In 1710 – oops, you can tell this will be a long story – after King Louis XIV of France’s grandson had been named King of Spain, potentially uniting the two countries and ending a rivalry that had dominated Europe for two centuries, Louis declared, “Il y’na plus de Pyrenees,” or “There are no more Pyrenees,” referring to the mountain chain that separated France from Spain. Well, I have news for his departed Majesty, “Il y’a plus de Pyrenees,” and I have climbed them – stumbled, crawled, and fallen across them.
