The purpose of adding Barcelona and subsequently Andorra to our honeymoon tour was simply an aspect of cost and convenience. We were flying into Italy and out of Iceland a month later. In between, we knew we wanted to spend some time in Greece. So we needed to figure out the most cost effective way to get from Greece to Iceland and it turns out 5 days flying into and back out of Barcelona was the way to do that. Andorra - a small mountain country that is located on the boarder of Spain and France - was an inexpensive three hour bus ride from Barcelona so we figured, why not? Just adding to that country count! (45 for me, in case you were wondering.) barcelona I can keep this brief: I love this city. Not only was delicious food incredibly affordable, but it was fresh gave me my fill of much needed greens and veggies. Running is easy and the city appears to be quite active. I got in both a 15 miler - just beating a thunderstorm - and a very strong 8 mile tempo. The streets are winding and full and fun to get lost within. We spent three nights total at two different airbnb's near and in the Gothic Quarter and highly recommend this area. We happened to be in town for La Merce Festival and watched a parade of endless fireworks make it's way through the Quarter. We even got some end of summer beach time, soaking up the last of the warm weather we would experience before jetting off to Iceland. andorra This tiny country was never on my radar. But because both Erik and I had been to Barcelona on previous trips (separately) we wanted to try to squeeze in something new and Andorra seemed like a fun detour. I mean, it's home of the Europe's biggest spa so that's pretty much all I needed to hear and I was sold. We had two nights and one full day there and filled it up. This breathtaking city - Andorra la Vella - is nestled in a mountain valley with a rushing river running through the center. They have a trail along both sides of the river and we took full advantage and I got in six miles with a 5K at a 7 minute pace. The air felt so fresh making the run feel even better. We then spent the rest of the day at the spa, Caldea & Niuu. Literally. Gym time, yoga class, massages, and hours in the many pools. The food in the city was nothing to write home about. Pretty basic mountain fare - but the proximity to two very foodie countries allowed for more seafood than you might see in other similar environments. If we were the shopping types, we may have also enjoyed the most prominent reason people visit: tax free shopping. The whole place is like a massive duty free store which definitely attracts more local and further visiting tourists alike. We didn't buy anything, because unemployed (and backpacking). Oh, there was also a little beer bar that we discovered! Their disclaimer is pretty much my favorite, and the beer was great too. So while the reason we came to both Spain and Andorra was based on logistics - we are happy this is where we landed.
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AuthorA Midwest girl gone global. I choose happiness everyday: I run, eat well, travel, and love completely. Archives
March 2022
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