I celebrated my 28th birthday in one of Europe’s smallest countries

Last year, I had the pleasure of spending my birthday in Andorra—one of Europe’s smallest countries. Although the country is small, it has so much to offer. In this episode, you’ll join me as I hike, bike, and even meet a Dalmatian, high in the Pyrenees Mountains

Hi there. My name is Daniel and one year ago I spent my birthday in Andor. [Music] [Music] [Music] And Pandora is one of the smallest countries in Europe and it’s located in the Pyrenees Mountains just between France and Spain. During my time in Spain last year, my fiance and I had hinted at visiting Andor and we decided to just pull the trigger and it happened to be on my birthday weekend, which was a really great treat. Honestly, the drive from Jirona where we were staying was just under 3 hours and the views the entire way were beautiful. There were open freeways, highways with mountain views. And as you got closer and closer to the Pyrenees and to Andor, the roads became tight and windy. Um, just due to the nature of the mountains. The plan in Andor was very simple. It was my birthday weekend, so we wanted a little bit of rest and relaxation. However, I was in Andor, so I had to bring the bike. And whilst there, we also had to hike. Okay. Day two was hike day and I’ll preface this with the night before I wish you could have seen me. I went back and forth between two different hikes in Andor for maybe an hour. I think it might have been 11:45 and I finally just said, “Okay, we’re doing this one. There shouldn’t be any snow. I don’t know.” We committed to this one beautiful hike. And it’s just incredible how a decision at 11:45 at night probably gave us one of the most beautiful days of our lives and gave us a friendship with another couple now that lives on the other side of the world. So I don’t know what would have happened if we chose the other hike, but this and these views were just spectacular. I’m so glad I documented it because I this is something I want to show the kids. Show a little Leila. So, driving up to the parking lot of this hike, we had mountain views the entire way, quiet roads. Oh my goodness. We could see snowcapped mountains in the distance, you know, just in awe of what we were seeing, not knowing that 4 hours from then we would be standing at the top of one of those snowcapped mountains. I don’t really have much else to say about the hike apart from some of the views that you’re seeing right now. It was incredible to see the vegetation and inh [Laughter] just the landscape changing as you ascended higher and higher and at the top you actually dipped your toes into France and you crossed into the French side of the country and we were eager that the snow would have been melted but that wasn’t the case but the idea was that when you summit and you walk into France you actually descend for a little bit into to a massive lake that’s just situated in the mountains and I’m assuming in July or August people will just take a little cold plunge and then you descend back into Andor. So that was just stunning to even summit step into France for a moment and just take in the view at the top on this Pandora. Beautiful scenery. We’re about to cross over the Andor border into the French border. Well, just the regular route was a bit closed off due to snow. So, we’re passing just west of it, which means a bit more elevation, but you’re so close. We got so much housing right now. I’m huffing. Holy. [Music] Look at this. [Music] My goodness. [Music] Let’s stick together. [Music] Come shine. You be happy with me. So just be yours forever. And to make it even better, we met a couple at the top, Daniel, which is also my name, and Arena. They had their cute little Dalmatian with them, Casper. Like I said earlier, making that decision at 11:45 the night before led to us meeting this couple that we still talk to a year later on a weekly basis. And we shared food with them. We shared stories. We shared jokes. And we decided to descend together. They actually invited us out for dinner. We shared a great meal and a bottle of wine together and stories and more laughs and it was just one of those moments that was just truly surreal. And I just think back to what my mom would always tell me, you know, when are you going to have dinner in the casino in Andor having a bottle of wine with a great couple that you just met? You’re never going to be able to recreate that. So, in that moment, the money doesn’t matter so much. You just got to enjoy that experience. And I’ll just close with saying that it’s amazing who you’ll meet on a mountain summit on the other side of the world and the stories that you’ll make and stories that you’ll be able to share. The last morning was an early one for me because I wanted to summon a couple different coals before we had to check out for the day. I started early, probably around 6:30. And because the mountains are so high and the sun is still rising, you’re actually in complete darkness for a long time, especially when you’re in a valley. So climbing up, I think I spent an hour, an hour and a half in just complete darkness. And I remember being alone on that road. It was just me, the sound of my pedals, sound of my breathing, and the sun had risen above the mountains, and there was just a diagonal line in the road where the sun hit. And I just remember feeling so happy as soon as I had that sun on my back, and coming around a corner, there was a small tunnel. You could see terrific views. And on the tunnel, it said tour France. And the tour had come, I guess, in three different years and ridden this road. And at that moment, you know, you just realize that it’s a it’s a privilege to be able to ride these roads and a privilege to be here and to experience something that is just way bigger than you. This is, you know, on the tour to Front scale, this is incredible. So, I felt really appreciative that day to be be able to just ride that road and experience uh that that road and that beauty. Honestly, we’re done two climbs here in Andor, dog. I’m I’m I’m so pooped. Oh my gosh. Holy. These climbs kicked my ass. I don’t know. Maybe it’s the altitude, but I am spent cooked. As I approached the summit, this would have been my first time experience any type of altitude. One of the most beautiful things I’ve seen that trip was this ring of Ordinino, I believe, is what they call it. And it’s just massive. behind it is this incredible Pyrenees views. I think I just sat there for maybe 5 minutes and just stared at it. Descending was oh phenomenal like just absolute class. However, this camera I cannot pull out and descend at 70k an hour with one hand. So, I didn’t get many shots of the descent. But maybe maybe it was best I didn’t record it. Maybe it was best that I just lived it and then I experienced it because wow that thrill of these quiet roads, winding corners, not too many tight tight hair pins. It was just it was just wow like poetry. Give me a sec. Little mama’s waking up. We got a guest here appearing with us to finish this story up. But just in closing, that was a very beautiful trip and I would recommend it to a lot of people, you know, if it’s in your means. Um, I feel fortunate to have been able to visit and I can’t wait to go back, honestly. And I hope you guys enjoyed some of the scenes. And you know, I wish I’d filmed more for you guys, but maybe the beauty of it is that some of those memories are all up in there. But we’ll see you guys in the next unordinary day with me. Peace.