Yep, it has been five months since my last international trip.
Why?
After all the ice cream I ate on my Poland trip and the fantastic food on my Polar Bear trip, I needed some time to detox and shed a few pounds. If I didn’t, I was afraid I might need a seat belt extender when flying—which could be a bit embarrassing.
2025 turned out to be a great year for travel, bringing my total number of countries and territories visited to 94.
It didn’t add a new country or territory to the list, but it was still a fantastic trip.
So where am I headed now—and why?
As you read this, I’m on a flight to Barcelona, Spain. I know what you’re thinking—everyone, including me, has been to Barcelona. So why go there again?
Two reasons. First, I found a very inexpensive flight to Barcelona. Second, there’s a small country north of Spain and south of France that I somehow missed on my past trips to Europe: Andorra.
Why Andorra? I heard (thanks to Shriek) that it has great mountain biking. Plus, I had never been there.
There was just one small problem. The ticket price determined the dates, not the weather. When I called to rent a mountain bike, they said, “This is March in the Pyrenees. You might want to rent skis instead of a bike.”
Oops.
Best-laid plans. More to follow.
My goal is to add eight more countries or territories to my list in 2026. Wish me luck.
We landed at 8:00 AM Barcelona time, picked up our rental car, and started the three-hour drive to the ski resort of Grau Roig in Andorra. We will be staying at Grau Roig Boutique Hotel & Spa while in Andorra.
Leaving the airport, you start in the bustle of Barcelona, weaving through highways lined with suburbs and industrial zones. Within an hour, the scenery softens into rolling countryside—vineyards, small Catalan villages, and open farmland stretching toward the horizon.
As you head north, the road gradually begins to climb into the foothills of the Pyrenees. The air feels fresher, the curves tighten, and the views become more dramatic. Pine forests replace farmland, and you’ll pass through mountain towns before crossing into Andorra.
The final stretch is the most memorable: winding mountain roads with sweeping vistas, especially as you approach the Grandvalira ski area. The hotel sits in a secluded, high-altitude setting surrounded by peaks—often snow-covered in winter, giving the arrival a real “hidden alpine retreat” feel.
The whole drive is roughly 2.5–3 hours (about 200 km), depending on traffic and conditions, and it’s widely considered one of the most scenic routes in the region.
We are now in Andorra, Country / Territory 95.
Here are 10 fun and interesting facts about Andorra 🇦🇩:
- No airport or train station - Andorra is one of the few countries in the world with no airport or railway system—you can only get there by road from Spain or France.
- Tiny but independent - It’s the 6th smallest country in Europe, covering just about 180 square miles.
- Two princes rule it - Andorra is a co-principality, meaning it has two heads of state: the President of France (currently Emmanuel Macron) and the Bishop of Urgell in Spain.
- Tax haven reputation - It’s known for low taxes, especially on goods like electronics, alcohol, and tobacco—making it a shopping hotspot.
- One of the highest capitals in Europe - Its capital, Andorra la Vella, sits at about 3,356 feet (1,023 meters) above sea level.
- Skiing paradise - Andorra is famous for skiing, especially resorts like Grandvalira—one of the largest ski areas in the Pyrenees.
- Long life expectancy - It has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, often ranking in the top 5 globally.
- No standing army - Andorra doesn’t have its own military—it relies on Spain and France for defense.
- Catalan is the official language - Unlike its neighbors, Andorra’s official language is Catalan, not Spanish or French.
- Tourism dominates the economy - Around 10 million tourists visit annually, compared to a population of only about 80,000!
Once we arrived at Grau Roig, we spent the afternoon wandering the area, watching the skiers and snowboarders. Margarite and I were a bit jealous. It’s the end of the winter season here, and the conditions are great with smaller crowds. I would have rented skis and Margarite a snowboard, but at our skill level, we thought we’d be disappointed renting equipment instead of using our own, which are sitting at home.
Our goal was to fight the jet lag and stay up past 8:00 PM. We barely made it, but we were successful.
We woke Tuesday morning fully acclimated to the time change. Since we passed on skiing and snowboarding, we decided to try our hand… or rather, our feet, at snowshoeing.
We had a blast, snowshoeing for two hours, traversing the mountains and streams of Andorra.
