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| Medieval Bridge |
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| Rocky tent view |
Our second night camping in the Pyrenees, we changed campsites-- a definite upgrade.
El Valle del Bujaruelo was much cheaper, much closer to our national park destination (Ordesa y Monte Perdido), and had a much better view from the tent opening. Our first afternoon we decided to explore the valley area, taking a walk down a road to another campsite and shelter for mountaineers. Despite being kilometers away from the nearest town (the Medieval town of Torla-Ordesa, population: 315) and near the base of a mountain, there was a Medieval Bridge. The now-shelter used to be a hospital in the Middle Ages. Hard to imagine there being enough mountainside population to warrant a hospital, but long ago that region must've been booming with farmers (and traffickers) rather than tourists.
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| Waterfall en route |
The next morning, we got up early to head to the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido. To limit traffic, you have to catch a bus in the town Torla-Ordesa which will take you into the park. We did the most common hike along with hundreds of other people: to the
Cascada de la Cola de Caballo (Horse Tail Waterfall). I was surprised that the majority of our hike wasn't on a narrow trail, but a wide path. Obviously, to accommodate so much traffic. The hike started off uphill, through a forest. Along the way we saw several cool waterfalls. As the shade began to disappear the path wound up some rocks. But as B pointed out, if the families with kids could do it, so could I. (All of the kids we saw, however, were definitely in better shape than me).
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| Valley-- the end is nigh! |
In the final stretch, the path opened up into a big, green valley surrounded by grey, rocky mountains. Magnificent! Tucked in the mountain's corner was the Horse Tail Waterfall which was true to its name. Tons of people were already there, having lunch, taking pictures, and splashing around in the freezing spring water.
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| Horse Tail Waterfall |
We varied the walk back and savored those mountain views. After we got the bus back to town, I mustered up the energy to walk around the town a bit, nowadays just a tourist destination. We stocked up on some food for dinner and had a well-deserved beer.
