There were several other reasons for my decision to go to Ainsa. Firstly the drive there is spectacular, Ainsa sits in the heart of the protected Odesa National Park. Ainsa itself is beautiful, it is a medieval city, once the capital of the medieval kingdom of Sobrarbe, it was the birthplace of the Kingdom of Aragon and it was home to the palace of the first Kings of Aragon, which is still there in the Plaza Mayor.
Apart from that, it also has some excellent restaurants, one in particular 'Callizo' is very good. On Saturday we called and tried to book a table for two, we were pushing our luck calling at the eleventh hour and for Easter Sunday, surprise, surprise, they were full, but we decided to go anyway. We could always see if they had a table on the day and if not well, we could find somewhere else.
After being woken up with a lovely cup of tea and receiving a beautiful new handbag as a birthday present from lovely MG, we leisurely got ready, no rush, Spanish restaurants serve lunch until 4pm. The weather was not good in France, overcast and drizzly but the weather forecast for Ainsa was good, once ready, MG, Crusoe and myself set off.....
Climbing into the mountains on the French side
It was difficult trying to take photos, whilst MG negotiated hairpin bends
The Summit
Into the tunnel
Out of the tunnel and into Spain, the weather is much better on the south face
The scenery is changing
Views from Ainsa
Plaza Mayor
No chance at the restaurant, it is now in the Michelin guide 2010, with a Bib gourmande and was full of discerning French diners
We wandered around a bit
And joined the Spanish for a tapas lunch, washed down with local red wine
The local taxi service
After lunch we ambled round
MG loves these chimneys
And I like archways
And open doors
Ancient doors
Narrow cobbled streets
The twelfth century church
All in all, a lovely day
