Thinking Allowed: Andorra has it right

Sometimes it is the small out of the way spots that have the most character to them. This was definitely the case with Andorra. I have been itching to get into the mountains. From Pau we have a grand view of the Pyrenees but without a car they are just a touch too far away. The girls had a week long gap in their exam schedule and a country completely up in the highest of the Pyrenees seemed just the spot for a getaway.

Andorra is one of three sovereign principalities in the world (other two are Monaco and Lichtenstein) and the only co-principality (shared by president of France and Spanish Bishop of Urgel). Andorra is a country of extremes. On the one hand Andorra's capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe. On the other Andorra has the highest smoking rate in the world at 36%. On the one hand Andorra is fairly inaccessible and has no airport. On the other hand one of the main reasons people come to Andorra is to shop. On the one hand Andorra is a hikers and skiiers paradise. On the other hand Andorra is a destination vacation for those seeking to buy alcohol, cigarettes and weapons. Basically, Andorra does what it takes to makes its mark when its entire country is composed of high alpine valleys.

It was a fascinating place to visit. I liked how the capital had to squeeze itself into a fairly narrow valley with steep mountains on all sides and multiple rivers running through it. I liked that the country is so small and intimately connected with the mountains that the public transportation is as good as a trail bus. I liked that only 4% of the country is built up. I liked that even though the country is small and secluded they all learn multiple European languages. But really most of all I just liked the mountains. It is not a country for the weak thighed. Every hike we did was beautiful and I could probably have stayed there much longer gradually bulking up in lower body strength and lung capacity. Lots of countries have mountains but there is something really special about the countries that are exclusively mountain.