Much of the information in this slide show was provided on the spot by farmers and hikers.  The rural people still use many of the edible wild plants and know the medicine.

To glean information we try to stay in farm houses with people who have the knowledge. This particular home is 350 years old. To find it take N152 north out of Barcelona through Vic to Ripoli continue north on 152 to Ribes de Freser pass through the town and catch the spur to Queralbs and Nuria.  Before you reach Queralbs there will be a inconspicuous sign "Casa Rural".   Take the direction indicated (a steep climb) and have passengers jump out and walk when they can no longer curtail their panic.  Eventually, after numerous switchbacks, you will arrive at the Mas Casanova.  They make their own cheese here--in caves.  Lodging is modern in an ancient setting, meals are superb.  They prepare lunches to go for your treks into the mountains (pack lunch:about $3.00 per person).
Europeans are very proud of their herbal heritage and profoundly curious.  This couple and I shared the various ways our different cultures used common wild plants:  plantain, stinging nettle, yarrow, dandelions, malvas.

Most folks were more interested in the medicinal uses and not as interested in food preparations.  Europeans by and large are still meat eaters.   The heart of a Spanish meal is a protein dish or two, bread, wine, olives and olive oil.  Most folks start with a salad, this gets the digestive system revved up,  providing better break down, absorption and assimilation.  Meat (fish) and vegetables are cooked in olive oil.  All salads are dressed as described on the previous page.

There are several helpful books that can be purchased in the larger cities, such as Barcelona.  Unlike Canada and the United States it is difficult to find a field guide where they are most needed, in the National Parks and resort areas.  There are rarely book stores in rural towns and villages.  It must be frustrating to a writer, few outlets for their work in Spain.  Another problem is that books may be in a regional language, such as Basque, Andorran or Catalan. 

Helpful Books purchased in Barcelona:

Guia De Plantas Medicinales, Arnoldo Mondadori, Editore, Grijalbo Modadori Books, Barcelona.

Guia De Flores De Montana, Grijalbo Books, Barcelona

Les Plantes Medicinals dels Paisos Catalans by Angel Romo, Portic Natura Books.

Guia De Las Plantas Medicinales Del Camino Santiago; by Juan Mugarza, San Antonio Books.

 
Malva sylvestris L. food and medicine, well known by the locals, mountain folks and rural dwellers.   Used as food and medicine in Catalan Spain for over 1300 documented years.

A cog train takes you from Ribes or Queralbs to Nuria.  A quick jump start to our trek into the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees right up to the French border.  Train runs about every hour in the AM and every two hours after 3PM.   Miss the last train at 6PM and you spend a night in the mountains, or worse walk out a precipitous pass in the dark.

 

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