Pitiusa Hotel

Hang on the rocks

by matcrazy1

When I walked a little bit futher west of the old town, I saw houses hang on high rock cliffs with balconies overlooking the valley down. They were built in typical for Pyrenees style: made of natural stones and rocks, covered by gable roofs and had wooden balconies.

In contrast to vast valleys I have seen in the Alps, the valley of Andorra la Vella is relatively narrow. Thus there is no much space for the next buildings. The other reason for construction edificies higher and higher is air pollution from traffic down in the bottom of the valley. And the views over the mountains and valley from these hanging high in the rocks houses have to be spectacular.

Andorra

by Ramonq

I first stumbled into Andorra la Vella on the way to France from Barcelona. Andorra la Vella is the principal town of Andorra, a tiny principality is situated in the Pyrenees. It is an independent country and it's popular as a duty free country. As a result, Andorra la Vella has become a by-word for Spanish and French shoppers as a shoppers paradise. As one walks along Avinguda (Avenue) Meritxell and Carlemany, there are lots of flashy boutique shops and modern malls that sell European and American fashion brand names and Japanese electronic goods at duty free prices. For a small town, Andorra la Vella and its nearby suburb of Escaldes have fashioned itself has the HongKong of Europe. It has more shops per capita than any in Europe. Just about any goods you need are here.

But one thing that is amazing about Andorra la Vella is that the looming presence of the snow capped mountains constantly reminds you that you are in nestled in an Alpine region. Andorra is right in the heart of the Pyrenees mountain range that separates Spain and France. The existence of Andorra as an independent state between the 2 European superpower raises curiosity from many outsiders.

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