Memories of a Much Loved Mayor

Memories of a Much Loved Mayor

By Alastair Caisley
Our (Usually) Diplomatic Correspondent

Many of you will now that Joaquin Paricio, the long-standing Mayor or El Grado and

great friend of The Lions, died in March after a courageous six-year struggle against cancer.


This article is a short personal reflection on his involvement with The Lions.


I first met the Mayor on what, unbeknown to Antonio and I, was our very first Lions’

Trip in 2001. Having had a long drive from Bilbao (a route not to be recommended),

we arrived late in El Grado. However, its never too late to eat in Spain! Our meal

was at Las Acacias and it was there that we first met Joaquin Paricio, who warmly

greeted our little group of three. After a brief introduction, things came to an abrupt

end with the announcement that a wild boar had come off second best with a car on

the outskirts of the village. People left the restaurant at a speed only comparable to

Antonio’s legendary raging bull run in Pamplona (you will be pleased to hear that this

is no longer one of The Lions’ activities).


Our get togethers with the Mayor then became a regular feature of The Lions’ trips. It

wasn’t long before we learned that Joaquin Paricio had taken himself off to New York

to negotiate a sizeable loan to build the electricity plant/fish farm on the River Cinca.

Siberian Sturgeon:

Not content with that, we then discovered that he was also instrumental in establishing

the World Ludo Championships in El Grado. For those of us who were there at El

Poblado a few years ago, who can forget his very amusing description of the range of

participants, the strict rules and very modest prizes? Many of the competitors were

probably blissfully unaware that even some local prisoners took part in the event!

Always a generous, friendly and hospitable man, many Lions were privileged to hear

him speak so movingly about his liver transplant. It was so emotional that the Lions’

tradition of keeping a stiff upper lip soon disappeared, as a few of us tried to hide the

odd tear. The bond of friendship between the Lions and the Mayor grew stronger

every year. Even a language barrier did not stop him sharing genuine pleasure at

meeting us again. There was a memorable presentation to Joaquin Paricio in his

office with accompanying photographs three years ago and presented him with his

Honorary Lion Certificate, something which he accepted proudly.


It was therefore with great sadness that I heard of his recent death. The Lions will

miss a true friend. Even last year, his generosity was shown when he delivered

a dozen bottles of the excellent Enate wine.

He will also be missed by his local

community, who he served so faithfully for many years. Over a thousand people

attended his funeral at Torrecuidad ~ a tribute to his popularity.


Our parting, for those who believe, is but temporary. As we enjoy (or for some

“endure”!) this year’s activities, please think of Joaquin Paricio and his smiling face

looking down on our modest efforts and endeavours.

Do Lions need energy bars?

Do Lions need energy bars?

Fr Bernard (with tongue in cheek!)

Since our last expedition the cycling world has been turned upside-down. We’ve had a
couple of Brits performing exceptionally well in the Tour de France – remarkable, as I thought we
specialised at being good losers (or proclaiming ourselves winners during the preliminary rounds
and failing miserably as the final approaches). The other revolution on 2-wheels has been the
Armstrong affair: years of strongly defended victories eventually (and reluctantly) admitted to be
based on pharmaceutical prowess.

How does this affect us? As Lions (being kings of the jungle) we do not compete with one
another – as Antonio keeps reminding us. Our adventures emphasise teamwork. We have no heats
or finals; success and failure are irrelevant. We only celebrate (and look forward to?) survival.
There is no individual title to defend or prize to win.

Wonderful! Let the world of professional cycling go its way: we Lions remain above those
twisted ways. At least that’s what I thought – till my eyes were opened by reading “Racing through
the dark. The fall and rise of David Millar”. Wow! How naïve I was: forgetful of the ever-present
risk we run.

In this book Millar describes his professional cycling career up to the present. A true Brit:
not outstanding – but a good domestique for the bigger names and with sufficient shine to engender
hopes that he might someday come to be a great champion. However, as his career develops we
learn how things start going wrong. It is a tale revealing more about human nature than about the
drugs business itself.

So, Lions beware! At least any Lion admitting a share in human nature.

Why beware?

Our Dave tells us how as a young professional he knew nothing of drugs. Only gradually does
he wake up to the truth that some of his heroes have a little supplement with their porridge… and
that at the higher levels of the game there is a marked laisser faire and “head in the sand” attitude
towards getting a bit (or even a lot) of unusual assistance from modern medical science. The more
his eyes are opened, the more he rejects that path: he is going to prove them all wrong – and like a
good Scot will have nothing more than salt and water with his porridge. This is when his weakness
is uncovered – his price is met. His bosses need more wins – otherwise they will lose sponsors. And
he needs to please his bosses – otherwise he’ll have to go to art school afterall. That was his fall-
back option if things didn’t work out with his cycling dream.

And his weakness? The achilles heel we all share. Yes, good old human nature. No more,
no less. Not the idealised humanity of dreams, but the real thing – with all its limitations. It’s not
always easy to see where those limits might be. We know that on January 1st each year the email
from Antonio will arrive: sign up and reach for the sky! Then the regular encouragement to do
better: prepare well, train hard, etc. Good old Lions! Where would we be without that relentless
stimulus to do better? And helped by truly remarkable leonine camaraderie I’m sure all of us have
been surprised by what we can in fact achieve. But, beware: that New Year message could be our
undoing.

