Andorra to France

Travelled:80km
Stay: Font-Romeu, France -free parking near the village.  No services.  N42.50550 E2.04537
Visited: Andorra, France

Although we are sure there are many other beautiful areas to explore in Andorra,  it was time to make our departure.  We made our way back to the main road CG2; and followed that over the Port d'Anvalira 2408m and down into shopping town. This is where supposedly you can do cheap tax free purchases. But we are not convinced, although some things do appear cheaper. We did leave a little money behind before continuing down the road and across the border into France.

paella anyone?

Wow how big are those bottles!

After our shopping trip we crossed the border.

This time we took the N20 to Font-Romeu,  stopping on the Col de Puymorens for a bite to eat and into  Egat for a bit of food shopping. 

We continued on and parked up in Font-Romeu and walked through the village.  It is relatively quiet as it is predominantly a ski town and the summer season hasn't hit yet. We got some great info from the tourist office - the french know how to do this well- on some interesting things to see in the area.  One of these is the 'Solar Oven' but not sure if we will go tomorrow before our walk to a lake....only time (or the weather) can tell!

The 'Solar Oven'

This truck was parked near us and had a constant supply of customers, he must be a regular.

Yummo. BBQ night with lamb chops from NZ bought in Spain.

Andorra

Travelled:94km

Andorra

Stay: Ordino- Aire parking 0.50c/hr free from 8pm-9am , € services N42.556309 E1.532580 

After walking through the market in La Seu d'Urgell we decided to head North into Andorra. Just got to love markets in Europe. Unlike the ones in Melbourne where they set up in car parks or school grounds, here they take over the streets.

 There was even a section for the elderly to come with their little carts and sell their home made produce.

 7km later we literally drove through the border. 

Our mission was to get quotes on 2 new tyres as Andorra is well known for its tax free shopping and hoped we could get a good saving. Unfortunately after asking 4 tyre mobs, none stocked our size! So we took a side road up into ski country past  Arinsal.

Mirador Roc de la Sabina

Then went to ski resort past El Serrat. We reached snow where the road ends and after a bite to eat we walked the short distance to view a couple of lakes that were still frozen over. We did contemplate staying up here the night but the 2229m alt. Would mean a cold night and we both feel a little funny up here!

 We decended down into the Valley to the aire in Ordino, parked up and went for a walk in the village.

Rock climbing wall in the carpark

Andorra and Ax les Thermes France

Travelled: 145km Andorra, Ax les Thermes France

Stay: 3x Domaines - free Aire   42.70063, 1.81192 

The day started with blue skies and sunshine, so as we headed up into the mountains to go into Andorra we had some lovely vistas along the way. We were told by a couple in the Aire last night that just over the border in Andorra, the town Pas de la Casa, has great tax free shopping and a ski resort. The French love to come to buy cheap alcohol and cigarettes. You do need to be careful not to go over the custom limits as they do stop you at the border going back into France.

So after a bit of shopping we returned to Bluey and we were a bit dismayed that it appeared we had a parking fine. We found the parking inspector and she explained that we were just given a warning as we should have parked in the designated Motorhome parking area. Phew..all the savings on our tax free alcohol would have been for naught! 

So we high tailed it out of there and ventured further into Andorra. We drove over the pass Port D'Envalira at 2408 alt. The lowest part in Andorra is just under 900m alt. just near the border of Spain. Anyway, we drove down (to 1200m alt.) through a couple of towns that were ski resorts and did stop to have a look at the shops. Fuel is also cheaper so we filled up Bluey. 

Then over the pass again and back into France back down to 750m alt. in Ax les Thermes but then staying in the Aire at 1400m alt. So a bit a of altitude changes today. And yes we were stopped at the border but we got through..we were good and kept to the limits (2 litres of alcohol each). 

We had a walk around Ax les Thermes, which is a town designed around its 63 thermal springs. There are various thermal baths establishments and a casino. 

We headed out of town up to the ski resort, 3X Domaines. This is where the 8th stage of the Tour de France finishes.