Andorra

Andorra is the largest of the European microstates, it's also the highest; Which is why we decided to go there, to the resort of Grandvalira, to ski and snowboard.

Did you know that you can also learn things while at the snow? We got these facts from the columns along the chairlifts.

Andorra Fact No 1: Andorra is a co-principality with the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell, as co-princes. This means that the President of France, as Prince of Andorra, is an elected monarch.

Andorra Fact No 2: The population of Andorra is about 80,000. (The lifts at Grandvalira can carry 100,000 people per hour)

Andorra Fact No 3: Skiing first became popular in Andorra in the 1930's. (Luckily we came at a not so popular time)

Andorra Fact No 4: In Andorra, one can search for the tamarro. This is a non-existent mythical animal which looks like a deer but has legs on one side of its body shorter than the other.

Andorra Fact No 5: The one and only official language of Andorra is Catalan. It sounds like a mixture between French, Spanish and Gibberish.

Andorra Fact No 6: The highest point in Andorra is Coma Pedrosa at 2,942m. Josh tried his best to get higher.

Andorra Fact No 7: Andorra maintains a small Army, and all able-bodied men who own firearms must serve.  The Army's main responsibility is to present the national flag at ceremonies.

We took one day off from skiing to relax. We bought a few things in the giant shopping area known as Andorra La Vella.

We unwound at the spa resort of Caldea, which included Roman baths, Jacuzzis, a hammam, an outdoor heated pool, saunas and more. (We didn't take a camera, so this one is from the net)

And in the evening we did Ice-Karting. This is exactly what it sounds like, Go-Karts on ice. It looked like this...

But it felt like this (Click Here)

Finally, a special treat for this week's blog entry, a blooper reel! These come with a warning though, so if you are afraid of bad language, turn your speakers off.

Farewell to the Land of Lisps

Our last stop in the Iberian Peninsula was the Catalan funopolis, Barcelona. We stayed near the busy promenade known as La Rambla..

..and visited many of the city's groovy neighbourhoods including el Gotic, el Raval and Barcelonetta. 

Barcelona is world renowned for its culinary excellence. Not only did we try some local tapas (e.g. Devil's Chorizo)...

..but we also visited the restaurant voted number 1 on tripadvisor out of over 3,000. It was scrumptious!

We took a stroll through the two oldest markets in the city: Santa Catarina and La Boqueria.

The city has a unique subterranean museum displaying the 2,000 year old Roman ruins.

Of course, one can't describe a visit to Barcelona without mentioning Antoni Gaudi. The loopy visionary who combined nature, religion and love for Catalonia into his architecture, has left several marks on the city. None is more impressive than the work in progress that is the Sagrada Familia. 

After seeing scores of churches, basilicas and cathedrals so far on this trip, it was refreshing and motivating to find one so different. While most use gold and size to atomize the individual against the power of God and the church, this one seems to allow for a connection to religion, nature and the community. It therefore felt more sincere and welcoming than the dark and cold spaces found elsewhere. Ironically it is visited by far more tourists than worshippers.

The outside won't be done until around 2050, but the inside looks like this.

We walked through the Park Güell, also designed by Gaudi.

The view of the Sagrada Familia from the park.

Other highlights of our trip included the Palau de la Música Catalana, the Picasso Museum and seeing Cuban Jazz late on Saturday night.

But for Josh, the best moment was seeing the best football team, FC Barcelona. Although they played 2nd from bottom Sporting Gijon, after a red card to Barcelona's Gerard Piqué the game got interesting and the crowd woke up. It wasn't until the 79th minute that Seydou Keita scored the winner. While the whole team lived up to their reputation, Andres Iniesta especially was superb.

Click here for the match highlights

Surreal Madrid

We spent four exciting days in one of Europe's most vibrant cities, Madrid. Most of this time was spent either wandering the streets, eating tapas or enjoying some of the best art Spain has to offer. 

Because we spent so much time in art galleries, specifically the Prado, the Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza, we didn't get many photos. But below are a few highlights of our trip.

We strolled around the Parque del Buen Retiro with its palaces, monuments and roller skates.

 

We visited the Royal Palace which was both impressive and ludicrous in its grandeur.

We wandered the streets of Madrid's most bustling neighbourhoods: Chueca, Huertas and La Latina.  

We marvelled at the powerful architecture along Gran Via

We ate delicious cuisine, both Spanish and international

Of course, all of this activity did desire some well-earned siestas.

In case you were wondering, we did some laundry. Yaz even bathed a couple of times.

As a punishment for trying to escape the underworld, Josh was condemned to spend eternity carrying a huge boulder up a hill.

Then Yaz confronted her demons and a locust.

Madrid really is a striking, colourful and complex place that we may never be able to get our heads around.

Also, there was a dog.

In order of appearance:
Hieronymus Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights, 1510, Museo Del Prado
Francisco Goya, Charles IV of Spain and His Family, 1800, Museo Del Prado
Pablo Picasso, Guernica, 1937, Museo Reina Sofia
Camille Pissarro, Rue St. Honoré, Apres Midi, Effet de Pluie, 1897, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Francisco Goya, Saturn Devouring His Son, 1823, Museo Del Prado
José de Ribera, Jacob's Dream, 1639, Museo Del Prado
Roy Lichtenstein, Woman in Bath, 1963, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Titian, Sisyphus, 1548, Museo Del Prado
Salvador Dalí, The Great Masturbator, 1929, Museo Reina Sofia
Ángeles Santos, Un Mundo, 1929, Museo Reina Sofia
Josh Dolin, Un Chien Ondafloor, 2012, joshandyaz.blogspot.com