Day Five A trip to the capital

Arans Bridge
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Missed the first bus this morning as the timetable said 7.45 and we saw it sail past at 7.30, so we walked again into Ordino. It only took us 35 minutes this time, so I think by the end of the week we'll be dedicated hikers. I love the walking and the downhill stretch is certainly a fairly easy ramble and much easier on the first part using the walking trail instead of the road.

We caught the bus in Ordino after checking in at the Tourist Information Centre. The girl there was lovely and very helpful. A joy to hear someone speak English and tell us exactly what we needed to know. The buses all leave from the Tourist Information Centre whether they're going north or south and they leave every half hour throughout the day. The cost is 1 Euro whichever stop you get on or off at.

Looking towards La Cortinada
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I bought a phone card for €60 so I could call home. Barb tried to buy one and her credit card was rejected. The girl tried twice but both times it rejected authorisation, so I had to get Barb's phone card on my credit card instead.

We arrived in Andorra La Vella and it is just wall to wall shops; loads of electrical stores and perfumeries, designer clothes and watches. We walked to the Tourist Information Centre and used a phone booth there but Alex wasn't home, and I used 12 credits without even talking to anyone!

Looking towards Llorts
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Barb's card was rejected by the ATM too, so we spent the next half hour trying to contact Mastercard. She used half her phone credits only to be told there was nothing wrong with the card. Tried again at another teller machine and the same thing – not authorised. After trying three different machines we went into the bank but they said there was nothing they could do. After several calls to Andy and still no joy; the Mastercard contacts saying that there was no transactions showing up on the card and that there should be no problem with it. In the end I took €100 from my card to lend to her.

The River Valira
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We trailed around Andorra and finally went back to the Tourist Information Centre where I phoned Alex. A short conversation later my €60 was gone – something like $120 phone call!

We asked directions to an Internet Cafe and finally managed to find it. Spent 15 minutes just checking email and writing a quick note in my travel blog.

We found a supermarket and did some shopping - €39 worth and then looked for somewhere to have lunch. Eventually chose a cafe next to a hotel but it was more of a bar, so we had coffee and croissants. Then it was just a question of catching the bus back. We had to wait 45 minutes as it left at 2pm. The bus ride is just under 15 minutes between Andorra and Ordino. We then had almost an hour's wait at Ordino until the bus to El Serrat arrived.

View from the mountain above Arans
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It was freezing; the wind biting and feeling as if it was coming straight off snow – which it probably was! Arrived back at the hotel about 3.10pm; put away the groceries, and made a coffee.

I heard what sounded like cow bells and looked out of the window to see a herd of horses being taken up the road towards Llorts. The camera was in my suitcase, so by the time I got it out they were moving away. I still managed to get three good shots though using the zoom.

My asthma is no better and it gets worse as the day goes on. The altitude makes me light headed the more I cough, so it's not the best feeling in the world. It's not debilitating – just a nuisance. By 1.30 though I'm knackered and ready for a siesta. I'm usually ready for bed by 9.30pm.