Playing them in

Since we were all here at Bordes de Graus, it was a no-brainer for G and S to invite all the local interviewees for their joint book to a slightly delayed book launch. The interviewees of course include Salva and Angels, proprietors of the campsite and refuge, who have been a tremendous help throughout, facilitating contacts with people.

Angharad was persuaded to play the guests in as they arrived, although she is rather shy about playing in public. Hopefully she was encouraged by the copious applause. The launch itself took place inside the bar unfortunately. The light inside is terrible. Still, I got the money shot -- the interviewees present posing with G and S (extra). Salva on the left, Angels second from right in the flowery dress. Musta didn't make it today; we weren't surprised, as it's a long way to come two days in a row. But in a way it was a good thing because he had plenty of time to chat with everyone yesterday, and I was pleased to meet him for the first time, having heard so much about him.

After the official launch (speeches in English and Catalan), Salva and Angels served rather dangerous looking punch, and nibbles in the form of slices of pizza.  With about 25 people, many of them Salva's cousins, it all got very lively and sociable.

Meanwhile the rest of A and G's family had hit a slight hitch in their determination to make it as far as possible from London by (night) train. They'd booked a hire car in La Seu d'Urgell with Europcar. The pick up location was ... Andorra airport, which is in fact a small airfield just outside La Seu mostly used by private jets. No Europcar office, no staff, no car. After son-in-law O phoned and ranted at them, they sent someone with a car from ... Lleida, two hours' drive away. So they missed the book launch completely but were in time for dinner in the restaurant at eight. So it was a merry and convivial evening one way and another.

Note to self: earlier, S and I went on a nice and very easy walk from above Espot, in the national park of Aiguestortes, followed by good value tapas in a bar in touristy Espot. More lovely butterfly sightings -- I might put a few on Flickr.