Nerja & Frigiliana (Ner-ha and free-he-lee-anna)

A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of going to the beach. The weather was warm, but not quite warm enough to sunbathe, though I'm sure the many British tourists laying out in their bikinis would disagree with me. I take it as a sign I've gotten used to the weather in southern Spain. I no longer think 7o degrees is warm enough to go outside in a tank top, let alone in a swimsuit. But I'm sure if I'd spent the winter in Seattle I'd be out there with the rest of them, soaking up the heat. As it was the beach was still enjoyable to stroll down and the town was a quiet relief from city life in Sevilla. I'd already visited Nerja four years ago when I was studying in Granada, so I didn't see much I already hadn't. The big surprise of the weekend was actually a little town located in the hills outside of Nerja.

Frigiliana is something out of an Anthropologie catalog. White houses snuggled together against bright blue skies and brown earth. The streets are set with tiny stones of different shades playing out patterns of swirls and the like. Plants take over every doorway, windowsill and hillside in the town. With every turn I took I couldn't help but expect to see a model perched on a ledge while a photographer snapped away. Nothing of the sort passed and that's what's so perfect about Frigiliana. It's quaint, it's not contrived, it's completely unplanned, it's beautiful.

Andorra

Located just north of Cataluña, between France and Spain, is a tiny little country called Andorra. Snuggled in the Pyrenees Mountains, it´s cold and snowy and a perfect winter sports destination. We stayed in the capital city of Andorra la Vella, located about 30 minutes from where we went skiing at Vallnord. (Catalan for north valley) We´d purchased a Groupon for our hotel and upon arrival found it to be a bit lacking in the decor department, but at least it had hot water and came at good price; 2 nights in the hotel room, 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner and 2 days of skiing all for 100 euros. We spent Saturday and Sunday skiing and although the snow was hard packed and icy in places due to the extremely cold and dry weather, the sun was out and shinning for us both days. When we weren't skiing we had time to venture out of the hotel and explore Andorra la Vella. We saw everything you´d expect in a typical ski town, stone buildings, ski shops, restaurants and at least one thing you wouldn't.

We walked into the commercial center in search of a place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee, only to see a spin classes taking place right there in the middle of everything. They had speakers playing the usual work-out music, two extremely pepping teachers in Spandex leading the group and about 30 people peddling along and sweating it out. The commercial center is three or four stories high and all the railings were lined with people watching the class. I admire those who were working out with everyone looking on. I don't think I'm brave enough.

After frolicking in the snow for two days, our weekend ended with a side trip to the beach. Located on the Costa Brava, Blanes is a beautiful little beach town that I'm sure is amazing to visit in the summer. Not that it wasn't amazing in winter as well, I'd just like to be able to go to the beach in a swimsuit not a ski coat. Hurry up warm weather, I'm ready to ditch the layers...

Andorra

Blanes