Let's put a smile on that face!

When I knew I will be coming here, I had some simple goals. 

Meet people.

Learn Spanish.

Work on my physical condition.

Get lost as often as possible.

Learn new recipes.

Hear some unordinary stories.

Travel around.

And experience it the fullest.

That is why I decided last week to go to Andorra. I wanted to hitchhike to get there, reach Pic de Coma Pedrosa (2946 MAMSL - metres above mean sea level), which would be the highest I've ever been, and take some photos. That's all.

After buying a new backpack, going through the equipment nad packing properly. I embarked on a journey. I started on Wednesday, 8th October, and I had time until Sunday, 12th. 

Time to leave. A quick, one and a half hour walk to the highway. I soon found my first driver - old electrician, named Javier. He left me in the middle of highway, where I was picked up by another guy... also named Javier. He was listening to a familiar language - Arabic. It turned out, he put some Quran on his radio. With that, he left me at entrance to Ripoll...

Here is my second spot to look for another ride. And I was picked up by two guys. One named Raul. And other named... Javier! They gave some Ballantine's... and a little something to get happier ;). With them, I traveled to Ripoll, where I got a bus to La Seu d'Urgell...

The first time in Adnorra. I have no idea where I am, and that is all the reason to move forward.

Found a bridge.

Found a trail. Destination - Arinsal.

This will come in handy. Never miss an opportunity to pick up some dry bark of birch.

As you may guessed, I really like Iberian architecture.

There was something about that shade, close to La Massana. 

Getting closer to the sunset... Better look for a place to stay the night.

Tunnel, that is the entrance to Coma Pedrosa National Park. Nowhere else to go. Wait... 

Abandoned hotel. Probably just out of season, but it has it's surprises awaiting. Next to it you may notice a tourist information point and a place for rest... 

Yep! Behind the tourist office and wooden wall, I've set my tent. It was bright, it was warm, and no one bothered me.

Just a little final planning at 6 am and I'll ge good to go.

Suddenly, it started to get brighter

Oh yes!

So much yes!

White and red trail... a good start

Just majestic

Altogether - 7,5 kilometres, to get from 1400 metres to 2260 - to the Refuge. The hike was supposed to take me around three hours. 

You have no idea, how happy I was I made it there. At the time I got to the refuge, it was the highest I ever walked.

For better or for worse, the refuge was... empty. There was only a small room, to use by whoever felt like staying there. I took the opportunity.

Inside - some beds, table with a bench, axe, two pickaxes, shovel, first aid kit. And a fireplace! I told you, the birch will come in handy!

Just had to collect some dried wood. Now as easy as you think, in a altitude, where trees are starting to disappear.

So much yes! Time to dry some stuff.

Have something to eat and drink. My reliable metal cup to boil water for mint tea has never been as welcome as now.

Comfy... The fire inside was a great conversation started with all the people who started showing up. For four hours I was alone, but then - suddenly - so many people showed up. I has some nice chats in Spanish, English and German with man and woman from Spain, France, Germany and New Zealand. I learned about the weather conditions for tomorrow, that they might not be as favorable as they are now. Pic de Coma Pedrosa was calling. After two hours of wait, it was high time to go. 

This is the moment I gave up. I fell once in Turkish mountains from ten metres down, and I barely survived (that would be time I almost died at being 19). This was too steep. Later, after looking at the map, I realized I stopped at around 2800, around 150 metres before the peak and half a kilometre of walk from it.

The fog was getting thicker with every second, only to dissapear a minute later. The humidty, along with the winds at this altitude, my injured knee and being tired from hiking for the past 9 hours (including 2 hour break), made me more confident about coming back. Safety is the first rule.

I spent the night in the refuge. I had a nice fireplace, I had my harmonica. I had a book my friend Aiste gave to me before going to Spain. Nothing else needed? Wrong! I found some aluminum foil, so I decided to make myself some heated chorizo, with cheese and Swedish candy - also from Aiste. Thank you for all of it!

And it was time to leave. This is my destination - the valley I took to get here, now all covered in mystical mists.

I asked another Spanish guy for a photo. Had better!

When I got back to Arinsal, I decided to just take the bus back to Andorra la Vella. On my way to the spot where I would find the bus back to La Seu d'Urgell, I found this bridge. In Europe, you probably know about the tration of locking padlocks  for you and your love on the bridges, right? Well, here you have basically the same thing. But with scafrs!

I thought I could maybe take a ride on it, but it had some malfunction going on. So no ride for me.

And this is on the train from Puigcerda to Vic. Again, there was something about the ray of light...

Altogether, it was an amazing experience. I came back after three days, instead of five. I met so many people, did not spend a fortune, found out I have a pretty decent physical condition and my strong will was still in pretty good shape. 

I am proud of myself. Even though right now it seems I have some otitis going on, it was totally worth it. Hopefully, I will not lose my hearing until Monday (or even better - to cure it somehow), because I have no idea how to get to a proper doctor around here!

Try yourself. Question yourself. Believe in yourself. And you will get what you want.