Blogs from Andorra, Europe - page 4

Bilbao's efficient metro system, Spain's extensive bus network and ALSA's spacious, modern buses ensured that the seven-and-a-half hour journey from Bilbaoto Barcelona was absolutely painless. Comfortable, even. It was great to be back in Barcelona again. It was where I spent three months learning Spanish before I set off for South America just over eight months previously. I had great memories, fun memories, of my time here and those memories were rekindled almost as soon as I arrived back in the city. Although most of the friends I made here have already left, there were still a couple hanging about (as well as revisiting Barcelona at the same time as me!) the place and it was great catching up with them. Just like I did when I was livin... read more

Friday February 19 - Ordino is only 11km away from Andorra la Vella and didn't take that long to get to. When I arrived, I found the info office but it was 1:28 and the sign said they were closed from 1:30-3pm. Siesta, I guess. Anyway, I ran in just in time to get a map and find out where the bus back picked up. From there I went to look around. It's a tiny town, so it was easy. I went there to see more of the mountains and the stamp museum. When I got to the stamp museum at 1:50, I saw that they were closed from 2-3pm. I asked the guy and he said I have to sign up for a tour in the right language (there is a tour?), and I said ... read more

A little over three years ago, this traveller made a valient attempt at reaching Andorra by means of flying into Toulouse airport and making the rest of the journey south overland until the intended destination was reached. Cutting a long(er) story short, the attempt failed, and Andorra remained a little more shrouded in mystery and speculation over what might have been missed out on. This time around, however, the same snow-blocked road blight did not hamper the proceedings, and reaching the small but more than adequate hotel Festa Brava in the nation's capital, Andorra La Vella was a victory of determination over circumstance. Andorra La Vella could best be described as an outsized duty-free shopping zone, and the sheer wealth of retail outlets, strung together with hotels, restaurants and the occasional significant building, bear testimony to ... read more

That pretty much sums it up. I'm having a great time here, all things considered. Andorra La Vella is the highest capital in Europe, situated amid the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. I've wanted to come here since I was 14 or thereabouts, so I'm glad it has finally happened! My trip up from the south of Spain yesterday was pretty painless - even the 5+ hour train ride to Barcelona went by surprisingly fast. I'm impressed by the Renfe trains of Spain, in spite of what I've heard in the past. The 3-hour bus ride from Barcelona to Andorra also went by unexpectedly fast. There were only 13 of us on the minibus, but most of us kept to ourselves. I was admiring the scenery for most of the trip, until it got dark. ... read more

3 or 4 hours in Andorra The Principality of Andorra is officially a sovereign landlocked micro-state nestled in the Pyrenees, it is a tiny country with an area of 468 km2and an estimated population of 85,000. Formed in A.D. 1278 it is known as a principality as it’s a monarchy headed by two Co-Princes – the Spanish/Roman Catholic Bishop of Urgell and the President of France. I visited in August 2014 as part of a Modern Explorers trip to video Megaliths in the Pyrennes (see video below) but only passed through briefly. In that amount of time you can’t absorb much culture but to be honest being wedged between France and Spain it doesn’t really have much of a unique way of life anyway. Andorra consists predominantly of mountains. The highest being the Coma Pedrosa ... read more