We did see some folks out on dog sleds (mushing), more on that tomorrow.
This afternoon will be more R&R as we continue to enjoy this fantastic weather. While it’s 3 degrees Celsius, the dry air and bright sun made it comfortable enough to have lunch outside wearing only light clothing.
The restaurants at the Grau Roig Andorra Boutique Hotel & Spa are top-notch. Every meal has been fantastic, along with the service. Dinner last night did not disappoint. Margarite had the duck, and I had the tuna, both were delicious.
This morning, we got some disappointing news. Our five-kilometer dog mushing experience was reduced to just two kilometers. There were two reasons for the change. With the warm weather, the snow has become slushy, making it harder for the dogs to pull the sleds. Secondly, the warmer temperatures are tougher on the dogs because of their thick coats.
We still had a great time. The highlight was Margarite’s sled running over a young skier, though Margarite claims the skier skied into the dogs. No harm, no foul. After a quick dusting off, the skier was on her way.
Short 15-second video of the dog mushing. Sorry I didn’t get footage of Margarite running over the young skier.
The crowds continue to be nonexistent. We’ve finally started to see a few other guests in the hotel.
Later today, we’ll do our third and final activity: snowmobiling. This has also been cut short from two hours to one, for reasons similar to the dog mushing, poor snow conditions in the snowmobile area.
Before heading out for our snowmobile expedition, we had another great lunch. I enjoyed the venison.
We enjoyed the adventure, but our favorite activity was snowshoeing.
Now we are off to our last supper.
Another fantastic meal. Tomorrow we head back to Barcelona. We plan to take the scenic route, as we are in no rush.
This morning we woke to a cold, windy day, minus three degrees. After a quick breakfast, we happily returned our rented ski pants and jackets, departing for Barcelona.
With all day to get back to Barcelona, we chose the backroads, adding an extra hour to our trip. That extra time gave us the perfect opportunity to stop at the capital of Andorra, Andorra la Vella, a charming mountain town nestled in the valley carved by the Gran Valira river.
We spent a few hours strolling through the city, which felt more like a cozy small town than a capital. Lunch was a highlight at Can Manel, where the food was as delightful as the setting.
After lunch, we continued our scenic drive to Barcelona Airport, where we will spend the night before setting off for Country/Territory number 96.
Malta…
The only direct flight from Barcelona to Malta was on Ryanair. If you haven’t heard of Ryanair, consider yourself lucky. Think Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines, but worse.
The tickets are cheap: $50 round trip. But all that gets you is a reservation. Want to board the plane? That’s another $20. Want a seat… not even a reserved one, just a random seat to sit in? $40. Each kilogram of carry-on luggage? $5 per kilo.
I complained that after spending five months dropping a few pounds, why aren’t they weighing passengers and charging the heavier ones a surcharge? That argument didn’t get me very far.
Luckily, we didn’t need to use the bathroom… that would’ve been an extra charge too.
All in, our $50 ticket ended up costing $300. But we got here safe and sound, and that’s what matters.
Video: History of Malta in 11 minutes
Here are 10 fun facts about this tiny but fascinating Mediterranean country:
- Tiny but Mighty – Malta is one of the world’s smallest countries, just 316 km² (122 sq miles), but it has a history that spans over 7,000 years.
- Three Official Languages – Maltese and English are official, and Italian is widely spoken. Maltese itself is a unique mix of Semitic and Romance languages.
- Home to the Oldest Free-standing Structures – The Ä gantija Temples on Gozo are over 5,500 years old, making them older than the pyramids of Egypt.
- Mediterranean Filming Hotspot – Malta’s historic streets and fortresses have appeared in movies like Gladiator, Troy, Munich, and Game of Thrones.
- Mediterranean Cuisine Fusion – Maltese food blends Italian, British, and North African influences; try pastizzi, a savory pastry, or fenek, which is rabbit stew.
- Knights of Malta Legacy – The island was ruled by the Knights Hospitaller from 1530–1798, leaving behind incredible architecture like Valletta’s fortified city and St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
- Blue Lagoon Paradise – Comino, Malta’s tiny neighbor island, is famous for the Blue Lagoon, with some of the clearest turquoise water in Europe.
- UNESCO World Heritage Valletta – Valletta, Malta’s capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage city and was built in just 15 years in the 16th century.
