Pyrenees foothills at La Farga de Moles, Lleida, Spain - Andorra Border

Let’s get one thing straight—this wasn’t just another scenic road trip through Spain. This was a turbo‑charged Silk Road detour with two overlanding couples, two over‑equipped trucks, and about a hundred impulsive detours. Think: ancient Roman ruins, mountain witches, haunted walnut orchards, paella feuds, flat tires, and one suspiciously enthusiastic goat farmer. Buckle up, because this leg of the Vagabond Couple’s Silk Road ride went full Iberian madness.

Out of Mar de Pulpí: So Long Sea, Hello Chaos

After resting for a couple of days recovering from driving across three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa (beginning at Georgia, Turkey, Greece into North Macedonia: Black Sea Dreams & Bosporus Crossings - Our Overland Journey from Asia to Europe), we peeled out of Mar de Pulpí at the crack of not quite dawn (someone—we won’t name names—snoozed their alarm three times). Shehzadi, our heroic Toyota Tundra, rumbled like a caffeinated buffalo. Hot on her tail: Chetak, the Odyssean Journey’s steely Toyota Hilux, smaller but ten times as smug. That Hilux has main character energy, we’re not gonna lie.

Our mission? Climb from Spain’s southeastern coast all the way to the Pyrenees, brushing past every Roman ruin, flamingo marsh, and highly questionable roadside café we could find. Also, not run out of "benzene" and diesel. That part’s important.

Valencia: Paella, Cathedrals, and Possibly the Holy Grail

By the time we hit Valencia, the convoy had already burned through three playlists, half a dozen tortilla bocadillos, and one heated debate about whether olives should be considered a road snack (spoiler: no, they roll). Valencia came in hot with sunshine, oranges, and architectural sass. We parked just long enough to stretch our legs and have a religious experience with a pan of paella so good we considered proposing to it.

Valencia Cathedral tried to upstage lunch with its claim to the actual Holy Grail. Inside, we saw the relic—looks like a really old wine glass, which frankly makes sense. Who’s to say the Knights Templar weren’t just thirsty? A local historian told us it’s “very likely” the real thing, but she winked so hard we’re still not sure if she was joking.

Rocketing North: Tarragona’s Gladiators & Barcelona’s Bravado

Onward along the AP‑7, we soared past Castellón and stopped for a breather in Tarragona. Did you know the Romans built an entire amphitheater overlooking the sea here? Wild. You can practically hear ancient swords clashing and overexcited senators yelling, “Put your helmet back on, Decimus!”

We ran into a reenactor dressed like a centurion. He charged us €5 for a photo and told us he once did a car commercial in Toledo. We didn’t ask for details, but somehow that felt right.

Barcelona was next. And if Valencia was citrus and elegance, Barcelona was neon and espresso. Gaudí’s Sagrada Família hit us like a spiritual uppercut—jaw‑dropping, spindly, and still under construction after 140 years. We wandered its halls in awe until someone in the group (definitely not us) asked if Gaudí just forgot to finish it. We were promptly shushed by a very serious docent.

That night, we ended up in a tapas joint so tight we had to stack our elbows to fit. Someone ordered anchovies. Someone else tried to protest. But we ate everything anyway and rolled out singing.

Reus, Lleida, and the Templars of Confusion

After Barcelona, we veered off toward Reus and Lleida on the AP‑27. Reus proudly claims to be Gaudí’s birthplace, although you’d think he might’ve told someone before dying. Lleida, on the other hand, offered us Castle Gardeny—former Templar fortress and current pigeon palace.

There, we met Lucia, a goat cheese seller with an accent from everywhere and an uncanny ability to appear with snacks. She offered us her strongest cheese and a tale about forest spirits called els follets, who apparently dance through walnut orchards at night and occasionally trip tourists. Naturally, we bought two wheels of cheese and promised to look out for tiny magical Catalan pranksters.

Up the C‑13: Shehzadi vs. The Curves

From Lleida, we turned Shehzadi and Chetak into mountain goats. The C‑13 threw curves at us like a Formula 1 course designed by a tipsy shepherd. Chetak took the lead, her tires gripping like an adrenaline junkie at a slip‑n‑slide competition. Shehzadi huffed but kept pace, occasionally grumbling in turbocharged gasoline tones.

By the time we hit Tremp, our knuckles were white, our suspension was squeaky, and our snack supply had reached “questionable candy bar from 2021” levels.

Torrassa Reservoir

We soon reach the stunning Torrassa Reservoir. Torrasa dam is located on the Noguera Pallaresa river, specifically on the C-13 road to the Andorra border. The C-13 road runs alongside the reservoir, and shortly before the dam, the LV-5004 road branches off towards Espot. The dam is situated between the Val d'Aran and Puebla de Segur.

Camping Under the Peaks: Fire, Folk Tales, and Faulty Matches

Our campground sat just before Spain's border with Andorra, nestled in the kind of alpine valley where time slows down and pine trees whisper judgment. We set up camp - actually a log cabin, not a tent, cracked a celebratory cider, and tried lighting a fire with wet matches, optimism, and one sacrificial tortilla chip.

By nightfall, flames danced, marshmallows sizzled, and tales flowed.

We discovered the legend of Casamanya, a mountain giant who supposedly forged these very peaks to hide villagers from invading Vikings. When his heart broke, his ribs became the range. Honestly, after 800 kilometers on the road, we were all ready to believe it. Especially after that second bottle of wine.

The Road Ahead: Baguettes and Beyond

The next morning, we cross the border into Andorra, and then cross back into Spain and enter France, We then drive across the Pyrenees to the French Alps and the next campground at Lyon, France. Of special importance to Silk Road enthusiasts, we visited Lyon's famous Museum of Silk.

Stay tuned to our Silk Road journey!

Next - across the Pyrenees to Andorra, and onwards to Lyon, France