Andorra

Andorra is a teeny country in the Pyrenees, nestled between the north of Catalunya and the south of France. Its entire territory is only 468km2 (181m2) - in comparison the state of Rhode Island is enormous. Its official language is Catalan, although French, Spanish and Portuguese are also spoken. Last Saturday afternoon I went to this little country that sits in the looming shadows of the majestic Pyrenees. It has an interesting history. Up until the time of the Spanish Civil War it was an extremely poor country, not having the ability to produce crops or easily export goods, due to the mountainous terrain. During the war and in the years of dictatorship following, where oppression and restrictions abounded in Spain, Andorra became a sort of promised land of contraband and freedom from taxes. It was an important smuggling route between Spain and France. Today it has a thriving tourism industry, boasting incredible ski resorts and tax-free shopping.

We spent the morning touring an old house representative of the region. It was built in 1633 and then renovated in the 19th century when it became the home of an important family of barons. Later we spent a few hours beside a lake resting near the summit of one of the mountains. We lunched there on a picnic, in the fresh mountain air.