- Unique Traditional Boats – The luzzu, a brightly painted fishing boat with an eye symbol on the front, is said to protect fishermen from harm.
- Island of Festivals – Despite its size, Malta hosts hundreds of festas and cultural events annually, celebrating everything from saints to fireworks competitions.
We landed at 11:00 AM, and our taxi driver, Christoph, was waiting for us. He drove us the 25 minutes to our apartment.
We will be staying at the Sally Port Suites for the next five nights. It’s located in the center of Valletta, just a few minutes’ walk from all the historical sights.
After an orientation with Alfredo, our concierge, we headed out to explore and grab a late lunch.
The historic town is built on a hill, so walking around gives you a good workout. We had lunch at Trabuxu Bistro, a warm Mediterranean bistro with a seasonal menu featuring fresh fish, meat, and pasta.
After a bit more walking, we decided to call it a day.
I woke to a beautiful morning and decided to let Margarite sleep in while I went for a hilly six-mile run.
We have a 10:00 AM city walking tour today to learn more about Malta and the city of Valletta. Carmel, our guide, met us at our apartment right at 10:00 AM.
He gave us a fantastic walking tour, explaining the history of Malta and its strategic value to different empires over the centuries—or should I say millennia. Most of this is covered in the video above.
One fun fact I hadn’t realized: Malta was a crucial strategic location for the Allies during World War II, being geographically close to both North Africa and Southern Europe. From a geographical standpoint, Malta was the most heavily bombed Allied country. More bombs were dropped on Malta per square kilometer than anywhere else.
Malta was also the site of the Malta Summit, a meeting between United States President George H. W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev on December 2–3, 1989. At this meeting, the two leaders declared the end of the Cold War.
As we walked around Valletta, Carmel pointed out the few buildings that were original and the many that had been rebuilt after World War II. And, of course, as a tease, he showed us where to get the best gelato in all of Malta.
After the walking tour, we enjoyed a nice lunch at One80 on St. Christopher Street, a chic bistro blending Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean influences into a globally inspired menu. As you can tell, the calories I’m skipping in ice cream I’m definitely making up in gourmet meals!
After our rather late lunch, we walked a bit more around the city before heading back to the apartment for some well-deserved R&R.
After the R&R or some might call a quickie… we headed back to watch the sunset before calling it a day.
We woke up at the crack of dawn to catch the number 85 bus to Marsaxlokk.
Marsaxlokk a traditional fishing village is known for its Sunday fish market, and today is Sunday. The fresh seafood, colorful boats, and authentic Maltese vibe make for a lovely morning visit.
We spent the morning strolling through the market and enjoying the sunrise over the harbor before having breakfast along the waterfront.
It was now time to leave. Rather than take the bus back to Valletta, we decided to walk the four miles along stone-walled, narrow, and windy roads.
To get to Valletta, we needed to enter through the gates of the Three Cities. The Three Cities are three peninsulas across the harbor from Valletta.
Once in the Three Cities, we took the ferry back to Valletta. We’ll be enjoying the old city for the rest of the day.
Tomorrow, we have an early ferry to Gozo, a separate island that is part of Malta.
A Day in Gozo—and a Bit More of Valletta and Malta Island
I broke down. Before bed, we went for a city walk to stretch our legs—and there it was: a gelato shop. What’s a guy supposed to do but have some ice cream? And it was a work of art.
After a great night’s sleep, we woke early to catch the high-speed ferry from Valletta to Gozo. Our ferry departed at 6:45 AM and arrived at 7:30 AM.
Here are 10 fun and interesting facts about Gozo, Malta’s charming sister island:
- Smaller but greener than Malta Gozo is known for its lush countryside, rolling hills, and rural feel—quite different from the more urban main island of Malta.
- Home of the world’s oldest free-standing structures The Ä gantija Temples in Xagħra date back to around 3600 BC—older than the pyramids of Egypt! (More on this later) Ä gantija Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Legendary home of Calypso According to Greek mythology, Calypso held Odysseus captive on Gozo for seven years. You can visit Calypso Cave overlooking Ramla Bay.
- The Azure Window collapsed—but still draws visitors The famous Azure Window collapsed in 2017, but the site near Dwejra is still popular for diving and photos.
