Took off early and decided to have breakfast and cappuccinos at the old town in Andorra la Vella, the capital of Andorra ... only 128 km (75 miles) ... how long could that take, right?
Well ... immediate after Prades, France, the majestic Pyrenees showed up on both sides of the road and the climb began. The road was a very curvy, narrow 2-lane road following a valley carved by a river in between two mountain ranges ... a spectacular ride. Went from 900ft to 7000ft through nature at its best. Pavement was flawless but it took me 2.5 hours to get there. Oh well. Worth it!
Andorra la Vella is a city nestled in an impossible valley surrounded by steep and tall mountains ... like Machu Pichu or Medellin : )
A great city to walk around, visit with people ... the official language is Catalan ... so close enough for me ... a little French, a little Portuguese, and Spanish and t all works. Had my breakfast and coffee at this great Catalonian bakery ... the attendants were all from Ecuador ?!?
I did not know but the valley of Andorra la Vella and beyond is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its main sources of income are tourism and banking ... and I did see lots of ski lifts and winter lodges all around as you approach the capital.
Walked down the pedestrian Main Street all along the city (3 miles) and had lunch in the old city before heading out.
The trip down on the Spanish side was less dramatic. Gradual slopes and curves all the way down to the Catalonian wine country. My stay for the night is at a vineyard in an old country mansion surrounded by 100+ hectares of olive trees and vineyards. Very cool. Very secluded.
The restaurant was a Michelin rated restaurant ... go figure ... the food was indeed amazing ... way better than French food : )
Tomorrow, I begin the sprint to make it to Sevilla by Friday so I can make my flight out to Dallas from Madrid on Sunday.
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