Those who have heard of Andorra are probably wondering why we would visit the tiny country outside of ski season. Those who haven’t are probably wondering why we would visit at all. We really don’t have a good excuse other than it was an interesting stop on our drive from Pamplona to Barcelona that would help us add another country to our list. And what a beautiful drive it was.

For our first drive from Barcelona to Pamplona, we took the highway, which did nothing more then provide sights that made us think we were in Arizona and cost us nearly $100 in tolls . But for our second trip from Pamplona back to Barcelona, we hugged the French/Spanish border leaving us with breathtaking views, scary cliff edged roads, and a heightened sense of adventure. We even found time to stop for lunch one afternoon in Spain and one afternoon in France giving us a unique opportunity to explore some small country villages while singing Beauty and Beast’s soundtrack on repeat.

Andorra may have been just another click in our country count. However, it was definitely a click worth making. This tiny country may be tucked between the French and Spanish border, but it has a unique charm of its own. The best word I can find to describe Andorra La Vella is Eclectic.

Down one alley, we came across statues of men perched in the fetal position high above our heads. Down another, was a store dedicated only to 1980’s American fashion perfect for that Saved by the Bell look. And yet another, the most hipster bar I’ve ever come across donned with swings for seats, suspender-ed bearded bartenders, and of course a really old telephone. And you can’t get more eclectic then having dinner in a Valentines Day themed restaurant while listening to Michael Buble Christmas music. Everything was weird. Yet, everything was overwhelmingly charming.

Being nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains meant a lot of walking and a lot of stairs. Some very nice locals finally clued us in to the hidden elevators throughout the city making our exploration a little easier. I had to take advantage of the perfect alleys for an impromptu photo-shoot of Little E.

In the heart of the city we got the perfect representation of the city’s soul. Salvador Dali’s “the Nobility of Time” sits proudly in the center of town back-dropped with a modern cable-stayed bridge spanning the Gran Valira River.

Hanging on the bridge for all to see is the town name in bright circus lights reminding the city that it is unique. It is special, not belonging to the Spanish and not belonging to the French. Only belonging to the Andorrans. It is Andorra.

Until next time,