UK vs. Andorra
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The most important thing to say about Andorra is that it's not very big. In fact, it's positively minute. Crunched up high in the Pyrennees between France and Spain, Andorra's total land area is smaller than the West Midlands conurbation by some distance.
The micro-state (small but a member of the UN) is very patriotic, with Andorran flags everywhere, though it's not a country at all - it's almost joint French and Spanish territory, governed by France's President and the Bishop of the nearby Spanish town of La Seu d'Urgell. In terms of roads, it doesn't have very many, with zero miles of motorway. However, what roads it does have are actually welkl developed and looked after - Andorra relies on tourism for its income, with skiing in the winter and duty free shopping all year round - so a reliable road network is essential.
Here's the main reason why Andorra doesn't have any really big roads - it's a little bit hilly. Having said that, the main road in from Spain is four-laned, though not actually dualled, in most places. There were visible works going on to add to the four-lane sections. Looking quite out of place on single carriageway roads, there were also large overhead gantries with electronic matrix signs giving journey times to destinations both near and far (well, less near).
Within urban areas, many streets are like this - winding mountain roads with buildings on the sides. The exception to the rule is the capital city (town), Andorra la Vella, which is quite a densely built-up area with numerous high rise buildings and a genuine city atmosphere.
The rest of the Andorran roads experience falls to the road signing, which is by far the most entertaining aspect, aside from the views. The reason for this is that Andorra tends to borrow signs from France and Spain, and use them indiscriminately and randomly; from time to time there's a home-made Andorran one too. It sounds like a nightmare but it's actually quite good fun spotting where each sign is from, and it isn't nearly as confusing as it sounds. Some examples follow.
Spanish. Lots of traffic and close-in buildings, with a very European streetlight. We must be in Spain.
French. If we turn around, there's a French parking meter. The whole place looks more gallic now.
Spanish. The left turn arrow here is undeniably from south of the border, though the traffic lights (aside from Andorran crest on the pedestal) are fairly neutral.
French. This straight-ahead arrow wouldn't look out of place beneath the Eiffel Tower. Of course, the real joke here is that these traffic lights are the other side of the street as the photo above.
Andorran! Hurrah! Andorra strikes out with its own slightly different designs for these signs.
Spanish. These are modern style urban direction signs that conform to every letter of the Spanish rule book. And just think - this is the only place in Europe where it's possible to see France and Spain on the same sign!
French. Lifted straight from the streets of Marseilles or Paris or any other big city, except of course that here it's written in Catalan.
Andorran! Erm - yes, it's lovely. Nothing quite like doing your own thing, is there?
With thanks to Jim Scott for information on this page.
