Late spring in the mountains is pretty. One Sunday we went for a short walk in the ski resort of Candanchú. The snow had all gone from the lower slopes, leaving the detritus of the season: ends of ski poles, straps, gloves, and even a mobile phone - needless to say it didn't work!
There wasn't so much rubbish that you couldn't see the flowers on the ski slopes. There were lots of little (blue) gentians and pink and yellow orchids. I've looked in my flower books, but accurate identification is difficult, so I won't try. There are so many sub-types I wouldn't like to say for sure.
We know our way perfectly well in the winter, but it looks so different when there's no snow. You see the slopes in a different way if you haven't got skis on. Sometimes we've seen marmots and wild goats. Where do they go in the winter, when the snowy slopes are so full of people? Where do they find food?
Life in Jaca, in the Spanish Pyrenees. Nature, including the amazing birds, sport, culture, books, history......
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Cesaraugusta
It's beginning to get hot - if it's hot here in Jaca, Zaragoza is really hot: they said 35 degrees yesterday. I'm not sorry I didn't go. The Orfeón had to sing at a wedding in the cathedral yesterday, so the others went without me and got very hot!
A couple of weeks ago, however, we spent a weekend in Zaragoza and had the pleasure of revisiting the archaeological museum. It had been closed for reform since the the boys were tiny; they loved it then and would still love it.
I'm sure there was a lot more variety before; as well as the Roman exhibits we saw bits and pieces from all historical periods. These are now in storage awaiting an extension to the museum.
There are two sections, Roman and Goya.
The former displays some good bits of Roman statuary, a lot of wonderful mosaic floors rescued from Roman Zaragoza, and a triclinium. They excavated the remains of a plastered, painted room, along with a mosaic floor, and created a reconstruction with the fragments. It's like a jigsaw puzzle with most of the pieces missing and the gaps painted in. Reproduction Roman furniture, plates and food to add to the effect. It's really impressive!
Some of the mosaics are very good, sophisticated ones, others are those slightly amateur - looking ones; the kind where an artist who's never seen an elephant, but produces an image based (sort of) on what he's heard.
The Goya wing was also impressive. For me, the best thing was that I could get up really close to the paintings - close enough to see the cracks and brushstrokes in the half-dozen major works on display.
It's a good way to spend a cool, peaceful couple of hours in Zaragoza.
A couple of weeks ago, however, we spent a weekend in Zaragoza and had the pleasure of revisiting the archaeological museum. It had been closed for reform since the the boys were tiny; they loved it then and would still love it.
I'm sure there was a lot more variety before; as well as the Roman exhibits we saw bits and pieces from all historical periods. These are now in storage awaiting an extension to the museum.
There are two sections, Roman and Goya.
The former displays some good bits of Roman statuary, a lot of wonderful mosaic floors rescued from Roman Zaragoza, and a triclinium. They excavated the remains of a plastered, painted room, along with a mosaic floor, and created a reconstruction with the fragments. It's like a jigsaw puzzle with most of the pieces missing and the gaps painted in. Reproduction Roman furniture, plates and food to add to the effect. It's really impressive!
Some of the mosaics are very good, sophisticated ones, others are those slightly amateur - looking ones; the kind where an artist who's never seen an elephant, but produces an image based (sort of) on what he's heard.
The Goya wing was also impressive. For me, the best thing was that I could get up really close to the paintings - close enough to see the cracks and brushstrokes in the half-dozen major works on display.
It's a good way to spend a cool, peaceful couple of hours in Zaragoza.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)