- Filming location for major productions Gozo has appeared in productions like Game of Thrones and Clash of the Titans thanks to its dramatic landscapes.
- Slower pace of life Locals often joke that time moves slower on Gozo. With fewer people and less traffic, it’s a favorite escape for relaxation—even for residents of Malta.
- Stunning red sand beach Ramla Bay is famous for its rare reddish-golden sand, making it one of the most unique beaches in the Mediterranean.
- A massive dome you can see from miles away, the church in Xewkija has one of the largest unsupported domes in the world: Rotunda of Xewkija.
- Gozo has its own local specialties Try Ä bejna (a traditional sheep cheese) and Ftira (a type of Maltese bread)—you’ll find them everywhere on the island.
- It’s a diver’s paradise Crystal-clear waters, underwater caves, and reefs make Gozo one of Europe’s top diving spots—especially around Dwejra.
After arriving in Gozo, we grabbed a light breakfast at Cupcake. Afterward, we walked to the old town city center of Victoria—or Rabat, as the locals call it.
The main attraction is the Citadel, a fortress built high on a hill to protect Gozo from invaders. Of course, it’s anchored by a church.
All inhabitants of the area were once required to sleep inside the Citadel for their own protection.
After exploring the grounds, we strolled over to St. George’s Square, anchored by St. George Church. Do you see a theme here?
Fun fact #11: There are 12 villages on Gozo and 47 Catholic churches—no excuse to miss Sunday Mass.
It was now time to meet our guide for the day, Edward.
Edward showed us around Gozo. On our way to the coast, we stopped at another village to see another church. Actually, the real reason for the stop was the entrance to underground bomb shelters built during World War II, elaborate mazes crisscrossing under the village to protect people from bombings.
Next, we hit the coast. Gozo has a lot of agriculture, mainly fruits and vegetables. More recently, cannabis has been legalized, and cannabis greenhouses are starting to appear in the landscape.
Then we visited Mekren’s Bakery. This bakery has been in operation for several hundred years, all by the same family, though across different generations. They make pastries as well as pizzas, still using the original wood-fired oven. I enjoyed a cheese-and-raisin pastry.
Have you ever been in a 5,000-year-old building? Yep, 5,000 years—that’s before the wheel was invented. The Megalithic Temples of Malta are incredible. The question is: how did they build this without modern tools? Simple… aliens.
Our last stop for the day was a church with a huge clock tower, called by locals “Big Ben.”
It was then time to head back to the ferry port and enjoy the 45-minute ride back to Valletta. It had been a long day, so we called it a day.
Today was our last full day in Malta. I got a nine-mile hilly run in before the crowds came out.
I hadn’t mentioned it before, but in recent years, Malta has become a cruise-ship destination. As many as seven ships can dock at any one time, which means thousands of tourists flooding the narrow, hilly streets of Valletta. Luckily, we’re early risers and accomplished a lot before the crowds appeared.
We had been warned: if we wanted to visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral and avoid waiting over an hour, we had to arrive right when it opened at 9:30 AM. This tip worked perfectly, we had no queue.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Built by the Order of St. John (also known as the Knights of Malta) for a mix of religious, political, and symbolic reasons, it is a fascinating building.
The weather today was mixed sun and rain. We continued exploring the town, wandering down small streets off the beaten path.
We stopped for a hot chocolate before the rain picked up again. With the weather turning, it was finally time for a short (quickie) siesta.
No matter how much we think we’ve visited all the streets, alleyways, nooks, and crannies of Valletta, we keep finding more. After our quickie nap, we headed out to explore a bit more.
I stopped and got a pork belly appetizer just to carry me over. The food on this trip had been excellent. If you’re a foodie, Andorra and Malta are two places to visit.
We wandered randomly, making right and left turns, and eventually ended up at the base of the wall surrounding the city.
From this angle, you can see why one might have second thoughts about attacking.
We are departing tomorrow, flying Ryanair back to Barcelona. Yes, we’ll use the bathroom before we board. Then an overnight in Barcelona before heading home.
That’s it for this short trip. Our next adventure will take us to three new countries we haven’t visited before. Joining us will be a famous clothing designer, a native of one of those countries. Stay tuned.
Cheer,
DUG
All Pictures Here:
