Le petit train de la Rhune ( 8 May 2008)

We continued our holiday because here in France , today -thursday 8 may- is the national day of Victory 1945 and like in Indonesia, then Friday 9 may is day of "kejepit" (= fond in french). We went to the west of our lovely city Pau; It was very special for Arqi because we went to La Rhune to try Le petit train (small train). As we know, Arqi loved Thomas and friends; the mini train toys and he collected them. Arqi was very happy to try this "petit train".

Le petit train de la Rhune was built in 1924, takes us to the top of the mountain from the France side on 35 minutes journey at a speed of 8 km/h. During the ascent we can see animals and plants that are unique to the Basque mountains. The mountain is home to small wild ponies called pottocks, sheep that cling to the steep rocks and griffon vultures. From the top of its 905 metres, the sacred Basque country mountain of la Rhune provides one of the best panorama imaginable. As far as the eye can see, it takes in the peaks of the Pyrenees and follows the Basque coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean from San sebastion to Biarritz and on to the beaches of Les Landes.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,at the train station la rhune

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, built in 1924,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,waiting the train

,,,, That is le petit train de la Rhune...;;,,,,,,;;;;...climbing the mountain

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,continued climbing the mountain

;;;,,,,,;;the unique railway,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Kakang...peeeeek a booo...

, trekkers climbed the mountain ,,,,,,,,, just arrive on the top of mountain

,,,,,,,,,,The speed only 8 kmph,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, the wild horse "Pottock"

,,,,,,,,,,,On the summit 905m,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ready to go down

,,,,Restaurant on the summit,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, monument on the summit

The Costa Brava, Spain (26 - 30 April 2008)

This printemp holidays we went to Costa Brava, Spain. Costa Brava is the name given to the tourist area at the north-eastern etremity of Spain, above the coastline of Girona. Its geographical limits are the border with France in the north, and Blanes in the Sout (aprox. 60 km from Barcelona). The osta Brava can be simply defined as a coastline of rocks sculpted by the wind and the sea and covered by a carpet of thicket and pines that twist and turn to the caressof the waves. Grey, blue, green and white; these are the colours of a Costa Brava that also includes log smooth sandy beaches. Its personality however, is determined by an endless succession of coves and unexpected spots.

TOSSA DE MAR ( 26-27 April 2008)

We spent 2 days in this beautiful beach. Kakang had a first experience playing with the clean sand beach and waves, he was very...very happy.

About Tossa de Mar; This beach offers one of the most characteristic outlines of the Costa Brava thanks, basically, to its old town (which is encircled by battlement walls: Vila Vella) that sits proudly above the Cap de Tosa. The walls date from the 12th century and the houses protected by them were mostly built starting from the 15th century. From the walls of the Vila Vella, where, at this highest point, we can see perfectly the beautiful panorama along the beach.....

PLATJA DE SANT POL (27 April 2008)

Second day, we went to the beautiful beach Sant Pol in S'Agaro area. On the road from Tossa to Sant Pol, S'Agaro one can reach, over a distance of 20 km it runs along one of the most beautiful coastal areas of the region.

PLATJA D'ARO & PALAMOS (27 April 2008)

From Platja de Sant Pol, we went to Platja d'Aro; one of the large coastal town in Costa Brava. It has 2 km long stretch of sand that today is a focal point for mass tourism. In the northern part of this place, there is one of the largest port towns in Catalonia: Palamos.

TAMARIU & LLAFRANC (27 April 2008)

The next our destination are Tamariu & Llfranc. Tamariu is a very beautiful place. It is known as a beach but it could also qualifiy as a cove. Its simple and apt urban layout surrounding a tongue of sand among pines and tamarinds make it even more enchanting. Same with Tamariu, Llafranc is small beautiful beach and it has a harbour -also quite small -.

LLORET DE MAR (28 April 2008)

Third day, we went to Lloret de Mar. This town represents one the maint tourist-urban phenomena of the Costa Brava. Lloret has various outstanding urban elements, such as its wide promenade that runs parallel to the beach, flanked by graceful palm trees; the Sant Romà church (outstanding are its gothic main door and altarpiece); the town hall; the beach of sa Caleta and Lloret castle; and the bronze statue of "Dona marinera" that faces the sea and is located on the crag of El Rompent.

FIGUERES (28 April 2008)

From Lloret de Mar, We continued our trip to Figueres. We could call this city, maybe... as city of Salvador Dali because when we entered this city, we could found easily many surrealists sculpture in all of city corners. The famous building is The Teatre-Museu Dali which is located just beside the church of Sant Pere and the Rambla, the epicentre of local life. The Teatre-Museu Dali, with around a million annual visitors, is the second most visited museum in the spanish state. Not far from the museum, there is an unique building; Torre Galatea which is crowned by enourmous eggs. Torre Galatea is the last Dali's home before his death in 1989.

EMPURIES (29 April 2008)

Fourth day, we visited the Roman historical ruins at Costa Brava; Empuries (Empuria). The Empuries ruins is just located a few metres awayfrom the sea, bring together Greek, Iberian and Roman remains. A colony of Greeks was established in the 5th century BC and it wasthe first settlement in Empuries. Later, Iberian groups settled here and from 218 BC Romans troops set up a camp. The site, that has been excavated since the beginning of the 20 th century, has unearthed the urban net-work of Empuries. Walls, buildings sculptures, mosaics, jetties and a lot of implements have been unearthed.

L'ESCALA (29 April 2008)

From Empuries, we continued our trip to North of L'Escala, is located just a few metres to the beach from Empuries ruins. North of L'Escala there is one of the most beautiful promenades on the Costa Brava, whose length of some two kilometres attracts walkers, cyclists and skaters. Shaded by tall pines - often beaten by the wind or buried in unstable sand dunes.