Andorra

Nested high in the Pyrenees, Andorra is a small, well-to-do country that is still a tax haven. Its inhabitants speak mostly Catalan and Spanish, with a smattering of Portuguese and French, and their food reflects that mix of cultures. Andorrans have been ranked among the happiest in the world. The country is actually a parliamentary co-principality held between France and Catalonia. They have no navy and today their army is ceremonial only; they are a UN member state and have a special agreement with the EU. Their economy is less complicated; they just use the Euro, although they have plans to issue their own version of it.

Skiing, hiking, and biking are big in this cool alpine country. Sant Julià de Lòria are known for folk dances like the contrapàs and marratxa. Long-distance busses are a good mode of conveyance as airports are three or more hours away.

The cuisine is local and seasonal, and tends to be more Catalan style in the South and French or Italian style in the North. Andorra is a bit of a breadbasket, producing lots of cereal grains, vegetables, and fruits. Lamb, ham, and rabbit are big here, as is meat in general. Coques (flat cakes) and trinxat (a potato and cabbage dish with bacon) are popular local specialties. You can find options for vegetarians and celiac sufferers in Andorra La Vella, Meritxell, and other places. A few stores in different locales offer organic produce and other provisions, and in the capital you can also buy macrobiotic ingredients.