Lazarow World-Hike-About: 55.15 Andorra: A Brief Introduction

LAZAROW WORLD HIKE-ABOUT

New Zealand: Tongariro Alpine Crossing: Ngauruhoe Volcano ("Mt. Doom"), a perfect sunrise.

'LAZAROW WORLD HIKE-ABOUT: WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HIKE-ABOUT?'

Hike-about is an adventure that commenced June 2010. After storing our household movables, ridding ourselves of a house but retaining our 'home' together, we set off with the purpose of hiking in different parts of the world, not forgetting the home country, the USA.

Our primary focus is hiking to mountain peaks but any challenging hike will do just fine. Extended stays enable us to enjoy and experience living in various places amongst differing cultures. Hike-about has evolved into a way of life. It's also a process of discovery, both the world and ourselves.

We work and live 'on the road' but return to the city in which our grandchildren reside, every couple of months. This provides us the wonderful opportunity to be with them as well as a child or two, even three and of course, friends.

By the end of 2023, the blog contained over 1,560 hikes (less than that actually undertaken), each a set of pictures with stories and anecdotes from the trails. An index to the right allows the viewer to identify earlier experiences.

Finally, we are often asked about the journey's end. Our reply, as accurate as we can state, is: "When we are either forced to cease through health issues or the enjoyment level no longer reaches our aspirations, we will hang up the boots."

"A Life Experience As No Other: Dare to Seize the Day Together", published by Fulton Books, depicts our life on the road and mountains until the beginning of 2017. It has developed 'exponentially' since then.

Jenni and Jeffrey Lazarow

Whereas we continue to update the blog regularly, we circulate email notifications infrequently.

Thursday, August 4, 2022

55.15 Andorra: A Brief Introduction

A Bridge to Nowhere. We'll expand on this fascinating bridge in forthcoming blogs.

This is our third visit to Andorra in 7 years. It should have been at least one more but we seemed to get 'trapped' in Eastern and Central Europe. The country is beautiful, calm, peaceful, safe, serene, civilized...we could go on further but the point has been made. Should we wish to settle in one place, which is an undesirable thought or wish, Andorra would be high on the list. Fortunately, we don't have to make that decision but can return anytime.

For hikers, climbers and outdoor people, the countryside is extremely tough to negotiate. It's most humbling at times, actually, on most hikes. The country has some valleys and for the rest, it's covered in mountains. During winter, we imagine it's a skiing paradise.

We said it previously and will repeat ourselves: 'We love this country, the little principality 'sandwiched' between France and Spain, its effective guardians.

The first lake of El Pessons.

As we climb away from the towns, we gain a perspective of them before disappearing into the wilderness.

Estany Sorda, a good opening hike...now let's get some rest.

After a while on the Gran Valira slope, we turn to see our apartment building through the telephoto lens, the one to the left and across the road.