I left work on Wednesday afternoon with a full tank of petrol and a broad plan – to take in as much of Spain, Andorra and Portugal as I could in 16 days.
I had planned to do this trip in September but when I was approached about a new job everything was put on hold. I ended up accepting the job but my current employer has been amazing and has allowed me to make my trip as long as I was available to answer questions if they arise. How wonderful is that!
With only a few days notice I was packed and ready to hit the road. It was pretty cold in France and I was still getting over a pesky cold, so I decided to head south and get into some sunshine. After a two day ride I was in San Sebastián, Spain.
San Sebastián is stunning! I stayed in the old town which is full of character and only a stone’s throw from the beach. It felt so good feeling the sand beneath me feet. I walked along the beach and then around the city before stopping for dinner on the beachfront. A romantic meal for one. Why not!
Below are a couple of the buildings in San Sebastián. There are more photos, as usual, on my Mel & Trinity Facebook page.
The initial plan was to head west from San Sebastián in order to reach Andorra asap. That was until I saw some photos of Ordesa National Park – the mountains seduced me!
After a few wrong turns I made it to the gorgeous little mountain town of Broto. Like San Sebastián I instantly knew I liked it. I had booked into a hotel on the Ara river, so after checking in and dropping off my things, I went exploring. I even managed a little chill time.
Below are a couple of photos of Broto.
Today has however been the highlight of my trip. Before breakfast I took a walk to the Cascade De Sorrosal (Sorrosal Waterfalls) – a 5 minute from my hotel. The geology blew me away – I have never seen such pronounced folds in rocks. It is simply stunning. Below are photos of the two Waterfalls.
From there the day only got better. The lovely lady at the tourist office spent 30 minutes explaining the area to me and my various options in her broken English. She kept apologising for not knowing the English terms but I was holding onto every word. She was so enthusiastic about the area and it was contagious. I wanted to see it all!
I could dedicate an entire post to Ordesa National Park as it is exquisite but I’ll post some more photos on Facebook.
The numerous waterfalls along the Ordesa Valley are a visual feast, aided by the steep glacier valley walls which tower over the valley.
I would not have thought the day could get any better but then I met a fellow South African and her family on the hike. I ended up walking the majority of the 18 km hike Josephine and her fantastic family (husband John and sons Luke and Danny). They were absolutely delightful!
My day was perfect and a great reminder of why I love travelling so much. There is so much beauty in the world and I’m so happy to have found so much of it!
Mel & Trinity 