Hotel Micolau Arinsal

... having a beer and watching a man try to dig his van out of the snow. To my knowledge his van is to this moment where it was when I left the bar. <br><br> I just wanted to take this opportunity to post some pictures of Canillo when it's snowy and the sun comes out. Don't have too many, but figured it was worth a post.<br><br>

... at 7:30am. But it wasn't too long before all my amusement was replaced with respect. As we started up the mountains, it was easy to see that the nearly 2000m climb up to Canillo isn't a laughing matter. Turn after turn we zig-zagged up intensely steep grade in a 15 ton death trap, and our driver just bounced along as if it was nothing. I'm sure it really is nothing to someone who does that kind of thing everyday, because when we got to the first stop at ...

Le plan original était d'aller à Cahors visiter un vignoble, mais puisque l'on n'a pas de voiture (considérant que les vignes sont dans des champs et non au centre ville) on n'a pas pu y aller. J'ai trouvé sur internet qu'il y avait plusieurs grotte dans le sud donc on en a choisi une pas trop trop loin et on a acheté nos billet de train.<br><br>Tarascon sur Ariege est à environ 1h15 de toulouse donc ca se fait quand meme bien. C'est un ...

Found out today that the 90 day tourist visa that I thought we were granted for each country is actually for the combined Senchgen countries. Since we'll be at least 60 days in France alone, it means we won't be doing the France, Italy, Greece and then Turkey route we had planned on in the length of time we'd ...

... and load since they are very heavy and slippery)<br>2) Wrap in picnic table cloth and pack with icepacks<br>3) Drive as fast as possible with windows down and A/C on to keep meat cool (Tip: remember to bring your gloves!)<br>4) Throw in deep freeze until butcher arrives (Tip: make space in freezer before)<br>5) Watch in awe as butcher makes it look soo easy<br>6) Poke and pry at various interesting parts and organs (Brian&#8217;s job)<br>7 ...

... and make 2.5kg of minced pork while I pureed the liver to make pate. Fat was rendered down to a beautiful smooth lard, and sausage meat was seasoned. It was a shame that we had no sausage skins to stuff, but the meat is still great to use in patties, balls or loaves. <br> <br>For a special treat for working through all the meat, Justin saved a special piece for Brian and I: the brain. Fried up with sage and butter and ...

... and hand hold. Until you get to the point where you can&#8217;t seem to make a move at all. Limbs getting sore and there&#8217;s no place to set your foot, and no where to grab hold with your hand. Every muscle in your body tense trying to keep you in the place where you re. Mind solely focused on the task at hand. Moving slightly, feeling around, using divets in the rock that are barely visible to support your weight. Ever upward straining ...

... and roads scattered everywhere - if you can find them. Driving is a very different than walking. In great contrast to the towns below, the wind howled and ice formed on the road. On foot the walk was extremely harsh and I could see why there were shephards and hikers huts dotted all around for shelter. You can see why farmers train their animals instead of caring for them themselves ...

... walk up to the entrance, carrying our bagagge. Being not so sure footed with snow underfoot, climbing the hill was like going 2 forward 1 step back. I ended up crawling across the road and up the hill to the entrance, to the bemusement of all the other passengers and hotel staff! Waking up Christmas morning, brought sun and crisp weather. Merry Christmas!!!!!. Santa had arrived during the night and Nikki and opened our gifts ...

... that I travelled there (and to Greece) ...... with a boyfriend. This is prior to meeting Mr Monksan in 91 of course. However, in the interests of marital harmony, I will pretend that those trips never happened and move on.. Conincidentally enough, moving chronologically forward, the next new country I encounter is... Greece: yes, it's that most glorious of events: our honeymoon on Skiathos. But that's for another entry.