Hotel Vallski Canillo

Today was my last full day in Andorra. There wasn't a huge amount to do. It wasn't snowing, but the wind was so fierce that it seemed like a sand storm made out of snow. I had a great time watching a group of cows grazing in snow up to their stomachs. Other than that I had a walk around town and spent about an hour at a ...

After a long night on a surprisingly jam packed night train, I arrived at a train station about 1km from the Andorra border. I was slightly worried about my transportation from the train station at l'Hospitalet to my destination 26km into Andorra. The cryptic information information I was able to find on the web about buses told me that there were 2 per day, one leaving at 7:30am and the other 7:30pm. This was a bit disconcerting as my train arrived ...

Le plan original était d'aller à Cahors visiter un vignoble, mais puisque l'on n'a pas de voiture (considérant que les vignes sont dans des champs et non au centre ville) on n'a pas pu y aller. J'ai trouvé sur internet qu'il y avait plusieurs grotte dans le sud donc on en a choisi une pas trop trop loin et on a acheté nos billet de train.

Tarascon sur Ariege est à environ 1h15 de toulouse donc ca se fait quand meme bien. C'est un ...

... What it does mean, we're not quite sure of yet. Still dealing with the shock and going over a few different options. All while kicking myself for not realizing this sooner. Only one thing is for certain - I'm not going to let this spoil our trip, and we're going to have to get cycling! (o.k., two things).

... the old hay loft our bedroom. A room with 3 walls and a gaping window opening where the stars and moon shine through. Having spent so many nights outside in a tent we didn’t mind at all. Bundled up in our sleeping bags we were plenty warm.

Every evening is was a treat to tiptoe through the dark along the path, sidestepping the colorful salamanders to get to bed where the owls call to one another and sing us to sleep. In addition ...

... and make 2.5kg of minced pork while I pureed the liver to make pate. Fat was rendered down to a beautiful smooth lard, and sausage meat was seasoned. It was a shame that we had no sausage skins to stuff, but the meat is still great to use in patties, balls or loaves.

For a special treat for working through all the meat, Justin saved a special piece for Brian and I: the brain. Fried up with sage and butter and ...

... of apprehension before starting. Like attempting to figure out which way was up on the harness. Or when Donna wanted me to tie my security knot (walking me through of course). Then there’s the whole ‘where to start?’ when staring straight up at this seemingly flat face of rock.

Watching others you wonder ‘how on earth?’, but then it’s your turn and you preserve, slowly going up and up with each little ...

... between France, Spain and Andorra with 3000m peaks rising up all around. Up past charming little villages where all the little homes are made of stone stacked upon one another with only the slate rooves peeking through.

We drove the truck as far up the road as possible, and then even a little farther than we should have. Feels like complete mountain wilderness, but there are ...

... we paused to look at some other markings that had been left: a series of lines and dots. Perhaps a primitive form of communication, these too have been found in many caves throughout the area. Unfortunately, they have yet to be deciphered, so as yet we do not know what they were saying with this writing and other images.

But also on the walls are some writings that are clearly distinguishable to the modern eye. A more recent addition ...

... it is cheating slightly we pay the 40 Euros - slightly more than the others will be spending - and catch the train to Perpignan. On the train we decide this must have been a blessing in disguise as we read in Andre's book that Salvidor Dali actually said that Perpignan train station was the centre of the universe - what a privilege to visit such a place. When we disembark the train we find the others walking into the train station to meet us...........