Last weekend we took a detour from fabulous Barcelona and drove to Andorra. Why? Well, mostly because I am trying to see every European country and it’s on the list. Also, it’s only two hours from Barcelona through some of the most jaw-dropping landscape I’ve ever seen. I also had a secret hope that Andorra would be a tiny adorable enclave, one of those places where people don’t go but should, and where maybe I could buy a little ski chalet to use when I learn to ski.

Sadly, Andorra was underwhelming. The drive built up our hopes as we steered further into the Pyrenees mountains, passing many idyllic small towns, nestled at the base of ever-growing mountains.

And then, traffic.

We approached the border with many others, most of them shoppers I assume, heading to the tax haven of Andorra to buy off-market car parts or ski gear.  Once past the well-marked border, we drove through the several small towns that comprise the bulk of the country, shopping malls flashing past on each side, the view broken up by car dealership after car dealership. The shopping centers were not high end, or medium end, but squarely dull, generic big box stores.

It is not an exaggeration to say that we drove around for under an hour and then hauled ass back to Spain. The border crossing in the reverse direction was much more intense, with most cars flagged over to be searched. I guess the number of unclaimed goods leaving Andorra is abnormally high.