Oh what a night ~ now let’s go to Spain!

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Monday 10^th July 2006

Oh what a night ~ now let’s go to Spain!

As I said previously, we had not been destined for a good night. D awoke feeling very peaky. He put it all down to the salad nicoise~ even though M had one as well and did not seem to be suffering! But as D declared that he'd read somewhere, that nearly half the eggs in France and Spain were carried Salmonella and as his salad had eggs in it that had to be the cause. In fairness it certainly was not due to much else as that was about all that had been eaten that day and not a drop of alcohol which I know can sometimes be human’s downfall.

The big question for today was do we go on to Spain or stay another night in Pau? It was still very early so M said she would take us for a long walk and would see how the patient was on return.

So out we went into the daylight…we fully expected to see a scene of carnage from the night before…..but the French council workers had obviously been out already and had cleared up almost as if last night had not happened. Marvelleaux ! I was kind of worried that there maybe some glass around which might get into the old paws which would not do!

We strolled down the Rue Louis Barthou and down into a wonderful park abutting the Pau Casino. The Casino is a very grand building which looks more like a French chateau ~ bet the ones planned for UK don’t look quite so impressive.

Lots of French people stop to have a pat and say hello. Including a handsome man who looked all the world like the French goalie Barthez, …he liked us! Anyway we went back to see how D was fairing to find he was up and dressed and wanted to get in the car…”come on” he said “ lets go to Spain”

M offered to drive again but D decided martyrdom was his forte…anyway I think he has a distinct nervousness about being driven by M even though she is highly competent. I’ve noticed the only time she gets to drive him is when alcohol consumption levels have been breached ~ I am sure its not the only way to let her drive!

So off we go, Tom Tom set and off into the French Pyrenees we venture and soon out across the border into Spain. We did not even have to stop at the border, they just waved us through. I wanted my passport inspected! I have a very handsome portrait of myself included and I wouldn’t mind a stamp or too just so I can boast to the dogs on my local walks in Norfolk that I am a force to be reckoned with now that I have ventured abroad.

Anyway it was not be . The scenery started to change to a drier sandstone environment , looking a bit like those old cowboy movies. M & D kept talking about a place called Riglos which they remembered from a previous trip. Sure enough we came upon this very strange red stone landscape. All craggy peaks where people go climbing. We eventually found our way to Loarre…on the hilltop is a large castle built in Vita century and our hotel was located in the old palace building right in the charming village square.

When we arrived all the villagers were sitting in the shade of the trees around the fountain in the square. We were tired after our journey and D wanted to just go and lie down.

We unloaded things into the room….una problemo….no aircon again….and it was very hot in the room. M was not so pleased with D saying that as it was on the list of requirements he had been a bit remiss in his booking activities up until now.

We went down to the terrace with M and spent a couple of hours just chilling out in the shade trying to cool down whilst D had a rest. We went out later to have a drive around and a walk around the forest near the castle. We also stopped off at an electrical store to purchase an electric fan.

The fan did the trick and cooled the room down a bit by moving the air. Dogs are not allowed into the restaurant of the hotel which is air-conditioned. So we got left in the room for about 1 hour whilst M & D went and had a meal. We were well behaved and made no noise so as not to cause any trouble.

As night came the villagers gathered once again around the fountain and sat and talked. We went for a walk at midnight with M and it was still very busy. Lots of the people wanted to pat us and seemed to really like us.

A warm and restless night followed and so we were up at 6.30 for a quick walk over at the castle forest and then we loaded up and were on our way to Trujillo.