Grand Africa Cruise Trip Day 95/96 - Back in Barcelona, but where the heck is Andorra?
We were up early to grab some chow as soon as The Colonnade opened at 6:30. We had a few more farewells and save-travel wishes before going back to the suite to button up the suitcases. We were ready to go at 7:00 when disembarkation was scheduled to begin. And then...bing-bing-bing. Cruise Director Nick came on to report that while the Spanish immigration officers were scheduled to be ready at 7:00, they didn't show up and were now expected at 7:30. Nice.
Around 7:30, Nick came on again and said our group was cleared to go through immigration. We grabbed our bags and walked off Seabourn Sojourn for the final time. The line for immigration was long and slow. Eventually, it sped up. We got our passports stamped and walked to find our private car for the transfer to our hotel. We have a hotel because our flight home doesn't leave until 6:00 tomorrow morning. We found our transfer, and it turned out that it wasn't private. We shared with another couple who were going somewhere else. We all had lots of bags and they didn't fit so we had suitcases sitting next to us. Nice again. We dropped the other couple off at the airport, and the driver started setting our bags out. We had to explain that we were going to a hotel. He reloaded the bags, and we left, finally arriving at our hotel.
Because we were there so early, our room wasn't ready. We checked our bags into their secure storage and waited for our driver. Antonio arrived a few minutes later, and we were off. Off for where, you ask? Andorra!
Andorra is a tiny landlocked country that sits along the border of Spain to the south and France to the north. At only 181 square miles and boasting a population of only around 81,000, it is very small.
It was roughly a three-hour ride from Barcelona to Andorra. Here is a look at the sights from our day in our 106th country.
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| Heading north from Barcelona toward the pre-Pyreneese mountains - smaller hills in front of the main range |
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| Passing by Montserrat - we visited the monastery at the very beginning of this journey |
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| A single hot air balloon was gliding over the highway |
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| Our first sign |
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| Almond trees were in bloom |
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| Tarroja de Segarra |
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| The scenery along the way was beautiful |
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| Oliana, Lerida, Spain |
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| Sant Andreu del castell d'Oliana |
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| Castell-Llebre, Santa Maria Church |
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| Oliana reservoir dam |
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| Snow on the Pyrenees |
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| We drove through several tunnels |
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| Approaching the border |
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| Hello, country #106! |
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| One of the first sights - a mall with a McDonald's, complete with a drive-thru |
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| The capital - Andorra La Vella |
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| Pont de la Margineda is a bridge in Andorra la Vella, built in the 14th and 15th centuries, spanning the Gran Valira |
Our next stop was at the Santa Coloma Church and Espai Columba museum in Santa Coloma. The museum displayed artifacts from the church, preserving them.
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| These frescos were removed from the church and remounted |
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| The church, built in the 8th or 9th century, and the tower added in the 12th century |
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| This used to hang in the front - when it was removed, it revealed frecos hidden behind it |
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| A projector recreated the frescos in the altar area |
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| Perhaps this is where the idea for the Queen song, Fat Bottom Girls, came from |
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| Hills and mountains everywhere you look |
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| Sanctuary Basilica of Our Lady of Meritxell |
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| Casa Rural Restaurant Borda Patxeta - our lunch stop - that's our guide, Antonio |
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| Toasting bread the old-fashioned way |
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| Ahhh |
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| A tasty starter - rub the garlic on the bread, drizzle with olive oil, top with tomatoes, grilled peppers, and Spanish omlet |
After a nice lunch, we continued our tour.
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| Església de Sant Joan de Caselles - another church |
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| Valle de Incles - a hiking area - we drove in for the views |
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| There are multiple ski resorts here, and folks were skiing |
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| An industrial area with the Pyrenees peeking out behind |
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| We stopped in Pal, a picturesque community from the 1600s in Ordino |
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| Església de Sant Climent de Pal |
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| We continued to Ordino, also from the 1600s |
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| From 1606 |
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| 1633 is faint, just above the door |
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| Some more modern construction |
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| Casa Rossell |
We drove back to La Vella.
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| Calidea and the Ice Lady |
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| Paris Bridge |
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| The Nobility of Time |
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| The shopping area was vibrant and decidedly upscale |
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| St Esteve of Andorra Church |
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| No idea what this was |
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| Casa de la Vall - former General Council building |
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| The new General Council building |
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| The guys on platforms was just like a similar installation in Nice, France |
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| Saying farewell to Andorra La Vella |
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| Andorra wished us farewell |
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| We passed through border control for Andorra and then Spain |
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| Back in Spain |
About three hours later, we arrived back at our hotel near 9:00 and got our keys.
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| Pushed-together, rock-hard twin beds - yuck |
We enjoyed our day exploring a new country. I wrapped this blog up at about 11:30. Our shuttle leaves at 3:20 tomorrow morning. Time to grab a couple of hours of sleep. It will be a long travel day tomorrow.
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