A Bowl of Coffee, and Crossing The Pyrenees

We started our morning at 6:45am with a bowl of coffee. Yes, you read correctly: a bowl. 

Yesterday, we were served water in a bowl. Our wine was in a wine glass though. I guess it's a southern France thing?

In the begining, we felt strong and invigorated, but then the rain started. 

Less than a mile up and the it began to pour. Another mile and the wind blasted us. 

Sustained wind at 70km, gusts of 100 km per hour.

We donned our rain jackets and continued upwards. I was miserable.

Things did not improve....They only got worse. In fact, I don't even want to write about it. There are no pictures, because the weather was too treacherous.

We went up, then STRAIGHT down, eventually landing in Roncevalles, Spain.

I am a planner. Especially when it comes to vacations. I want everything to be as seamless as possible, and know what to expect. So this trip is way out of my comfort zone.

We arrived with no reservation, and no idea where we would sleep. Not to mention tired, wet, and grumpy (to put it mildly). We walked over to Casa Sabina for a glass of wine and some pinchos. 

I have to say, we were not treated kindly by the staff. Thad had to practically light fireworks to place an order (after being completely ignored for several minutes).

After deciding to stay at the Hotel Roncevalles, (instead of the monastery), I walked over to get our key. It's amazing how the service in the restaurant changed upon seeing our room key. They suddenly couldn't have been nicer to us. What jerks!

After getting settled, long hot showers, and a change of clothes, we went off to dinner.

We dined with our now good friend Jean Pierre from France, and some nice gentleman from Spain. My husband managed to spill a glass of wine on one, and he laughed it off, saying something about how it's only a good story if you come home with wine stains.

I guess that we will have some good stories.

If I had to do it all again as in would I? Probably. But the weather would have to be better. The Pyrenees are amazing, beautiful, and tall. I'm glad too have crossed then and lived to complain about it. 

A bowl of coffee

Starting our climb before the sun is up.

About 1/4 off the way up, we has a break in the storm.

Once again, this is BEFORE the real storm hit. Right now, It's all rainbows and ponies.

After the worst of it. On our way down. This picture doesn't show how steep the descent was. Not too mention the rocks, mud, and water.