Off the Beaten Track

I love Paris, the Cote d'Azur the Italian Riviera et al, the history the stories, but isn't it nice to discover new places, destinations that may not be well known internationally, the kind of place that warrants a secret nose tap, the kind of place that the locals want to keep under wraps, lest it gets too popular and the kind of place that once stumbled upon is never forgotten...

l'Amuse bouche, stuffed olives, served from a Bonsai olive tree, Mr French Sampler is about to dig into something, I cannot recall what it was but it was delicious, washed down with Mimosas.

Followed by something to refresh the palate, the most delicious smoked salmon and citrus salad served in a large pebble from the local river...

I know exactly where this river pebble comes from, I may have to copy this idea!

A surprise that looked odd, wrapped in a silk cocoon but again, delicious.

I forgot to take photos of the main course...but it was delicious...skips to dessert...

Afterwards a stroll round the village...

Hmmm!

On the way back a dip in the local pool...

Remember the river pebble?  I collected a few pure white stones from here for my local stonemason to slice in half and voila, perfect salad bowls.

The way back...

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.
XXX

Lunch In Spain

On Saturday night, I decided I wanted to go to Ainsa, in Aragon, Spain for Easter Sunday and my Birthday.  It's about an hour and a half drive from us over the Pyrenees. I had heard that the Bielsa tunnel, was going to be closed for repairs from the 6th April to the 21st June.  The Bielsa tunnel is one of the main routes to Spain, through the Pyrenees and although there are other major routes to Spain, with the Bielsa tunnel closed it would take a big detour and an awfully long time to get to Ainsa. So I decided to go before they closed the tunnel.

There were several other reasons for my decision to go to Ainsa.  Firstly the drive there is spectacular, Ainsa sits in the heart of the protected Odesa National Park. Ainsa itself is beautiful, it is a medieval city, once the capital of the medieval kingdom of Sobrarbe, it was the birthplace of the Kingdom of Aragon and it was home to the palace of the first Kings of Aragon, which is still there in the Plaza Mayor.

Apart from that, it also has some excellent restaurants, one in particular 'Callizo' is very good.  On Saturday we called and tried to book a table for two, we were pushing our luck calling at the eleventh hour and for Easter Sunday, surprise, surprise, they were full, but we decided to go anyway.  We could always see if they had a table on the day and if not well, we could find somewhere else.

After being woken up with a lovely cup of tea and  receiving a beautiful new handbag as a birthday present from lovely MG, we leisurely got ready, no rush, Spanish restaurants serve lunch until 4pm.  The weather was not good in France, overcast and drizzly but the weather forecast for Ainsa was good, once ready, MG, Crusoe and myself set off.....

 Climbing into the mountains on the French side

It was difficult trying to take photos, whilst MG negotiated hairpin bends

The Summit

Into the tunnel

Out of the tunnel and into Spain, the weather is much better on the south face

The scenery is changing

Views from Ainsa

Plaza Mayor

No chance at the restaurant, it is now in the Michelin guide 2010, with a Bib gourmande and was full of discerning French diners

We wandered around a bit

And joined the Spanish for a tapas lunch, washed down with local red wine

The local taxi service

After lunch we ambled round

MG loves these chimneys

And I like archways

And open doors

Ancient doors

Narrow cobbled streets

The twelfth century church

All in all, a lovely day