I have a very childish and fun little desire of wanting to add countries or states to the list of countries and states I have visited. If given the opportunity to slip in to a different country or state, even for hours, I will take it. My only rule is that stopping in an airport doesn’t count unless you leave the airport.
So, when given the opportunity to visit France and Spain I started planning our trip South from France. The options were to go up and over the Pyrenees or over and around Eastern France in to Spain and Barcelona. Well, the decision was easy. I love a good mountain pass and driving through Andorra would provide me with the opportunity to get another stamp on the ‘ol passport.
As soon as we passed through passport control we started ascending the Pyrenees. The mountain range is largely desolate with world class driving roads that left my husband wishing we were together on his motorcycle. Much of the drive was completely barren and without structure. In places it was very pretty. We drove through in the fall and there was little snow to be seen. I could certainly see why this area would be a wonderful ski destination though.
Once arriving in Andorra la Vella we realized our Mexican Spanish would be no match for the Catalonian spoken there. Hikers rejoice in this area with many a trail to trek. Shoppers rejoice in Andorra la Vella with tax exemptions. Religious museums and sites abound.
Andorra was a nice and simple destination in between previous days spent visiting the Loire Valley in France, Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, Paris, and the following days spent in Barcelona and Taragona.
Click here to view my fun post on Mon Saint Michel
Click here to read about my unplanned visit to Juno Beach in Normandy
I got half way there once but it was taking too long so I turned back. I hope I didn’t miss much!
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I love this idea of slipping into an extra region, state, province, or country when you have some extra hours or an overnighter to do so. I just booked a trip to the Philippines and actively looked for an extensive layover for some bonus travel enjoyment; I found an amazing Korean Air roundtrip that will give me 2 overnighters in Seoul, South Korea in which I’ll be hitting the town HARD before jumping back on a jet to Manila and Toronto, respectively. Way to take advantage!!
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Sounds perfect! I would have done the exact same thing. Can’t wait to hear about it!
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Hi Jen and family, enjoying your blog and photos, nice job!! Also keeping up via FB.
Safe travels,
Rick
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I am all over adding extra countries whenever possible. Good for you to seize the opportunity!
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I definitely share that same desire, glad I’m not the only one!
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Even I have this big desire of adding countries and states from all across the world in my list. 🙂
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Stunning Landscape. Do add more names in the list 🙂
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Have travelled to Andorra for the last 3 years, babysitting our grandson whilst his parents go skiing. So, I have not seen much grass or greenery, only snow and ice. Check out my photos a morereadrovers or thereadrovers blogs on wordpress.
Not sure if we are returning in 2016 but think I should try a summer visit next time.
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Thanks for the comment! It’s fun to hear people enjoying Andorra!
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I don’t think I would go there on its own, but if you go to Spain or France, I think it’s perfect to squeeze in 🙂
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I agree. I wouldn’t go on its own and I think if I went back I would drive around it through the Cote d Azur instead of over the mountains. But I am glad I saw it. 🙂
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🙂
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Beautiful scenery! Looking forward to see more awesome photos of your adventure 🙂
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I hope to go there one day! Thanks for sharing!
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Great pics – and I think it’s a lot of fun to visit as many places and states as possible (I mean, I would never, ever mention that I have officially been to all 50 states…).
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No way! All 50!? I’ve never met someone who has been to them all. How did you manage that?
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Yup! It started with many road trips as a kid. I think I had visited all but four states by the time I graduated from college. It took a while to get the last four – I just knocked off Hawaii this last year – but I think it just happened because I love to road trip and have been doing it a long time now!
Actually, now I want to finish up the Canadian provinces and territories – I am missing Newfoundland, Nunavet and the Northwest Territories – I left some hard ones for the end!
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Wow. Super cool! Then on to South America!
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Why not?! I’ve already got one country down there, just a few more to go!
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I have you beat down there then at least! 😉
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Jealous!!!
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I would do the same with you! I love to squeeze in the possibility to stop over in between of the trip. Our favorite “countries in between” is Singapore and Hong Kong – hah, never get tired with these two and we’ve been there couple times already. Great topic!!
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Wonderful, thanks! I hope our paths can cross some day!
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The pictures are really, REALLY COOL! 🙂
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Thank you. Check out some of my other posts. I feature a lot of my photography! I am so glad you stopped by and thanks for the comment!
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I have been doing just that!
Love your photography…
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Thanks! Glad you like it. That makes it more fun for me to do!
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I totally relate to the appeal of getting across as many borders as possible, even if only for a few hours. And I have the same rule as you: airport doesn’t count unless you leave the airport and actually explore the city.
Andorra looks as beautiful as I imagined it. I am glad to hear you had the chance to make the trip. Wouldn’t it be fun to have one passport that we kept always, and that way all our stamps that we ever received would be received in one book. Then, while stuck on long plane flights, we could flip through and say, “Oh! I remember when I got that one…”
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Sounds perfect and lovely! Don’t you hate though how some of the stamps are hard to read and it makes it difficult to determine where it was from?
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I know! ha ha. I can imagine some border employee mindlessly stamping a bazillion books, and here we travelers are so excited to get them. (well, at least I am) When Tara got a passport for the very first time, we planned a trip to Canada to break it in. The border official waved us through, but I begged for a stamp. She seemed annoyed, but complied. 🙂
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I have crossed so many borders where they don’t stamp it. It’s always so disappointing. Happens especially when you drive through. I asked one time if they would stamp it and they looked at me like I was crazy and said no! Boo!
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Andorra is one of those place I have always wanted to visit, but haven’t been able to yet. So thank you for taking me along while I still work on getting there. Lovely photos.
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Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it. I’ll bet it would be glorious in the winter covered in snow.
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