It’s been six weeks since I left the UK and since I’m currently back there again, due to sickness–actually, old-age in the family–it seems a good a time as any to update you on my travels.
Six countries down: Germany (Argenbühl-Eglofs), Liechtenstein (Balzers), Spain (Cullera), Portugal (Darque), Andorra (Encamp), and Italy (Frattammagiore). Only another 20 to go.
Yesterday I called to reserve a seat on the Eurolines bus from Encamp to Toulouse.
“1540 Encamp Comu,” the reservationist said.
1530 I left the hotel and walked to the Comu stop. 1550 and no bus arrived. I couldn’t find the phone card I’d bought, so walked to the tourist office and asked to use their phone. The lady would not accept the Euro I offered, shook her head, smiled and shooed my out of the door with a wave after I hung up the phone. The bus be at the stop in five minutes.
St. George, the patron saint of England (although it’s unlikely he actually went there), is most famous for slaying a dragon during a visit to Libya. The story goes that a dragon terrorized the town and all its pretty maidens, and, to keep it at bay, young girls were given up as sacrifices on a daily basis. When all the girls had been eaten, only the King’s daughter, the princess, remained. George, being the nice chap that he was, could not let this happen, killed the beast and saved the day.
April 23 is St. George’s Day, hence this mindless post. In Andorra it is tradition to celebrate by giving gifts: boys give girls red roses and girls give the boys books.
On my way to the spa this morning, I bumped into a group of teenagers whose business was booming. Motorcyclists and parents with pushchairs stopped frequently to pay 4,00 Euro for a long-stemmed rose.
Overall, I have not been visually stimulated by Andorra. The mountains without their winter decorations are gray and appear depressed, waiting for their summer foliage to appear. The architectural splendor I witnessed in Portugal and Spain is non-existent.
That doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed being here, though, apart from a little horse abuse I witnessed during a ride this morning (I’m debating whether or not to include a separate posting on this–may be wise just to try and forget it).
The time has been used to catch up on my notes and post additional photographs to Flickr, and it’s been great to have Nen, the hotel’s dog around to get my canine fix.
Details on some of the things I’ve done whilst here–plus others–are included below, and before I leave for Toulouse on the bus tomorrow afternoon, I’ll pay a visit to Caldea and enjoy soaking in the thermal water spa for a couple of hours.
I have not made a visit to El Serrat, one of the Es on my list. Without a car it has been difficult, and I’ve also been told by several people there’s bugger all to do at this time of year and nothing to see. Two Es will have to suffice.
- Caldea, Europe’s largest spa resort, located in Escaldes-Engordany, offers indoor and outdoor lagoons, numerous beauty treatments, from massages to manicures, plus restuarants.
Yesterday when I caught the bus up to the riding stables, I bumped into a man.
“Ee-s is very good horses,” he said. A good sign. He looked like a decent, knowledgeable person. Perhaps not someone skilled in the art of horsemanship, but a nice person, nonetheless.
Today I got the bus back to the stables for a 12 noon ride, and met “Bob,” the owner. He did not want payment until after the ride; nor did he want my name, any form of ID, or require me to sign a release of some sort. I grabbed a hat, mounted Doc, originally a white horse, I think, and joined the rest of the group heading out for the ride, the majority of whom were locals.
After spending all of yesterday on a bus and train, the last thing I wanted to do today was use four wheels to get myself around. I decided to walk everywhere I went.
“No good on foot,” the woman at the tourist office said. “Not made for people.”
But it was only a few kilometers. I wanted to get to Engordany and then perhaps L’Adosa to check out the riding stables. I’d try it.
Since Andorra is one of the smallest countries in the world, covering less than 500 sq km, I`m going to hit all three of them in two or three days: Encamp, El Serrat, and Escalges Engordany (the latter doesn´t even show up on the map).
