Dates: 8-10 September 2014.

The first game of Euro 2016 qualifying was shrouded in controversy. The Andorran FA had replaced the surface of their Estadi Nacional with an artificial one weeks prior to the scheduled match.

Even with days to go, the pitch had failed UEFA’s tests, and thus more rubber crumb had to be applied to slow down the roll of the ball. It was a talking point in the media throughout the build-up.

I traveled to Barcelona with Haley and Clare, and after our pre-ordered taxi failed to materialise, we jumped in a regular taxi. My attempts to impress the driver weren’t well received. In hindsight, mentioning Gareth Bale to a Barcelona taxi driver probably wasn’t a great idea!

We eventually met up with the rest of the #WalesAway crew in a little bar near our apartment:

We then headed to a really cool bar with great music, the aptly named Manchester Bar:

We headed back to the apartment after being chucked out, but despite lots of dodgy characters selling cans of Estrella or various narcotics, none of them had carb-loaded snacks most of us craved.

The journey to Andorra and it’s capital, Andorra la Vella, involved a three hour coach journey. A combination of our late night and poor Haley going flying on the wet and slippery floors meant we were the last to arrive at the coach departure point…

After leaving the major towns and cities, it became very scenic:

The moment we crossed the border, my phone lost its data connection as my provider had no coverage in non-EU Andorra:

The city is actually delightful, with many bars and restaurants flanking the little La Valira river that flows through it.

The Pont de Paris:

A really bad photo of the Noblesse du Temps Salvador Dalí (The Nobility of Time by Salvador Dalí) on the Plaça de la Rotonda:

#WalesAway:

One of the seven figures of poetes (Catalan for ‘poets’) that represent the seven parishes of Andorra, in front of the Commune Administration building:

The fountain outside of the New Parliament of Andorra:

The walk to the game was mixed. Some over-exuberant idiot took it a bit too far when he went from dancing in front of a couple on a scooter to then trying to lift the scooter up. Thankfully, the police soon carted him off and the couple appeared unhurt.

Other than that, there was a pleasant atmosphere and some gentle micky-taking with the handful of home fans we saw.

The approach to the Estadi Nacional:

The Estadi Nacional shadowed by the Pyrenees:

A panoramic view from the Cymru end:

Despite the terrible pitch, there was no doubting the charm and character of the Estadi Nacional. I’ve not been to many world stadia, but this one seemed pretty unique to me.

I’d be happy if my club played somewhere as characterful as here:

You can water artificial grass it seems:

Within minutes of kick-off it was clear to see our lads were struggling with the surface. Every kick of the ball resulted in a plume of what looked like coal dust.

Six minutes in and Andorra were awarded a soft penalty. 1-0 and some worried faces. Thankfully, we were level before the half-hour mark. Not that Clare or I saw Gareth Bale’s header. I stupidly picked this moment to talk about my flip-flops with regards the chant “shoes off if you love…”. Flip-flop-gate was born!

The second half was one-way traffic:

As the game entered the last ten minutes Bale saved us, our campaign and probably Chris Colman’s job. His first free kick was blocked by the over-eager wall and the ref ordered a re-take. His second was perfection.

Bliss, relief and pandemonium! 2-1! A number of fans ended-up spilling onto the pitch, something we were all convinced would come back to bite us.

There was such relief come the final whistle. That pitch was a factor, no doubt, but we were also very disjointed at times, such was the panic and desire to win the game.

The mood of the three-hour journey back to Barcelona would have been very different had the game ended in a draw. Instead we were relatively happy with the incessant ramblings and singing of one of the guys at the front of the coach who was desperately trying to impress the pretty blonde girl sat near him. Plus, Haley painted Alun’s fingernails as he slept!

About half way through the journey one of the coaches broke down and those on board spread out among the remaining coaches. Unsurprisingly, due to the breakdown and resultant delay, there were no pubs open in Barcelona, but there were shady looking characters selling Estrella…

Back at the apartment I finally “learnt” Twitter and the art of hash-tagging with Haley and Clare, which continued the next day in the taxi back to the airport.

I can’t imagine visiting Andorra for any other reason than football. I’m not really a hiker or an avid skier, and it’s not on the way to anywhere else. However, the capital had a certain charm about it with some great vistas of the surrounding Pyrenees.