Luxe Beat Magazine SEPTEMBER 2014 | Page 50

La Caldea A Super Spa In Andorra W hen I made my way to Andorra two weeks ago, I packed sturdy shoes, a rain coat (just in case) and a few light sweaters. It may be the middle of summer, but the tiny country is surrounded by the mighty Pyrenees mountains, some of them snow covered even in August and wedged in between Spain and France. Therefore, I did not expect the sun drenched days of my current home town on Spain´s Costa Blanca, which was my starting point. By Inka Piegas-Quischote Hiking in summer and skiing in winter, that’s what Andorra is famous for. I was prepared for long walks along streams, through meadows covered in wild flowers, cobbled streets in the mountain villages and a stroll around La Vella, as the capital of Andorra is called. I was however not prepared for the surprise I got the next morning. I had arrived in the middle of the night and therefore had not seen much. But, when I opened my hotel window the next morning, I was nearly blinded by a stunning sight. The sun reflected off a decidedly futuristic structure just across the road, entirely covered with mirrored tiles. A peek pointed into the flawless blue sky and made me think that this building might be a church or even a cathedral. But no, as my enquiry at reception revealed I was indeed looking at a place of `worship`, but to health and beauty. What lay nearby was La Caldea, a super luxury spa and a landmark of Andorra La Vella. Conceived by a French architect, it was designed to symbolize the Andorra mountains and to reflect the sun and, in winter, the snow; hence the mirrored tiles. Given that I felt still a little stiff from my long journey by train and bus from Alicante to Andorra via Barcelona, I couldn’t think of anything better to do but to enjoy a day in a first class spa. In 10 minutes flat, I was on my way.