This March we went to Andorra for skiing. One morning we woke up, it was raining and I suggested to my girlfriend to go to France by car. We agreed to put the Villefranche-de-Conflent in the navigator and it led us by the serpentine road through the Pyrenees. It started snowing and I reminded myself of the summer tires we had. I truly wanted to get new emotions, reach France, see new place where only around 217 people live and didn’t answer to my inner voice to turn the car backwards.
It took us around three hours to reach the destination. I felt myself a bit stressed as it was my first car-journey in the mountains, the views were catchy but I could hardly see anything as I watched and followed all that narrow and sudden turns. When we parked near the castle in Villefranche-de-Conflent, I was the happiest and the hungriest person in the world, we went for a walk enjoying the sunshine and the loneliness of the place. We saw the pancake café Ar’Bilig, when entered, I felt that this place was made by the family who care for and adore their business. The owners greeted us and we ordered crepes and coffee. I took several pictures of the café, hoping that people who ever decide to come here will know how welcome and hospitable this creperie is. We had a nice walk around, laughed and enjoyed our time.
We agreed to go back as it was around 3 p.m and the road was difficult and unknown. When we reached the level around 1000 m over the sea, heavy snow started and we got stuck high in the mountains. One car stopped and using gestures (as we don’t know French) the young man showed that it is not possible for us to go further due to no chains on the tires. I was absolutely lost, then one more car stopped and those four French guys turned our car on a small spot and insisted to return to Andorra via France and Spain by the seaside.
Maybe it sounds ridiculous but it took us ten hours and around 1000 km to get back to Andorra. We passed different picturesque places, saw the wild animals and the change of the weather from snow, heavy rain to the sunshine and full darkness. It was the longest car-journey in my life and I could hardly feel my right leg due to pressing the pedals.
But next morning I remembered the tastiest pancakes in my life which I would never forget. I posted the crepes café in Google Maps and today I am proud that it reached around 215 reviews which is the number of people living in Villefranche-de-Conflent. I hope my post will bring new guests to Ar’bilig and all of them will keep the memory of the most marvelous pancakes as I do. Life is unpredictable but I am glad that I can leave the trace in the history thanks to Google Maps.