Followers

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

V: Villefranche—we went but didn't Visit

These photos were taken in April, 2011, from the train on the way to Villefranche-de-Conflent, in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, where we hoped to take the little yellow train up to the border of Andorra, a mountain principality I have wanted to visit for many years.

We didn't even get to visit Villefranche. We arrived there, were told the little yellow train wasn't running that day, but we could get back to Perpignan on a train leaving in a few minutes. Along with other disappointed tourists who, like us, hadn't read the fine print, we returned to Perpignan. There, the two of us decided to go to Avignon for the rest of the day. (See Avignon posts starting here.)

Even though we didn't see the town, or get up to the Andorra border, we'd have been hard-pressed to find scenery more beautiful than the views we had from the train on our way to and from Villefranche.


© Photos by Richard Schear, April, 2011     


Posted for ABC Wednesday, started by
Mrs. Nesbitt, and carried on by her team of alphabetical photobloggers.

To see how other bloggers used the letter V, please click HERE!

29 comments:

Martha Z said...

Train travel is an easy, relaxing way to see the scenery. It can be frustrating, though, to have your day planned out only to find you didn't have all the information.

photowannabe said...

What absolutely gorgeous scenery. I can imagine the disappointment but what you did see certainly isn't second rate.

Jingle said...

sorry you missed visiting it.
the photo shots are very lovely.

Roger Owen Green said...

Always wanted to go to Andorra, just to say that I did!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Cezar and Léia said...

I will selfishly say that I'm glad you could capture and share with us these images... But really a pity that you didn't get to see all the places you wanted to...
I too love mountains!
God bless you!
Cezar

Meryl said...

Wow. Just beautiful. I just loved snow-capped mountains...doesn't really matter where they are. They are just so majestic.

RedPat said...

It could well be V for view as well! Great shots.

Hildred said...

Beautiful photos, - I would think the view on the way up would be well worth the trouble and disappointment, Kay. It is always a real let-down to arrive somewhere with anticipation and find the place closed!!!!

EG CameraGirl said...

It's absolutely beautiful there! Too bad about not getting to Andorra, though.

Reader Wil said...

Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos! Sorry to hear that you were sick some time ago. Meat is the first thing a sick person refuses to eat.There are so many alternatives for meat.
I wish you and your husband a great week!

Julie said...

Lovely distant views ... but maybe the little yellow train ride would have been too cold.

Penelope Notes said...

I see the weather was clear over those green hills and pristine mountains. These are wonderful captures of the terrain, Kay! Also, I loved your fictional piece in the previous post. Very lyrical writing that grabbed my attention from start to finish. :)

Sylvia K said...

Gorgeous place and superb captures, Kay! Such a lovely part of the world and a great post for the V Day! Have a lovely evening!

Sylvia
ABC Team

Friko said...

Breathtaking scenery, you are absolutely right.
Travelling by train is such a civilised form of locomotion.

Gigi Ann said...

The mountain photos are beautiful. So glad you could share them today.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Sometimes getting there is ALL the fun! Beautiful scenery.

Linnea said...

I still can't get over the gorgeous weather you had on that trip. It's frustrating when you plan on visiting a particular spot and then can't! Oh well...that's the charm of traveling and that's why you'll have to go back!

Carver said...

Wow, the scenery from the train was gorgeous. I'm sorry you didn't get to spend any time there but at least you got the views from the train.

Beverley Baird said...

Gorgeous shots! The scenery is breath-taking for sure!

ChrisJ said...

The blue sky always makes those mountain shots look perfect.

clairz said...

Gorgeous views, and so cooling for me on this hot desert day!

SquirrelQueen said...

Sorry you didn't get to visit Villefranche but the scenery is amazing. I love those mountain views.

S K Ditta said...

The scenes are so soft to the eyes. It is like a sweet melody - the mellow sunlight, white mountains, and so much greenery.

cieldequimper said...

The older I get, the more I like the Pyrénées!

Joy said...

As they say it is the journey not the destination. Always wanted to go to the Pyrenees, photos lovely. Reminded me of the time I went to the Pelopennese, looking forward to a train ride in the hills. The line was closed for renovation, on the plus side, we had fun taking pictures from the track and the bridges across the chasms.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Amen to that! What spectacular views!!
Even as a photograph on the internet, they take my breath away.

Tumblewords: said...

Superbly spectactular! What a trip that must have been...

Wanda said...

Oh what magnificent scenery.

Just stunning!

Chubskulit Rose said...

Breathtaking Kay! Thanks a lot for the visit.