From September 24 to 28, 2021, a group of boys from Slovenia accompanied by the priest of Opus Dei Mn. Feliu Torra, who has lived in that country for many years, did practically the whole of the Camí d'Andorra. Many of them are in the Pristan Residence in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

They send us this chronicle:

"Can you imagine doing this night trip? It would be crazy". St. Josemaría and his companions traveled this path in 1937. For a few cold days in late autumn during the Spanish Civil War, this group decided to secretly follow this mountainous path through the Pyrenees, to reach the security of Andorra. Our group of young people at the end of September were not chased with guns and did not walk at night; but we were able to experience some of the fatigue and to see how dangerous it is to cross the Pyrenees, which was crossed by Saint Josemaría and his group.

Following is Niki's quasi-journalistic chronicle.

September 24th

After a "moving" trip to Venice, we flew to Barcelona. Happy and full of good expectations after taking the first step, arriving in Barcelona. We drove to Oliana in a van. The first stop was to see the Peramola bridge where in 1937 part of the group started walking, after getting off the bus that was going to La Seu d'Urgell. Earlier we picked up a jeep to get to the hardest places. In Peramola we met the barn where they slept the first night. The plan was to start walking there, but it was getting late and we decided to go to Pallerols by car. We settled in quickly and visited the church, the rectory and the "oven" where they spent the second night. After preparing things, we went to the Cabana de San Rafel, where Fr Feliu celebrated the Eucharist. On the way back, from this first walk, Jordi continued to tell us what happened in November 1937, which ended with the video summary "The Crossing of the Pyrenees". Jure arrived from Pamplona and all eight of us dined in Peramola to go back to sleep at the Pallerols refuge.

September 25th

We remember the first part of this day's journey very well, because the morning has rained a couple of days since we left Peramola. We arrived at the Cova del Corb. A stop to read what St. Josemaría and his companions did in 1937. There the sun rose, which made us very happy, as we continued on our way to La Ribalera. On arrival we rested on the stones in that place until the priest arrived, who guided an all-terrain vehicle and climbed up to near the Ribalera. Immediately the Mass took place, in the same place where St. Josemaría did it. After eating, we prepared to move on, or rather upstairs; the path was especially demanding, very steep, so we almost had to climb a chimney, the Canal de la Jaça. Above all we will find a plan with an extraordinary view. From this point on, almost everything goes down to Les Masies de Nargó. Downstairs, Balta and Mn were waiting for us. Glad they had found a place by the river to set up tents and spend the night.

As it was the first time we had set up tents, and it was a little late, it was a little difficult; It was getting darker and darker, which made the operation more complicated, except that we had few flashlights, but in the end we made it. At night we were awakened by a storm with plenty of water, which passed through two of the tents, and some of us got wet; we saw lightning flashes from repeated photographs as we heard the loud thunder. Luckily it was relatively short. Nevertheless, Luka continued to sleep peacefully all night.

September 26

It was a day of going up and down until noon in Fenollet. The van arrived there, and after cleaning the chapel next to the house, we had Mass. Arranging the chapel at the same time helped us to prepare our hearts as well. Then we had a good meal - it was plentiful and tasty. Some, the three bravest, bathed in the pond. And then, to continue walking towards Santa Fe and the house of the Olive of Cabó, but now without the Jure that had to return to Pamplona and that accompanied by Mn. Feliu went to pick up the car, which he had left in Peramola.

Arriving at L'Oliva, we went down to the Cabó river where there is a magnificent meadow. And already with experience we planted the tents and, when the van had already arrived with the last ones, we made a campfire. After dinner, after singing and talking, we went to bed. Half an hour later we were awakened by the owners of the land, with whom Baltasar spoke in Mallorcan Catalan, repeating a greeting that became famous from that moment on: Bona niiit! In the end they just wanted us to put everything in order and most of all to take away all the rubbish. The night was filled with the howls of some animals. Some said at first that they looked like wolves, but they were probably deer.

September 27th

It was the day to climb Mount Ares! Quite demanding, but most did not back down. Some preferred to rest. Thus Luka, Niki, who together with Fr Feliu organized a very different cultural plan, first visiting the church of Organyà and then the Cathedral of Urgell, the Cathedral, the Museum, a couple of churches, and the Olympic Park. Lunch went to a self-service combo, leaving the typical sandwiches and we bought dishes made by walkers. We will meet in Noves de Segre. After resting for a while, we found the key to the church so we could have Mass. And on the banks of the Segre we looked for a place to put the tents, more and more experienced. We had time to swim in the famous Segre, which carried very cold water. The night was very calm, with no howls of animals or storms, happy waiting for the last day of walking that awaited us.

September 28th

Luka had to go to the Covid test, accompanied by Fr Feliu, while the others went up the Collada de la Torre and went down until they found the van and ate the sandwiches and lots of fruit. At seven in the afternoon we did the last stage of the Way: the climb of the Dead Goat, which gets its name because it has such a slope that the goats can fall easily, and in any case get tired enough. After the Dead Goat, go up to Mas d'Alins, which is already Andorran territory, and go down to Canòlich, where we had Mass in the chapel next to the road. Ramon came to pick us up in the van and from there to Organyà where we were invited to dinner at Mariano's house, who had turned 75 the day before! We sang, toasted and chatted - a very entertaining dinner. We had set up shop before in a few minutes - it was our record - in a sports club area, where we rested that night and were finally able to shower!

September 29th

Today the plan was different. With the van we went to Andorra, in Sant Julià we attended the Holy Mass, contemplating the magnificent mosaic of our compatriot Marko I. Rupnik.

Then, with the guidance of a great friend of ours, such as Mrs. Conxita Heras, we visited Andorra la Vella: the tobacco museum, the Casa de la Vall, the church of S. Esteve and we went up to the sanctuary of Meritxell, where we thanked the Virgin for our Way of Pallerols in Andorra , following in the footsteps of St. Josemaría and his companions in late November 1937.

It is time to return to our home, enriched and full of interesting experiences, a little tired physically but renewed spiritually and very happy. Let's see when we can repeat this great walk!