If you want a detour very near Somport (about 1/2 hr) consider stopping at our favorite B&B in the Pyrenees. I have mentioned this many times before, and it's worth a detour -- really special:

This is our favorite place: La Curette Christian and Eliane CATON Aydius, France tel: 05 59 34 78 18 fax: 05 59 34 50 42

This is a very popular place! They are the warmest, nicest people. It is a spotless place. Eliane has 4 or 5 rooms all w/ private bath. We like the one with the large bathroom with a tub and shower, but the ones on the other side (across the hall) have showers only. They also have small balconies looking off into the mts, the village of Aydius and the cows grazing... magical. (We stayed in one of the rooms that had a balcony this last visit and it was larger than the one w/ the tub and shower - but it was terrific. (This is a spotless B&B) The hamlet of Aydius is about 15 min above Bedous (a tiny village where we buy provisions for manging while hiking and where you can buy wine if you want, a postoffice, etc. There are wonderful villages nearby and the B&B is about 2 hrs from Pau. Also, the B&B is about 1/2 hr from the Col du Somport and the border w/ Spain (we often climb in this area! There is wonderful hiking from here as there is in every valley near here. This is in the Vallée d'Aspe.

Elaine is a fabulous cook and we eat à table with neighbors, other guests if there are any and/or family (she and Christian have grown kids) The meals are all homestyle and PLENTY -- apperitifs, wine, appetizer, entré, cheese, dessert, coffee - and breakfast (homemade jams... yum!) and lots of talking and fun! This runs us about $70/USD/night for both of us (off-season) which includes breakfast and dinner.

Have a wonderful time wherever you go. Best regards, Susie Newton, MA