Among tiny countries and high peaks

 There’s something fascinating about opposites and how strength can exist in fragility, how something small can endure against something vast. Few places capture that contrast better than Andorra.

Tucked high in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, Andorra is one of Europe’s tiniest countries. And yet, despite its size and its powerful neighbours, it has preserved its independence for centuries. While borders across Europe shifted through wars, dynasties, and revolutions, this small mountain principality quietly endured, protected by geography, diplomacy, and a uniquely balanced political system.

We visited Andorra on a one-day trip during a holiday in Barcelona, and it turned out to be one of the most surprising highlights of our journey. If you’re heading to Catalonia’s vibrant capital, don’t overlook what lies beyond the city skyline. Just a few hours away, the mountains open up to a completely different world: dramatic landscapes, crisp alpine air, and a country with a story far bigger than its borders.

Trust me: Andorra isn’t just a detour. It’s an experience. Let's take a short (I promise) look at its complex history:

With more than a thousand years of history, Andorra has a story shaped by legend, diplomacy, and resilience.

Human presence in the valleys dates back to prehistoric times, with remains discovered at sites such as Balma de la Margineda. 

The country later appears in written history in the 9th century, in a document linked to the Cathedral of Santa Maria d’Urgell, which mentions Andorra’s parishes as fiefs of the Counts of Urgell. 

According to legend, Charlemagne founded Andorra in 805 in gratitude for its people’s help against the Saracens, a story that remains part of its national identity. 

In 1278 and 1288, two treaties known as the Pareatges established shared rule between the Archbishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix, creating the Principality of Andorra. Over time, the French co-prince became the King of France, and later the President of France, while the Archbishop of Urgell has remained co-prince to this day. This unique system makes Andorra one of the world’s oldest and most distinctive parliamentary co-principalities.

After this brief historical moment, let's dig into the beauty of the main city. We arrived to La Vella on a fair September day, after a trip in a comfortable bus of less than three hours.

The first impression is that we should have come in winter. If you’re a passionate skier, that’s undeniably the best time to visit, when the mountains transform into a white paradise and the slopes come alive.

And yet, even outside the ski season, Andorra is breathtaking. The dramatic scenery at the feet of the Pyrenees: deep valleys, winding mountain roads, and peaks rising sharply against the sky is enough to leave you speechless.

So instead of trying to describe it all, I’ll let a few pictures speak on my behalf.

I have to admit that prices are slightly higher than what you might expect compared to both France and Spain. However, considering Andorra’s unique mountain location, its spectacular natural scenery, and its rich cultural heritage, it’s hardly surprising.

In the end, when you factor in the setting and the experience, it feels entirely justified.

I know this has been a short post, but somehow it feels like no number of words would ever truly capture the experience. Some places simply have to be seen to be understood.

If you’re planning a trip to Spain, consider adding Andorra to your itinerary. Even better, turn it into a road trip: drive from Barcelona to Toulouse, crossing Andorra and winding your way through the Pyrenees. The journey itself, with its mountain passes, dramatic valleys, and endless views, becomes part of the adventure.

The Wandering Writer in Portugal ... and it wasn't a dark, stormy night

Indeed, as I said in the title, it wasn't about a storm coming up, but it was night when the flight landed at Porto airport.

We arrived in September 2024 from Finland's incoming chilling season to Portugal's still summertime was a welcome situation, but something seemed to be off.  

We hadn't heard any local news, so the smell of fire and the red color of the moon was a slightly alarming surprise for us until we didn't switch on the TV to the news channel.

Besides this, the first thing I could notice is that Porto is a city that literally sleeps at night. Everything was quiet. Shops, restaurants, and pubs were all closed.

On the streets, no traffic to disturb the citizens' slumber. The only noise, a gentle breeze whispering through the trees. That's what I thought Paradise should look like.

But this little gem of a city had more surprises for us, and the morning after, after a good breakfast, we went to explore it. Like we always do, we didn't have any plan ready and we just went out of the hotel and start walking toward the ocean.

For the whole time we stayed there, the smoke coming from the wildfires had created a dramatic light effect during the day.

Thet heart of the city is on a higher level that can easily be reached by bus, car taxi or by the cutest historical ride you can imagine, the tram.

