Expecting showers of rain most of the day, we set out and were back home before the rain started, apart from a short sharp shower as we drove into the long tunnel.
We did a longish sightseeing run through the Valleys, stopping at intervals, frequent intervals, for photographs. There has been rain here over the last few weeks and everything is looking at its best. The snow on the mountains makes for chocolate box prettiness, but in the dead of winter many roads here are impassable. Some road signs say that snow chains on tyres are obligatory in wintry conditions. Some of the little towns are ski resorts, and there are mountain guides for the serious walkers.
We saw Bossost on the way through to our scenic tour of the Val D'Aran and made a note to return to it. The river at the foot of the Val D'Aran is the Garona, which becomes the important French river, the Garonne, after it has crossed the border. They speak Aranese here, but luckily, also French and Spanish. We liked Bossost mostly because of the Garona, which runs through it. It is so unusual for us to see such a full fast flowing mountain river being the central focus of a town, and running its full length. We bought the few postcards we intend to send (grandchildren over the age of two) and two bottles of local wine.
Bossost has some signposted good walks along the riverside, so we made up some lunch with local bread, pâté, and tomatoes from the little cooperative shop at the last stop, which are a million times better than the ones we can get in the shops at home. We had a good walk and found a family of whinchats posing photogenically along the way. On the way back, the dipper which has eluded us, showed up, also posing, and showing off its moves.
We will shop tomorrow, stocks being low; particularly worrying is the almost completely diminished store of chocolate. We have not yet come anywhere near running out of wine and are not likely to do so.
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