Anyhow, as such… the big decision on where to stop was often where we were when
it started to get dark. As a result, we stopped in some smaller towns that were
less off the tourist trail and although they were mentioned in our Lonely planet
the reviews that they had were well… let’s just say, not so spectacular.  Two
examples come to mind.

We stayed one night in the small Spanish Pyrenean town that was described by
good old LP as boring, drab and run down… but we felt that it really had a lot
of life to it, given that it was a Tuesday night. We met some really fun locals
at dinner and most importantly our stop there gave us a new perspective on the
Spanish Pyrenees. On our way south after spending three glorious days relaxing
in the French Pyrenees, we crossed the border into Spain and the mountain region
turned dry and barren. It was horrible!! However, on our way home, the Spanish
side of the hills was redeemed and we feel like we could spend some considerable
time there in the future.

Orange, France was also a nice surprise. This town was a big Roman outpost and
the remnants of a beautiful amphitheater as well as an impressive Roman Arch
still exist here. If there is one thing you can say about the legacy of the
Romans, it is that they could really build things! We enjoyed our time in town
exploring small back alleyways and the massive piles of garlic for sale in the
markets. We were even impressed with the nightlife!! We found a great pub with a
great band and an international audience.

What I hope we remember to take away into our future travels is that sometimes
the most interesting or relaxing places or the best travel experiences are not
the things that everyone knows about and likes, but instead are the small places
that aren’t necessarily recommended but are memorable in their own way.