martes, 18 de mayo de 2010

PYRENEES: ANDORRA AND LA SEU D'URGELL

The second weekend of may we went to Andorra to spend two peaceful days in this small country located in the heart of the Pyrenees. I had never been in Andorra so I felt like walking along its shopping street (these street is similar to the Main Street in Gibraltar) enjoying a natural environment and visiting its capital, Andorra la Vella. But before arriving at Andorra, we had lunch in La Seu d'Urgell.

Star sights of these two days:


- La Seu d'Urgell
  • La Seu d'Urgell Cathedral
  • Sant Miquel Church
  • Segre Olympic Park

- Andorra La Vella


  • Meritxell Avenue, the shopping street
  • Sant Andreu chapel
  • walk along the Passeig del Rec del Solà
  • La Casa de la Vall
  • Caldea

Passeig del Rec del Solà in Andorra La Vella
A pleasant walk along the Passeig del Rec del Solà (Andorra La Vella)


Saturday, 15th may

La Seu d'Urgell


Sant Miquel church in La Seu d'Urgell
Before arriving at Andorra we visited La Seu d'Urgell, a small town which was quite important in the past. Here is me with the bell tower of Sant Miquel church

There was nobody else in this square, so this mirror let us take a picture of us


Sant Miquel church in La Seu d'Urgell
The apse of the church of Sant Miquel in La Seu d'Urgell, located next to the cathedral

Cathedral of La Seu d'Urgell in Catalonia
At the rear of the La Seu d'Urgell Cathedral, there was a peaceful park

Cathedral of La Seu d'Urgell in Catalonia
The apse of the La Seu d'Urgell Cathedral from this park, where we spent some minutes

Segre Olympic Park in La Seu d'Urgell
The most outstanding sports installation in L’Alt Urgell is the Segre Olympic Park, where enthusiasts can practice canoeing, rafting and hydro-speed


Segre Olympic Park in La Seu d'Urgell
This man-made canal is the axis of a pleasant park perfect to spend a sunny morning

Segre Olympic Park in La Seu d'Urgell
In the Segre Olympic Park took place the sport of canoe slalom during the successful Olympic Games of Barcelona in 1992

Segre Olympic Park in La Seu d'Urgell
Besides this park is located in a beautiful natural environment

Segre Olympic Park in La Seu d'Urgell
And the day wasn't hot at all, so we felt really at ease walking along this canal in the Segre Olympic Park



Andorra


Caldea in Andorra
The river Grand Valira flows beside Caldea, a well-known spa resort of Andorra


Caldea in Andorra
We went into Caldea for a minute to have a look and thanks to this mirror we could take a picture of our short visit to Caldea

Andorra La Vella at night
Night view of Andorra La Vella from our room of Panorama Hotel


Sunday, 16th may


Andorra


Shopping street of Andorra La Vella
We spent all the previous evening doing shopping along this street, the shopping street of Andorra La Vella. At that moment we were going to the tourist office when this popular race surprised us

Meritxell avenue in Andorra La Vella
Meritxell avenue in Andorra La Vella, where it crosse the Grand Valira river. Most of the buildings of this streets arr banks or shopping centers

Sant Andreu chapel in Andorra La Vella
In this church, the Sant Andreu chapel, we began a pleasant walk along the Passeig del Rec del Solà

Passeig del Rec del Solà in Andorra La Vella
This cobbled path is really well integrated in its natural environment

Passeig del Rec del Solà in Andorra La Vella
And beside this path there is a small canal where the meltwater flew next to us delighting our ears with its relaxing sound

Passeig del Rec del Solà in Andorra La Vella
This peaceful environment under this lovely day was perfect to take some pictures

Passeig del Rec del Solà in Andorra La Vella
As you can see,  we did a little practice with the Canon 450D DSLR 


Andorra La Vella and the Pyrenees from Passeig del Rec del Solà
From this path we could admire great panoramic views of Andorra La Vella with its slate roofs

Andorra La Vella and the Pyrenees from Passeig del Rec del Solà
The landscape of Andorra we could enjoy from this point was really beautiful with the mountains of the Pyrenees surrounding Andorra La Vella

Church of Sant Esteve in the old quarter of Andorra La Vella
View of the church of Sant Esteve in the old quarter of Andorra La Vella

New parliament of Andorra
The new parliament of Andorra is in the old quarter of Andorra, next to the Sant Esteve church and the Casa de la Vall, where the parliament is currently


Casa de la Vall in AndorraWe were lucky because we could visit La Casa de la Vall, where the parliament of Andorra is currently. This picture was taken few minutes before the visit

Casa de la Vall in Andorra
Unfortunately it wasn't allowed to take pictures inside this building. It was a pity because this building is quite beautiful

Meritxell avenue is a well-known shopping street in Andorra La Vella
The main street of Andorra La Vella, Meritxell avenue, is a well-known shopping street always quite crowded