Principality of Andorra

We drove south from France, on our way to Andorra, and after we crossed the first high mountain pass, we were in heavy low clouds. Through holes in the clouds we saw multi-level waterfalls, snow capped Pyrénées mountains, and many snow sheds over the highway. As we approached the first town, we found the hillside almost barren of trees. Today is a holiday, and the end of a three day holiday, so at the border customs inspection station, we saw a long line of cars headed back into France, but very few were on the way to Andorra.

We spent the rest of the day and the first night in the village of Encamp, then went on to Villa de Andorra, the capital of the country. Andorra seems to exist in deep valleys, with some towns hanging on the adjacent hills, with only one narrow crowded highway for all the traffic. There is a rushing river going through this same valley. Construction is underway, all over the place. High rise apartments are being built in areas where there is no way they can handle the extra traffic.

We saw large cranes with booms that reach a half block. They are set up on the alley behind the buildings already lining the main street. The crane extends over that building and takes building supplies from a truck on the main street, then swings these supplies clear around to the street in back, which is too narrow for the trucks to drive on. We were told these are vacation and second homes for people in other countries, mainly people from France and Spain.

Villa de Andorra, the capital of the country, is filled with tourist stores of all kinds. Many stores sold calculators, cameras and radios, all more expensive than in the US.

Emmy found a leather coat she liked for about $118. It needed a little alteration, and when we came back an hour later, it was tailored and ready to go. They said the coat was made in Majorca. We had looked at coats when we visited Majorca one year, but found none she liked. One year, in Los Angeles our car window was broken, and that jacket was stolen. Well, Andorra or Majorca, here we come for another coat.

We checked into campsite right in downtown, and walked and looked. The next morning it was cloudy and chilly as we headed south out of Andorra and into Spain. We drove through more small towns, with much construction in each.