 2024, eight members of our u3a Walking Group had a trip to the Pyrenees. Since we had not been to Barcelona before we went a bit earlier than the others and had a couple of days there.
On our first morning we took the funicular and cable car up to Castell de Montjuïc and walked down through Montjuïc Park.
In the afternoon, we visited the Gaudi house and afterwards walked to the Gaudi cathedral – still unfinished.
The next day we visited the National Art Gallery in the morning and then met up with the others to share a taxi to Albella in the Pyrenees.
On our first day in the Pyrenees, Lucy, who, together with her partner Simon, runs the Aragon Active holiday centre in Albella, took us for a local walk. During the walk she told us about the local geology, much influenced by plate tectonics, and some of the history of the villages. We visited Planillo where we looked at the old blacksmith’s and the school room upstairs. We then went down to Janovas by the river and heard about the villagers’ stand against being flooded for a hydropower plant. The village is slowly being renovated as no dam has been built..
The recent heavy rain meant that the river was fast flowing and the spring where we might have got water was not usable. Some of the Group had a lift back to Albella and the rest walked back up. There was an ‘interesting’ stream crossing!
The next day we went, led by Alberto, to the Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido and walked up and down a lovely track with great views. We turned at a shepherd’s hut from where we could see Monte Perdido, or the Three Sisters (their traditional name).
On our third day Alberto took us to Bujaruelo for another lovely walk with great views. Some of us descended, for our picnic lunch, to the bridge Puente Ordiso where there were lovely views up the valley. On our return we went on the other side of the river, thus avoiding some stream crossings.
The following day we spent the morning going along the GR268, which passed by our accommodation and gave us views back over Albella as well as across the Ara valley. In the afternoon, Lucy showed us the little chapel that had been rescued from destruction during the civil war. It is only used for one week in the year when they have the festival of San Urbez.
The next day Alberto took us to Piedrafita de Jaca from where we did a round walk to the Lake, Ibon de de Piedrafita. We took a slight detour from the Group walk after lunch to get the views, across the valley over the reservoir, from a nearby hill.
On the morning of our final day we went to Revilla. We visited an ancient hermitage with grafitti on the walls and then arrived at a viewpoint from which we had a good view of vultures, both bearded and common. They leave their roosts as the sun comes up to find thermals which enables them to soar high in the air as a group and look for food.
In the afternoon we visited the old part of Ainsa which dates back to the 11th century.
Below are some photos of flowers we saw. The photos were taken by Margaret Spencer, who also provided the names.
We would like to thank our hosts Lucy and Simon for giving us such a good time and feeding us so well. Particular thanks go to our guide Alberto who ensured we all thoroughly enjoyed the walks.
Finally we would like to thank Carol Franks who found the holiday centre for us and did all the initial organisation.