Hotel Du Monge Lourdes

After breakfast, we drove through a marmot filled ski resort to start our 2 hour hike. We walked through the free range cattle to the top of a 7,000 foot hill with sweeping view of the Cirque du Gavarnie. The sun was out and we had a lovely time. It was cool to see the Breche du ...

... They don't have the same impact only because getting to the base is a longer walk. But they are big!! Apparently it is a popular ice climbing destination. Yikes!!

         

... line, 150 KM by car. Back at our car around 2, we set off on a driving tour of one small section of the Spanish Pyrennees. Amazing! We were very glad to have done it. Once we got back to the French side we spent most of time driving along Tour de France roads. Amazing to ...

... cute main town. Clearly, rock climbing is very popular in this area. In the photos, play "spot the climber."

                 

On Sunday, we checked into new home, Hotel Chili, which is all self-contained apartments. The accommodation was simple but was made up for by the giant lawn with Mini-Golf course, free range chickens, and playground within walking distance. And FREE LAUNDRY!!! Needless to say, Sue was in heaven. We played Mini-golf that night and Sue kicked Tom's butt. Embarrassing...

       

The next day, we took the kids for a lunch time hike along the GR10 to Lac du Gaube with a view of Vignemale the highest mountain in the French ...

We spent a lazy day in and around our hotel, casually visiting Luz Saint Sauveur, about 10 minutes from our hotel. We also drove up to Gavarnie, the famous Cirque in the region. There weren't much in the ways of views as the mountains were in the clouds.
 
 

... into our hotel by 3. I drove back down to Lourdes to pick up Eva who had taken the train from Paris that morning. After a delightful dinner at our hotel in the tiny town of Viscos, which turns out to be the best restaurant in Luz Saint Sauveur, we snuggled into our beds for a good night sleep.

   

... diseases. As news of the events at Lourdes spread, it became a pilgrimage site for the faithful and most especially for those who bear the burden of physical handicaps and illness. To date the Grotto has borne witness to over 70 documented "inexplicable" cures in the past 150 years and become the second most visited Christian pilgrimage site in the world. And it's that which brought us to that particular moment in our little lives. Woke up after a good 8 hours ...

... locations throughout the centre of the city which attract thousands of people. There is also a well known fair there every year, in which you can go to several different rides and food stalls. Common foods on this day include Poffertjes. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koninginn edag" _______________________________________ ___________________________ Awesome ...