I have never really gotten to go hiking, besides like Turkey Run State Park and place like that. This weekend, though, that had changed. We spent our weekend in the Pyrenees’ Mountains in Gavarnie, France. We stayed at a refuge on the side of a mountain, about 1425 meters above sea level. The view left me speechless. Unfortunately I come across three issues to share my photos of the weekend with you on my blog: 1. The wifi in our flats STINKS, so I have to go to McDo (McDonalds) and steal their wifi, 2. I forgot my password to the schools wifi, typical Laurissa move, and 3. I seem to of misplaced my cell phone which held the majority of my photos. No Grandma Barb, I did not get pick-pocketed.
Back to my weekend in the mountains… Saturday we arrived and had a picnic at the refuge once we got our sleeping arrangements. Let me tell you, they did not put us in a fancy hotel or anything resembling that. We experienced the mountains the right way. For the 50 of us, there were like 3 showers and 5 bathroom stalls. We shared bunk beds, and called it an early night Saturday once it became dark since we did not have a TV, or anything than were used to. It was an awesome experience, and I am not complaining one bit!
Hiking though on Saturday was fantastic! The weather was perfect, could not have been any better. We hiked a trail that lead us to the “Cirque de Gavarnie”, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which means it belongs to all the persons of the world, not just of the country where it is located. The trail led us to the highest waterfall in Europe after about an hour and forty-five minute hike. The scenery may have been the most beautiful place I have ever saw. When I looked at the mountains all weekend, I swore it was just a painting, too good to be true, but it was!
Sunday, we spent part of the day in Lourdes, France which is home to the Grotto of Massabielle. The church was spectacular, but really no words to describe it. I really wish I understood more of the meaning behind the art work and all that the church had, but that is not something I could learn in a day’s time even if I tried.
Back to my weekend in the mountains… Saturday we arrived and had a picnic at the refuge once we got our sleeping arrangements. Let me tell you, they did not put us in a fancy hotel or anything resembling that. We experienced the mountains the right way. For the 50 of us, there were like 3 showers and 5 bathroom stalls. We shared bunk beds, and called it an early night Saturday once it became dark since we did not have a TV, or anything than were used to. It was an awesome experience, and I am not complaining one bit!
Hiking though on Saturday was fantastic! The weather was perfect, could not have been any better. We hiked a trail that lead us to the “Cirque de Gavarnie”, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which means it belongs to all the persons of the world, not just of the country where it is located. The trail led us to the highest waterfall in Europe after about an hour and forty-five minute hike. The scenery may have been the most beautiful place I have ever saw. When I looked at the mountains all weekend, I swore it was just a painting, too good to be true, but it was!
Sunday, we spent part of the day in Lourdes, France which is home to the Grotto of Massabielle. The church was spectacular, but really no words to describe it. I really wish I understood more of the meaning behind the art work and all that the church had, but that is not something I could learn in a day’s time even if I tried.