To get to Andorra, I took a train from Pamplona to Lleida and then a bus to Andorra. This is me carrying my backpack from the train to the bus station. It was a bit hot that day.
Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra. It’s history dates back over a thousand years beginning in the middle ages around the 9th century. Andorra la Vella means “Andorra the Old” in Catalan. It was traditionally under joint sovereignty of the Count of Foix (France) and the Bishop of Urgell (Spain). Andorra remained neutral and luckily isolated through much of European history, avoiding many of the wars on the continent. Maybe being surrounded by the Pyrenees helped?
The 1993 Andorran Constitution established the country as a parliamentary democracy, while maintaining its co-princes (the French President and the Bishop of Urgell).Now it is a tourist destination, especially known for duty-free shopping, skiing, and natural beauty. There are so many high end shops here. I might be one of the few who really is not even drawn to browsing as I seriously hate shopping.It is the highest capital city in Europe, and sits at an elevation of 1,023 meters (3,356 feet). Much less than Quito, but this truly a beautiful place. It is like a tiny valley nestled in among the Pyrenees.
The one relaxing thing I did was to spend 3 hours in the spa. Caldea spa is impressive. The views from the external pools was amazing. My favorite pool is the one with the oranges. Just a bunch of oranges in warm water. The smell was heavenly. I also appreciated the hammam, which is a moist steam room. Really good for the breathing.
After lunch I walked to old town. It is a quaint little town with great views.
The Noblesse du Temps, a statue by Salvadore Dali .
Saint Esteve d’Andorra church.
Casa de la Valle, the historic parliament house.
My last day I walked along the Rec del Solá trail. After a 600 m climb, the relatively flat trail followed along the mountain and an irrigation canal designed to control the flow of water and which was also used by farms just on the other side of the path. It is a great system and a beautiful walk!
