Beneath the Pyrenees

On the weekend of June 27 and 28th we drove about an hour south of Toulouse near the town of Foix, to go on an underground river ride at the river de Labouiche. It was not your typical pontoon ride out on Clear Lake in the Brainerd Lakes Area. You ride around, 10 people per metal boat, no motor, with the guide pulling the boat along from the line permanently rodded into the cave ceiling above you. All and all, a pretty interesting but weird boat ride under the mountain. They didn't allow cameras down there but they had this Johnny Quest like photo on a poster outside.

Then we continued on to a small town that's a big winter skiing destination here called Luchon. We found an awesome old hotel for $50 euros a night...it was a shock how nice it was for that money. Here's a pic showing the view from our room window.

Luchon is known for their natural steam rooms, cut out from under the Pyrenees mountain there (continuing with our 'under the mountain' theme weekend) that they call 'The Vaporarium'. Da Romans discovered it initially..."hey Tony, check dis out...it's frickin hot in der"

Part of the treatment package there we signed up for was the 'Jet Shower' which we thought would have been like one of those new Kohler showers with jets comin at ya from everywhere. We were in a waiting room beforehand and watched a guy go into a room and turn this big hose on. Then he came out and took Randi in there first. I'm sittin there realizing the guy didn't come back out...thinkin...he's not sprayin her down in there is he! She comes out after about 10 minutes with this funny grin on her face, as the guy calls for me to go in there. What it was was basically to go stand up against the wall and have a guy spray a power hose at ya. It was good they start with having you face the wall, as Randi and I both couldn't stop laughing when we realized what it was. It was pretty funny. At least he chain us to the wall and interrogate us in French :)
After the spa 'treatment' we took an 8 minute ride on the Teleporter (gondola) to the ski area above the town...they call it the tiny town at the top Luchon Superbagnere !!


Incredible view up there....that's Spain behind us.