Situated on the Iberian Peninsula, nestled high in the Pyrenees, lies the tragically underrated country of Andorra. Bordered by countries of far greater international renown – Spain and France – and boasting a population of only 82,000 (give or take), Andorra may be a destination that is often overlooked for travellers planning their European adventures. For those whose radar Andorra has entered, its appeal emerges from its stunning scenery, vast ski slopes, and opportunities for duty-free shopping owing to its status as a tax haven. However, for those who are neither avid skiers nor passionate shopaholics, Andorra appears to be a country that has easily slipped through the cracks.
One of the benefits of the Meddeas programme is that it affords all Language Assistants a status as international students here in Spain and therefore opens the opportunity to join Erasmus day trips. Enticed by advertising photos of a visit to Andorra promising cosy Christmas markets and the potential of seeing snow, a few of us decided to embark on one of these trips and receive another stamp in our passports – a decision that led to a perfectly magical day that has been one of my favourites since arriving in September.
Meeting at a very reasonable 09.45 am at the corner of Plaza Drassanes and Av. Parallel, we joined a busload full of other excited travellers and embarked on our journey into the mountains. Pleasantly surprised at the fact that the bus ride was far shorter than expected – thanks to a swift ‘wave-through’ at border control – we arrived at our first stop of El Pas de la Casa with a perfect amount of time to explore this picturesque Andorran town.
Immediately, our attention was grabbed by the stunning scenery that appeared to be enveloping us from all angles. As a girl who had grown up living in the permanently hot climate of South East Asia, it’s safe to say my excitement was probably comparable to that of a child at witnessing the expansive sight of snow-covered mountains. After admiring these sights and filling our storage with pictures that fortunately do the town’s beauty justice, our next point of call was to verify whether the shopping bargains were really as incredible as the rumours boast. Well, let’s just say that several happy consumers were leaving with their purses lined – and really, when a bottle of perfume is priced at €52 versus €104, it would almost be rude not to! Content with our purchases, we began to feel the grumblings of hunger and decided to find a cosy spot for some lunch. While stopping and looking at the menu of a local creperie, we began a conversation with the restaurant’s charming owner, who promised his eatery boasted the best chocolate and cream in all of Andorra. Taken in by his endearing character, and curious to see whether these crowning accolades lived up to the hype, we settled in for a delicious assortment of savoury crepes that were swiftly followed by sweet variations topped with (of course) the homemade chocolate and cream. Washing this all down with a shot of some form of mystery peach liqueur (on the house), I can say without a hint of bias from delightful interactions with the staff (or the free alcohol) that La Crêperie Bretonne is a must-visit for anyone who happens to find themselves in El Pas de la Casa.
Contentedly full and in high spirits, we ventured back to the bus and began the second leg of our journey onwards to the country’s capital: Andorra la Vella. Considering all we were craving were cosy festive vibes, our main priority was to visit the Christmas markets in Plaça del Poble. Strolling through the vendors, our senses were overwhelmed with the enticing aroma of seasonal treats and the beautiful sights of handmade seasonal gifts. After warming ourselves with a serving of mulled wine while standing by an open fire torch and listening to a live music performance, we ventured on through the market stalls where local sellers seemed to have everything on offer – from hand-crafted ornaments, to cosy knitted clothing, to selections of local cheeses. After browsing and making our purchases, we quickly found it had reached dinner time and so we trusted our noses to guide our selection, which resulted in a feast of smash burgers and fries. Yes, we could’ve gone for something more traditional to the area, but the smells were simply too good to resist…
Well fed and ready for bed, we headed back to the bus to begin our return journey to Barcelona, where we sat reflecting on the day that had passed, and all agreed that it had felt truly magical. While it would be easy for Andorra to be bumped off a traveller’s itinerary in favour of more popular locations in the region, our short adventure undoubtedly proved to us that it is definitely worth visiting, either as a 24-hour day-trip from convenient locations such as Barcelona or for a longer stay for those keen to explore the slopes. All in all, our time in Andorra proved to be a perfect way for us to embrace the festive season and has allowed all of us to check off another country from our lists.
Author: Grace B.