Finding friends in Andorra




On March 12th while driving around, we started to notice Andorran flags appearing on lamp posts and in shop windows. We thought nothing of it, except we did notice people buying a lot more than usual in the supermarket.

The next day, we drove down to Valle to take care of our daily shopping only to find the store closed. Not just that store, but every store. The only exceptions where the ski rental places and gas stations. With very little to eat in the house, no bread, and no wine we switched into panic mode. We headed for a gas station that we knew sold bread and wine and such, only to find that that part of the station was closed. We could buy gas but nothing else. The idea of leaving Andorra and heading to Spain or France crossed our mind, because we have never been in a place where Constitution day precludes the purchase of almost anything except for gas, ski gear and lift tickets.

We ended up eating dinner out at El Moli, where we go often and is in our town of Arinsal. Our waitress politely asked where we are from. Half joking I answered Uruguay! It was true that we had last lived in Uruguay and I took out my Cedula (residency permit) to prove the point. She took it and examined it then handed it back, and went about her business. A few minutes later she appeared again, and held up her cedula! Turns out she was from Salto an area in the North of Uruguay. She told us it was nice to meet someone from home. Her name was Anna and she had spent a month in Punta del Este a few years before.

As is the Uruguayan tradition, everyone gave her kisses on the cheek as we left the restaurant.

Posted: Mon - March 24, 2008 at 02:08 PM      

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