Where Is Joey Today?

Bewitching Andorra

If you have heard of this city-state, pat yourself on the back. Outside of countries sharing a border with the Pyrenees, those seeking ski heaven and a tax haven it is relatively unknown...even among our European friends.

The scenery here is really nothing short of spectacular. Due to it's location, and Andorra la Vella's setting in the valley; you can literally see mountains in every direction from every point in town. Anyone spending time in Barcelona owes it to themselves to check out this beautiful place.

Our first night, Joeda had a craving for KFC. The woman at the front desk insisted to me that restaurant didn't exist. 15 minutes later I was walking back through the fancy glass doors with a bucket of chicken. Day two in Andorra la V(B?)ella started with a hearty breakfast of Napolitanas de Chocolate, meats, cheeses, eggs, yogurt, and OJ. From there we headed to Arinsal to take a hike. As amazing as the scenery is in the capital, as you go forward 3 miles or so, it gets mind blowing! After that long tough day, I went to the town's spa called the Caldea which was AMAZING!

Because I got there after 8:30pm, it was only 24 Euros. The building was so futuristic looking. Inside, the stairs were spiraled and illuminated by blue LED's. The dressingrooms were cool: set up like this. From the dressingroom you go through the shower area then into the bathing area. The main lagoon was huge! and the water was perfect - just the way I like it (87-90 degrees). It wasn't too crowded which was awesome so I had a lot of room to swim around - kind of like fountains - overflowed water into the lagoon. There were mini waterfalls that you could go under and the whole lagoon had vanishing edges - REALLY cool idea! The lagoon went outside via a canal that had plastic flaps covering the exit. I swam under it like at the Jacksonville pool (just a Mom and Dad reference). It was probably 60 degrees outside so the hot water felt even better. It reminded me a lot of the night we went to the onsen in Japan. The Caldea has a "fitness" area that was a maze of saunas, blacklight rooms, the desert hot air bath/tunnel, polar room that had snow and ice. This area was really fun to explore. The other really neat area of the Caldea was the Roman baths. At night it is dark with very low lighting (from candles) and I was alone so it was extra meditative. There was a light show in the main lagoon - Actually, it was a little trippy...a big sun face that at the end of the night eventually turned into a moon face and the moonface would nod off and blink its eyes until it fell asleep...and from the ceiling dropped colorfully lit planets with faces in them that spun around. Then an illuminated pirate ship sailed through the air from one side of the lagoon to the other. All to the tune of plunky music from a xylaphone. Some images were projected on the water like the Fantasmic show at MGM. The spa also had a bunch of facial and body treatments. It's a funny thing about pampering and perceptions of luxury. Having Belgian chocolate painted on your body = sophisticated. Having chocolate crummies around the corners of your mouth...not so much. For anyone planning their honeymoon/ anniversary, I highly recommend the Caldea!!

Breaks from hostels can be welcome and this 3 star hotel was the same price as our hostel in Barcelona (if you count the included breakfast) for the low season. Unfortunately, we don't really deserve to stay in nice places. During our stay here I set a croissant on fire, left hair in the bathtub, Joey broke a glass, we checked out late and left finger nail clippings in the lobby. That's how we roll...

--Emily