Two More Weeks in Andorra
Imagine being in a country without litter, walking among people who are rarely overweight, meeting natives who offer guarded smiles to a stranger, a country (of sorts) a thousand years old that has never been to war. Immerse yourself, inhale that pure air cascading down mountain sides carved in part by immense glaciers. Wake up on cool mornings. Have a bite of breakfast. Wait for the strong sun to warm the day then head out for a three hour or so hike. That's why I'm spending two more weeks here, not to mention great prices on French wines.
Speaking of Andorran mountains, one of the best descriptions of their formation I have read is 'intensley folded and thrusted rocks formed when the Iberian peninsula was rotated onto the European continent'. Another way of saying it is rarely do you find a flat place in this country. It is why you see neighborhoods like the one I am in right now with houses and apartment buildings stair stepped up a mountain side. The streets make their serpentine way between them up and up.
Now a bit about hiking. Spring has sprung and allergies have come riding along on her coattail.
I paused on a hike the other day to toot my snoot and wondered if maybe it was me instead. Perhaps I could be allergic to hiking. The Andorran version of what I take to be azaleas are in full bloom as well.
And while we are on air quality, I thought you'd be interested in warning signs on cigarette cartons here.
But, people flock across the border from France and Spain to buy what the customs limit will allow them to take back home. They cost less than half because of Andorra's duty free status. It is interesting that the warnings are in English. Why not Spanish or French?
Another thing these mountains are good for is testing the mettle of professional cyclists. There are many professional bicycle races around the planet. The three most prestigious are the Giro d'Italia, La Vuelta a Espana, and the Tour de France - Italy, Spain and France.
In 2015 a stage of the La Vuelta came up and over the Col d'Ordino.
This sign sits at the col or what we would call a gap between two peaks in the mountain range. By the way I've now walked a trail around the mountain to the right twice. Why twice? The first time I made a wrong turn and went down a steep part of the mountainside on a wrong path for a half mile before I discovered my error and had to claw my way back up to the correct trail. I did it the second time a week later without losing my way. That proved to be much less demanding.
It is not uncommon to see individuals from the professional teams that participate in the three races mentioned above practicing on some of these mountainous roads. It is one thing to see them on TV but another to drive behind a rider crouching on his bike speeding 40-50 miles down the mountain or meet one making a turn going up a 10% switchback and knowing what lies ahead of him because I have just driven down the mountain. In a word, these athletes are simply incredible!
I will have the good fortune of watching two stages of the Tour de France this year in person . One will be coming into Carcassonne and another will leave Carcassonne to Bagneres du Luchon. There is a rest day in between in Carcassonne so that should be an interesting walk around day. I don't mean to give short shrift to Carcassonne. It is a jewel of a walled city inhabited since Neolithic times. It garnered a UNESCO World Heritage sit designation in 1997. I've been there before and look forward to strolling its medieval streets once again.
As far as the 2018 La Vuelta, another stage is set to be run in Andorra. They will ride over the col d'Ordino.
Finally, yesterday I walked out onto the terrace where I am staying. It is quite spacious and shared by several apartments.
I discovered a new neighbor.
It turns out the turtle has its own water filled container with a ramp it can use to come out and explore its surroundings.
Time to go for a walk.
Speaking of Andorran mountains, one of the best descriptions of their formation I have read is 'intensley folded and thrusted rocks formed when the Iberian peninsula was rotated onto the European continent'. Another way of saying it is rarely do you find a flat place in this country. It is why you see neighborhoods like the one I am in right now with houses and apartment buildings stair stepped up a mountain side. The streets make their serpentine way between them up and up.
Now a bit about hiking. Spring has sprung and allergies have come riding along on her coattail.
I paused on a hike the other day to toot my snoot and wondered if maybe it was me instead. Perhaps I could be allergic to hiking. The Andorran version of what I take to be azaleas are in full bloom as well.
And while we are on air quality, I thought you'd be interested in warning signs on cigarette cartons here.
But, people flock across the border from France and Spain to buy what the customs limit will allow them to take back home. They cost less than half because of Andorra's duty free status. It is interesting that the warnings are in English. Why not Spanish or French?
Another thing these mountains are good for is testing the mettle of professional cyclists. There are many professional bicycle races around the planet. The three most prestigious are the Giro d'Italia, La Vuelta a Espana, and the Tour de France - Italy, Spain and France.
In 2015 a stage of the La Vuelta came up and over the Col d'Ordino.
This sign sits at the col or what we would call a gap between two peaks in the mountain range. By the way I've now walked a trail around the mountain to the right twice. Why twice? The first time I made a wrong turn and went down a steep part of the mountainside on a wrong path for a half mile before I discovered my error and had to claw my way back up to the correct trail. I did it the second time a week later without losing my way. That proved to be much less demanding.
It is not uncommon to see individuals from the professional teams that participate in the three races mentioned above practicing on some of these mountainous roads. It is one thing to see them on TV but another to drive behind a rider crouching on his bike speeding 40-50 miles down the mountain or meet one making a turn going up a 10% switchback and knowing what lies ahead of him because I have just driven down the mountain. In a word, these athletes are simply incredible!
I will have the good fortune of watching two stages of the Tour de France this year in person . One will be coming into Carcassonne and another will leave Carcassonne to Bagneres du Luchon. There is a rest day in between in Carcassonne so that should be an interesting walk around day. I don't mean to give short shrift to Carcassonne. It is a jewel of a walled city inhabited since Neolithic times. It garnered a UNESCO World Heritage sit designation in 1997. I've been there before and look forward to strolling its medieval streets once again.
As far as the 2018 La Vuelta, another stage is set to be run in Andorra. They will ride over the col d'Ordino.
Finally, yesterday I walked out onto the terrace where I am staying. It is quite spacious and shared by several apartments.
I discovered a new neighbor.
It turns out the turtle has its own water filled container with a ramp it can use to come out and explore its surroundings.
Time to go for a walk.
I’m sure you are thrilled to be able to watch the Tour live and in person. Some of us will just have to settle for watching it – and perhaps you? – on television.
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