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Ordesa
National Park was set aside in 1918 by royal decree, and has been progressively
expanded to include more than 56,000 acres of lush valley forests and meadows,
steep limestone slopes and delicate alpine reaches.
An
an example of one of the walks is cver the Prairie of Ordesa - past the
Launching slips of Soaso and the Tail of Horse. It takes 3
h. 15 minutes and it is the most classic route of the National Park , recommended
specially for those people not very prepared and of medium fitness.It is
well signposted with nothing dangerous on a wide path.
Times
to Visit.
The
park is open from May through mid-November, but if you plan to visit early
or late in the season, double check snow conditions. Also, mid-July through
August are the height of the Spanish vacation season -- not a good time
of year to come if you want to avoid crowds. Besides, it's the hottest
time of the year.
Natural
History
The
park's namesake, the Ordesa Valley, is carved out by glaciers, the
valley is outlined by limestone folds brilliantly marked with bands of
gray, red and yellow ochre. Unlike most valleys in the Pyrenees, the Ordesa
runs east/west. Since it is open to the west, the valley gets lots of cool,
moist air from the Atlantic, making the plantlife lush and the climate
moderate. The valley ends in the dramatic Circa Soasa, a glacial cirque.
The
valley floor is home to forests of firs and beeches. On the slopes, tough
dwarf mountain pine hold out up to the tree line. Above the treeline are
beautiful alpine shrubs and meadows, with many seasonal wildflowers such
as edelweiss, gentians, orchids, violets, belladonna, and anemones.
Ordesa
National Park was set up specifically to protect the ibex, a wild goat.
Ironically, the ibex is still in decline, along with the lammergeier, a
type of bearded vulture. However, many other species are flourishing in
this otherwise well preserved enclave. The valley shelters 171 species
of birds -- including golden eagles, griffon vultures and alpine finches,
32 mammals -- including wild boar, otters and foxes, eight species of reptiles,
including the asp (Vispera aspis) of Cleopatra's doom, and five amphibia.
Especially notable are the only herds of Pyrenees mountain goats in existence
and a healthy number of chamois deer,
Hiking
One
of the great advantages of Ordesa is that if offers a variety of hiking
opportunities, from the relatively short and easy to the very challenging.
Your best bet is to land in the almost-too-charming village of Torla, frequently
overran by tourists. But from Torla there are dozens of trailheads .
The
most popular walk is the Circa Soasa, which takes 5 to 8 hours and offers
a lot of beauty and interest without a lot of exertion. If you strike out
towards the Circo de Cotatuero, you can pay a visit to the Brecha de Rolanda,
where legend has it the heroic Roland struck a breach in the wall with
his sword, Durandal.
Accommodation
The
towns surrounding the park offer many hotel options. On the opposite extreme,
although you can't sent up a base camp in the park, you can pitch a tent
overnight, as long as you strike it first thing in the morning.
The
park also has several alpine shelters, similar to a youth hostel,
open to all . To ensure a spot, it's best
to arrive by mid-afternoon, although you probably won't be admitted to
the sleeping area until evening. Food is sometimes available, but because
it frequently has to be packed in or dropped by helicopter, it can be pricey,
so bring your own if you are on a budget.
Barcelona
Barcelona
is an easy city to explore,with many of its major sights within easy walking
distance of each other. Stopovers in bars and cafés are
an enjoyable way of getting to know the city. It is a place where there's
enjoyment simply in walking the streets, stopping in at bars and cafés,
drinking in the atmosphere.
A
thriving port and the most prosperous commercial centre in Spain, it has
a sophistication and cultural dynamism way ahead of the rest of the country.
In part this reflects the city's proximity to France, whose influence is
apparent in the elegant boulevards and imaginative cooking.
It
is the second largest Spanish city in population and the principal industrial
and commercial centre of the country.Agricultural products include cork,
olives, cereals, vegetables, grapes, almonds, oranges, and peaches.
The
oldest port of Barcelona, formerly enclosed by walls, was built on the
harbour and is crossed by the Rambla, a paved roadway extending from the
harbour to the Plaza de Cataluña, the focal point of the city. Scattered
as Barcelona's main sights may
be, the greatest concentration of interest is around the old town
(La Ciutat Vella). These cramped streets above the harbour are easily
manageable, and far more enjoyable, on foot. Start, as everyone else
does, with the Ramblas. the magnificent mile-long walkway that cuts
through the middle of the old city and leads down to the port.
Dominating
Barcelona's skyscape are the fantastic openwork spires of Templo Expiatorio
de la Sagrada Familia (Church of the Sacred Family), a huge, unfinished
cathedral notable for the elaborate patterns and undulating curves. Each
spire is more than 100 m (328 ft) tall, Nine years after construction started
on the neo-Gothic cathedral, Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí y Cornet
took over as official architect and the project became a personal obsession.
When Gaudi died in an accident in 1926, the cathedral was left unfinished.
Despite controversy over whether the cathedral should remain in its uncompleted
form as a monument to the architect, construction began again in 1979,
closely following Gaudí's original plan.
Other
local landmarks include the church of San Pablo del Campo (914), the Gothic
cathedral of Santa Eulalia, a monument to Christopher Columbus, and the
nearby peak Tibidabo (532 m/1,745 ft). Among its many cultural institutions
are the University of Barcelona (1450), the Autonomous University of Barcelona
(1968), the Royal Archives of Aragón, the Archaeological Museum,
the Museum of Ancient Art, and the Museum of Modern Art.Arc del Triomf,
Barcelona
Barcelona
grew from a central area, once surrounded by walls, called the Barri Gòtic.(Gothic
Quarter) Many buildings around here represent history written in stone.
In C/Santa Llúcia, just in front of the cathedral, is Ca de l'Ardiaca,
a fifteenth- century residence, with superb tiled patio, which now houses the city archives.
Alongside
the cathedral the Catalan monarchs built the various sections of their
Royal Palace,clustered around the Plaça del Rei. Most of them now
form part of the Museu d'Història de laCiutat.
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Exchange homes and enjoy home
hosting with Teachers Travel Members along the coast of the Mediterranean.
Ordesa National Park
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Launching
slips of Soaso
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Barcelona
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Port
Templo
Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia (Church of the Sacred Family)
the
Ramblas.
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