Roadtrip Spanje & Andorra

How watching a MotoGP race can turn into a road trip of almost 4,000 kilometers: For a while now, I'd been thinking I should add Spain to my list of countries I'd visited. It would be nice to enjoy some late summer sunshine, especially after a wet summer in the Netherlands. One Sunday afternoon, Henri and I watched a MotoGP race. I had recently photographed the MotoGP in Assen , but Henri had never seen one in person. A glance at the calendar showed that a race weekend was being held in Barcelona just after the summer holidays. An ideal opportunity to visit the city and catch the race. Tickets were quickly booked, but then there was the trip. After looking into flights, rental cars, etc., it became clear that we could do more if we drove ourselves. We could also visit the Airbus factory in Toulouse on the way there, and visit Andorra, another country we'd never been to.

The first stop on the road trip was Toulouse. After an overnight stay, we were given a tour of the various Airbus divisions located in and around Toulouse. Aircraft assembly also takes place there, and it was impressive to see. The entire fuselage is assembled in single pieces, followed by the wings and engines, and finally delivered in the customer's colors. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take photos inside the factory, which was a real shame. I did, however, get a quick shot of the Belugas flying back and forth with entire aircraft components crammed into their oversized fuselages. The adjacent museum also had a nice exhibition of aircraft from the past.

From Toulouse, we drove straight to Andorra. As we approached the border, the terrain became more rugged; we entered the Pyrenees. We climbed along beautiful mountain roads. There, between France and Spain, lies the tiny state of Andorra.

As soon as we arrived in the capital, we hit a traffic jam. We'd already heard that the Spanish Cycling Tour would be passing through there, and of course, our arrival coincided with theirs that day, and we were stuck.

But the next morning, the start of the next stage was a little further along the same road as our hotel. And then, of course, you go and watch. In 2022, the race also passed through the Netherlands, and I saw them flash by near Steenbergen. But there was more to see at the start. From the advertising caravan to VIPs, the entire buildup, and of course, the start itself. It all happened right before our eyes. A nice bonus to witness.

Furthermore, Andorra, and especially its capital, Andorra La Vella, was primarily a tax-free shopping paradise. You could buy cheap alcohol, cigarettes, electronics, clothing, and (light) weapons everywhere. And at the pump, you could fill up for €1.43; it's painful to see how you're being ripped off in the Netherlands with all the excise duties...

After Andorra, we headed to Barcelona. We spent our first afternoon exploring the city. A loop of almost 15 kilometers followed, passing well-known tourist attractions. The marina at Barcelonetta, the Gothic Quarter, and, of course, La Rambla. At those attractions, our main attraction was actually people-watching. Plenty of people were doing the craziest dances and poses for TikTok and Instagram, a strange sight outside of social media.

After La Rambla, which was mainly filled with terraces and stalls, we took a different path. We headed towards Montjuic hill, home to the Olympic Stadium and the complex where the Games were once held. But along the way, we first passed a skate park where graffiti art was being created.

The climb up the hill was tough with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius. But once at the top, a beer with a view over the city tasted really good.

The Telefonica Tower in the Olympic complex was originally designed by architect Calatrava, also known for the modern complex in Valencia. The design of this tower (and other buildings in Valencia) was also used in the HBO sci-fi series Westworld. If you're familiar with that series, that tower will give you some creepy vibes...

Of course, a visit to Barcelona couldn't be complete without a visit to the Sagrada Familia. This enormous cathedral, originally designed by Gaudí, is still under construction. But it's nearing completion. It's a remarkable building, with various towers adorned with their own unique decorations. All sorts of symbolism could be discovered within it.

The light inside was particularly impressive thanks to the beautiful stained-glass windows. It was refreshing to see a newer architectural style, and one that was also reflected in the sculptures, than what you're used to seeing in other medieval cathedrals.

After attending the MotoGP in Barcelona, we continued our journey to Abenfigo in the province of Aragon. There, we found ourselves in a beautiful rural setting with desert-like hills, reservoirs, numerous castles, old bridges, and aqueducts. It was a wonderful place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona, without too many tourists. Climbing a hill to a castle, we had the whole place to ourselves!

It was wonderful to just enjoy the surroundings and unwind. The guitar I'd recently found and refurbished was also there, and it really brought a lot of joy to our holiday home (Casa Arkha Solana).

It was a successful trip, in any case. We gained a lot of impressions, saw some cool things, and met some lovely people. Curious where the next trip will take us? Keep following the blog!