The “preparation” that tends to the obsessive. Neglecting the family stroll in the park
because it’s too gentle … This is where we can meet our Millar moment. Losing our balance under
pressure. Yes, even the desire to improve can lead to harm. We must ask ourselves: Am I constantly
conscious of my finitude? Do I remind myself that I carry within me a burden of frailty? We speak
of a pride of lions – but we must fear like the plague the pride of lions!

A sobering thought. Keep fit. Train within reason: family, profession and other things come
first. Learn humility. Let’s share the Pyrenean experience together. But let’s not, whatever we do,
allow the physical ambitions to take over! That’s the culture of drugs – the hubris of self.

NATURE GUIDE - CHAPTER 2

THE LIONS OF THE PYRENEES NATURE GUIDE - CHAPTER 2
"FAUNA OF THE PYRENEES"

By Daniel Arenas (Ornithologist and Nature Correspondent)

Wildlife of the Pyrenees

Due to their relative isolation and lack of human habitation the Pyrenees are home

to a huge variety of wildlife, with many native species unique to the Pyrenees.

The Pyrenees are one of the few places to find the Pyrenean Desman (Galemys

pyrenaicus), Pyrenean Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) and Pyrenean Brown

Bear(Ursus arctos).

Mammals of the Pyrenees

The Pyrenees are home to a variety of mammals, with many native species unique to

the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees are home to the Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus),

Pyrenean Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) and Pyrenean Brown Bear (Ursus

arctos).

The best way to spot these animals in the mountains is on one of ourwalking holidays.

Although your chances of seeing a bear or desman are very small, we often spot isard

up on the steep mountain slopes, and Marmot and Griffon vultures are a common

sight in the cirque de Troumouse on our Explorer walks. As part of your guided

MountainBug holiday, your guide will show you as much as they can of the local

wildlife, sharing their passion for the Pyrenees.

Below are brief descriptions of some of the mammals to be found in the Pyrenees. We

are gradually building up a library of descriptions and photographs, but currently this

list is not extensive.

Pyrenean Chamois, Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica, or “isard”

The isard is the Pyrenees’ emblem. You may see it on signs to denote national park

boundaries (a red isard’s head on a white background).

Alpine Marmot, Marmota marmot

The Marmot disappeared from the Pyrenees after the last glacial era, but they’ve now

been successfully reintroduced.

Brown Bear, Ursus arctos

The Pyrenean bear is the smallest of the brown bear family, with adult males weighing

120 to 200kg, and females 80 to 100kg. They live between 800 and 2400m. They

have a beige to dark cinnamon-coloured coat, and hibernate between December and

March-April.

Wild Boar, Sus scrofa

There are many species of wild boar world wide. Here in the Pyrenees we have

Common wild boar Sus scrofa scrofa. This is the most common and widespread

subspecies, with its original distribution range from France to European Russia. It has

recently been introduced in Sweden, Norway, the USA and Canada.

Pine Marten, Martes martes

These attractive, arboreal animals, belonging to the same family as Polecats, Stoats

and Otters, are found up to the tree line in coniferous and mixed woodlands all over

the Pyrenees.

Lions Get-togethers...

Lions Get-togethers...

Gentlemen (Alastair, Guido and Daniel)

The three of you are responsible of the Get-togethers that we will have at Base Camp in the evenings. Some times we will have a guest speakers, but we do not, please have some songs (Guido you are the Guitarist of the Lions), anecdotes or events which make the gatherings enjoyable.

You do not need to prepare much (except Guido with his songs), but you should help me so that it is a convivial atmosphere, and of some cultural level.
Best regards

A lion of the Pyrenees,
Antonio Irastorza

JOAQUÍN PARICIO, RYTHM AND HARMONY

JOAQUÍN PARICIO, RYTHM AND HARMONY

The long and emotional applause dedicated to Joaquín

Paricio, mayor of El Grado, following his funeral in

Torreciudad on 22 March was the last recognition to a man

who made friendship and service the constants features of

his existence.

Hundreds of people remarkably different in so many

aspects came up to that Marian location on the border of

Ribagorda with Somontano and Sobrarbe. But everybody

was convened by the capacity of harmony and unity that

characterized Joaquin. As with the ovation is the sum

of many personal applauses, each of us had- have- our

experience, our applause, our strength and cadence.

Different but shared. Perhaps it was the last lesson and

last message of a great mayor: Politics with a capital P and

without fussy villagers.

We lived some hours with sadness that turned out happy

and full of hope. On 22 you felt well in High-Aragon, with

an overwhelming sight of nature, light, water and plenty

of snow. I appreciated the fruits of Joaquin’s life and the

groove he has left in so many that are the driving force

of rural development from politics, communication, small

business, citizenship.

At that time of serenity that was the last farewell it was

obvious that it is possible an honest exercise of the political

activity, beyond bad and noisy real examples. Because

most of them work for the general interest, even with

failures and difficulties.

Joaquín built a leadership based on fondness, consistency

and service, as we, the Lions, appreciate in our stays in

Aragon, full of hospitality that Joaquin gave us. Based on

imagination and dedication. Encouraging, creating teams.

With joy, knowing how to distinguish the secondary. A good

example.

I think there lies the great reception that was his party in

Torreciudad: the same reception that was Joaquin’s life, a

life with rhythm and harmony.

Manuel Garrido