Wednesday, September 5, 2012
From Barcelona to Andorra
I was is no hurry so stayed in bed until half past seven. Then I had a nice
breakfast, loaded my luggage on the bike and left for Andorra.
My tank was half empty (of half full for the optimists) so I stopped at
the first gasstation to fill up.
Filling my tank before I go to Andorra
On my way to Andorra I wanted to visit the monastery of Montserrat, high in the
mountains. When I was riding on a main road in the direction of Andorra, I
noticed a sign to Valley Montserrat so it tried this road. It was not going to the
monastery but it was a gorgeous road and I enjoyed riding the winding roads with
lots of hairpins, the roads the BMW is made for.
Nice mountain road
My BMW, high in the Pyrenees in Spain
Then I used the Tomtom to find the monastery and soon I was riding an even better
road. The monastery is very high in the mountains and the roads was twisting against
the slopes of the mountains to the summit.
It was very interesting to see how two big tour busses, one going up and the other
comming down, had to pass eachother on the narrow road next to the abyss.....
It is great to ride in this scenery
Finaly I reached the summit and I could park the BMW at a special motorcycle parking,
close to the monastery. The visitors center is like glued on the mountainside and
from there is a covered walkway to the monastery.
The visitors center, glued to the mountain
The views from here are breathtaking. It is more then 1200 meter above sealevel.
You can see the river in the valley, deep below.
breathtaking view
The beautiful monastery of Montserrat
People burning candles for the Virgin of Montserrat
(....I think that is what they do)
After I had a cup of cappuccino at the visitors center, I went back
to my bike and after I had payed three euros for parking the bike there,
I was on my way to enjoy that wonderful road again.
After a lot of fun, I ame back on the main road to Andorra. Through
tunnels, small villages and past a big dam and the dam reservoir I
continued my way to Andorra.
At half past two I crossed the border with Andorra. Some cars were
checked but I was not stopped. Then came the police checkpoint in Andorra
that was no problem too. (I have nothing to hide so it would not be
a problem anyway)
Police checkpoint after crossing the border to Andorra
With a price of less then 1,42 euro for a liter of euro98, it is fun to
fill your tank in Andorra. In the Netherlands, the price for a liter is
1,95 euro !!!
Cheerful I fill my tank in Andorra
It was so cheap, I double checked if it was not diesel but is was not.
It is just a shame my tank is not bigger.
Finding my hotel, Hotel Delfos on the Avenida del Fener, 17 in Escaldes-Engordany,
Andorra was more difficult then I expected. When my Tomtom told me I had arrived,
I was in a parking behind some houses. Fortunately, the first one I asked knew where
the hotel was and from then on it was easy.
It is a nice luxery hotel. I have a big room and my bike is in a garage under
the hotel with a parking attendant at the entrance all day.
A nice room in hotel Delfos
With the bike safely parked in the garage and my luggage on my room, it was time
to stroll the (shopping)streets of Andorra. As far as I can see, Andorra is one
big shopping center with luxery shops for watches, parfum, cameras and much more.
Shopping in Andorra
This is Andorra !!
I looked at the prices of the restaurant in the hotel and decided to go to the
Pizzahut, two blocks down the road. I had a nice Hawai-pizza and a big Pepsi.
It was a nice opportunity to try my new Nikkor 35mm f1.8 lens.
My Pizzahut dinner in Andorra (Nikon D5000 with Nikkor 35mm f1.8)
Back in the hotel I bought a cappuccino in the bar and wentto my room. Tomorrow I
will ride to Carcassonne to see the old citadel.
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