Andorra

We made such good progress using many peage roads, and got in to the capital, Andorra la Vella, at about 7pm just as it getting dark. The access to the place is via a high mountain pass where there was still lots of snow and it was about 3 degrees, but down in the valley it is about 10 degrees and there's no snow. After dinner it was nice to relax in the Crowne Plaza's spa and sauna.

The local language is Catalan. Lots of Spanish-speaking people are dressed in ski gear in the hotel, and all over Andorra are ski resorts, some with lovely shops attached.

Today is the national holiday of Andorra, so all shops were closed – a window shopper’s paradise! Of course, we’ll have to go back when the stores are open tomorrow to purchase a few choice goddies.

We wandered around the extensive network of shopping streets in the morning, and I was interested to see this local radio station was using Dalet!

In the afternoon, we went driving up to the snow line and above, where it seemed most visitors to Andorra were spending the day.

There’s still plenty of snow for skiing, and we had lunch at one of the resorts. It was nice to feel the crispness of the air, and though we didn’t bother making a snow person to clad elegantly in tax-free attire to compliment the wealth and sheer beauty of this principality, we did have fun in the snow, and enjoyed the spectacle of the snow-capped Pyrénèes all around.

Ross enjoying the sun.

The day ended with a huge fireworks display, and I've never heard such loud explosions - the mountians all around created an amphitheatre and it seemed that every explosion was given more punch as it echoed around the valley.