Known as "Eléctrico" in Portuguese, these trams date back to the 19th century. In the beginning, they were horse-drawn vehicles. Then they transitioned into steam power and recently to electricity. By the mid-20th century, trams were a dominant mode of transport, covering almost the entire city. However, they were gradually replaced by buses and coaches. Today, three historic tram lines still operate in Porto, featuring beautifully preserved wooden carriages with polished, varnished interiors that evoke a bygone era.

A few hundred meters from the last stop of the tram, you'll find the heart of the city center: the São Bento Railway Station.

This is more than just a transit hub—it’s a living work of art. Opened in 1916, the station welcomes travelers with its breathtaking azulejo murals, over 20,000 hand-painted tiles that narrate Portugal’s history through vivid blues and whites. Scenes of royal battles, rural traditions, and historic conquests stretch across the walls, transforming the main hall into an open-air museum.

Designed by architect José Marques da Silva, São Bento’s Beaux-Arts façade stands in elegant contrast to the artistic storytelling inside. The station, built on the ruins of a 16th-century Benedictine monastery, carries a sense of the past within its walls. Yet, despite its centuries-old soul, it remains a bustling gateway, linking Porto to the Douro Valley, Braga, and beyond.

Whether you're catching a train or simply admiring its timeless beauty, São Bento is a place where history and travel intertwine in perfect harmony.

Walking around, your legs will ask for a respite, and nothing can be more rewarding than having a meal or just a snack in one of the many cafeterias and restaurants. There, you can taste the local delicacies and as you admire the panorama or just chill under the sun, you can't avoid sipping their gorgeous port wine.

The walk on the bridges offers a breathtaking view of the dramatic topography of the country, which made me think about how challenging it must be to live there. The city is built on a steep slope from the inland to the ocean, and you need to rely on your car, public transportation, and ... good legs. What I loved most was the unhurried pace of life—the feeling that there was no rush, no stress, just a simple enjoyment of what truly matters: human connection.

Porto is a city to be experienced, not just seen—a place to fall in love with. This is another country that has taken a special place in my heart, and there will stay forever.

Sri Lanka and its people

 As promised in the previous post, here is the second part of my journey to Sri Lanka. After our trip to Sigiriya, the stone fortress, we felt so much let down by our tour operator that we decided to go the same way as we usually do, by ourselves.

It was by a stroke of luck that one day as we were strolling the city streets we decided to call a tuk-tuk. The driver who stopped at our request was an elderly man with a bright smile and a few teeth left. He spoke good English, and during our journey to the hotel, we asked a few questions about the country and culture. Generally, the drivers do not have a taximeter and tend to charge according to what they think you can afford. 

In those cases, to avoid bad surprises, you must agree to the price beforehand and try to bargain a bit.

When we asked the price the driver pointed at the taximeter. "I don't make up prices," he smiled.

We asked his name. "Everybody calls me Lucky."

And so we agreed with Lucky that for the rest of our holiday, he would have been our driver. We exchanged telephone numbers and from the following day on we explored the city and the surroundings with him.

Thinking about all the things we could see in the whole country, we understood we didn't have enough time for everything. Yet, I wanted absolutely to visit with the due calm and time the national parks. The best solution was the Sinharaja forest reserve.

Lucky helped us in this case too, acting as a tour guide, and with a couple of calls, he arranged us a driver to the park and back.

From driver he'd become our fixer, wherever we needed to go, whatever we needed to have, he could arrange it.

In the end, he said he was Lucky, but in reality, we were the lucky ones to find him.

A few days later, we left and headed for the park. We were told that we needed special socks to protect us from leaches, and we purchased them, although we were wondering about the environment we were going to visit, to need such protection.

But let me give you a few information about the park. 

Sinharaja is a forest reserve and because of its wide biodiversity, it has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Sinharaja's importance grew over the years as it became the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. Over 60% of the trees are endemic, and many of them are considered rare. It is home to 50% of Sri Lankan's endemic species of animals including birds.

The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988.

With this in mind, you can understand why we wanted to visit it, and let's the images talk for themselves:

You might wonder about whether the protection for the leeches was necessary. The answer is: yes, we came back to the entrance with a couple of those little bugs attached to the protections we were wearing.

I can't recommend enough visiting Sri Lanka, it's such a beautiful country with an amazing natural environment that will for sure enchant whoever reaches it.

There have been many times my memory wandered back to the forest or along the beaches. Maybe one day I'll be back, and with this gorgeous sunset over the sea, I give you an appointment for the next adventure.