When I left for Spain, I had a list of quite a number of places I wanted to visit; Andorra was nowhere on the list. In fact, I only had a vague notion of the country. Had it not been for a friend’s short film playing at a film festival there (which I didn’t even get to see), I would not have looked further into this tiny country. I can now tell you that Andorra is the 6^th smallest nation in Europe (181 m²), has the highest capital city in Europe (3,356 ft), and is headed by two Co-Princes– the Spanish/Roman Catholic Bishop of Urgell and the President of France. Tucked in the Pyrenees Mountains between southwestern France and northeastern Spain and with no airport, it was a bit of a journey to get there, but one that is well worth the effort. I left for Andorra after work one gloomy Thursday afternoon and after two weeks of cold, foggy weather in La Rioja, I was more than ready to gain some altitude and get some sun. Unfortunately, the fog followed me through most of my journey and by the time I arrived in Andorra (a train, two BlaBla cars and 6 hours later) it was dark, I was exhausted and had fallen asleep, and did not get a view of anything. The following morning, however, I was astounded by the view from my patio window; I was completely surrounded by mountains.

Exploring Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany, the two largest parishes of Andorra, forces you to keep your head up. Look at floor, as is my horrible custom, and you will miss the striking views created by the juxtaposition of nature and manmade features surrounding you. Every turn brings a different, yet remarkable view of the mountains. Look down and you may miss one of the many markers indicating a fun trail starting right in the city. Unlike many late fall visitors who come to Andorra to take advantage of the duty free shopping, I spent most of my fist day exploring these trails and getting to see the city from above, taking in all the views, colors and sun. My yoga instructors should be pleased, after a year of hearing about posture, I finally understand, keep you back straight, shoulders back and head up. Unfortunately, when you are hiking in Andorra and are somewhat clumsy, putting in practice this new resolution causes you to frequently slip on rocks that you didn’t quite realize were in your way because your were too much in awe with the views.

Hiking in Andorra reminded so much of Colorado. I kept remembering all the mountain adventures with my friends; my attempt to climb Mount Elbert a little over a year ago and getting 80% of the way up before I had to admit defeat. (I’m coming back for you Elbert!) In particular, I recalled my first long hike. At the time, I was used to short hikes, so when my friends invited me on a hike, I said yes without asking for specifics. 12 miles and I can’t even remember how many hours later, I was so tired but so proud of myself for finishing (not that I had a choice). Little did I know then, that while in Spain, I would purposefully seek a place to visit based on the hiking opportunities, closely research trails and primarily pack hiking clothes. There are so many options in Andorra and the public transportation not only connects you from one end of the country to the other in about an hour, but drops you off very close to a lot of the trails.

I think that hiking is really the best way to see Andorra. As you follow the trail, all external noises and distractions slowly disappear and you get to lose yourself in the vast, changing landscapes.  Every now and again a church steeple from a nearby village pops into view or you come across the remains of an old structure built on the side of a mountain, its ruins still challenging nature. I took two long hikes in Andorra; both were amazing. I followed yellow markers again and, during each hike, the gentle sounds of a river kept me company. Andorra may not have been on my list of places to, but it is definitely on my list of places to visit again.