Andorra > Rain in Andorra

I wake up to the sound of chairs toppling on the terrace. A strong gust of wind has blown the window of my hotel room, which was slightly ajar, wide open. Immediately, I hear a heavy downpour on the roof. Rain is coming in. I get out of bed to close the window. The windowsill is already wet. It’s just before seven o’clock. Outside, the sky is heavily overcast and threatening. Not a good outlook. Even after breakfast, it’s still raining. To be safe, I take my full rain gear and pack some extra clothing in plastic. The bus drives along the main road toward the capital. A few kilometers before Andorra la Vella, the driver turns right. Through a three-kilometer tunnel, I enter the northern valley of Andorra. Passing through Segudet and Ordino, I eventually reach the Vall de Sorteny nature reserve.

Andorra - Ready to enter the old iron mine

Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating. It seems to be raining even harder. After discussing in the bus, it’s decided not to hike in this weather. As an alternative, we drive a short distance back to Ordino. Here, I visit a nature museum. A video explains the formation of the Pyrenees and the local flora and fauna. Meanwhile, I hope it will clear up outside soon. I also visit an iron mine. I’m given a plastic poncho and a helmet. Groups of up to eight people at a time are allowed inside. In the mine, I learn how iron is formed and how it was extracted. All iron mines in Andorra are now closed, as mechanized extraction in Spain and France is much more efficient. Before I know it, I’m already back outside on the parking lot. I estimate the mine shaft to be just twenty-five meters. Hesitantly, I pass on my experience to the next group. I cross the street for a nice cup of coffee. While drinking, I’m surprised to see that it’s drying up outside. I even see the sun breaking through. The blue sky does not go unnoticed by the other travelers. We decide to return to the nature park and take a shorter route. It’s already too late to hike all the way to the mountain lake.

Andorra - Walking among the flowers in the flower valley

The bus driver is extremely flexible, happy to drive us from location to location—very convenient on such an unpredictable day. I get off again at the Vall de Sorteny nature park parking lot. A steeply rising path takes me to the botanical garden, where I eat my lunch. I then head toward the Planell del Quer, a rising path through a colorful valley. I immediately understand why this valley is called the flower valley. I climb to the top of the hill through an oasis of flowers. The other side of the hill may be even more beautiful. From there, I have a view over three different valleys. Dark clouds hang over the valleys, but for now, it remains dry. Using a zigzag path, I descend back to the river and follow the swiftly flowing water back to the parking lot. From there, I take the squirrel path, which leads directly to the village of El Serrat. It’s around half past three when I arrive at a terrace for a refreshing drink. It has remained dry throughout the entire walk. Thankfully! By bus, I return to Soldeu. In the evening, after the buffet dinner, the weather starts to rage again in the valley around Soldeu. Lightning flashes constantly illuminate the hills. Rain pelts the hotel roof. I crawl into bed and go to sleep, hoping that it will be dry again by tomorrow morning.