Andorra - 19 to 20 November 2007 (GR1)

This mountain principality, the smallest country in the world, is wedged in the heart of the Pyrenees between Spain and France and is the only country in the world where Catalan is the state language (a mixture of Spanish and French). One could cross Andorra in an hour but we spent 2 days in cold wet conditions sampling the 'consumerism' and driving between villages that seemed caught in the grasp of the mountain. Our first night was in the capital Andorra La Vella at camping Valira which thankfully had the cosiest heated ablutions.

The country's sole town is squeezed into the Rui Gran Valira valley and is quite picturesque despite construction everywhere. It was just too wet for our usual walking tour so we limited our time hopping between glitzy shops. Most of this mini country is for skiing and trekking in summer but we were between seasons so we did a sight-seeing drive through Ordino, Canillo and Soldeu up to 2500m altitude with snow and iced waterfalls along the way. This was raw beauty and the kids especially loved the different visual experiences that nature offered. By nightfall on the second night we were again in a car park as we descended to Pas de la Casa and into France . Short but sweet!!!

Until later