‘Cruising’ in Andorra: sporadic sexual encounters in the Principality

An icon on the map, a short message and a direct proposal. “Anyone for tonight?”, “I’m looking for discretion” or “I have a car” are some of the formulas with which users they try to organize anonymous sexual encounters in Andorra. The diary has accessed several platforms specialized in cruising that place the principality within an international network of contact points. The pages combine interactive maps, profiles and private conversations to connect people who want to keep sexual relations without the need for a conventional appointment. The vast majority of participants present themselves as men looking for other men, although there are also couples, “curious people” and users interested in various practices.

Cruising traditionally consists of seek spontaneous sexual contacts in public or isolated spacesusually with discretion and anonymity. The phenomenon is not new, but the internet has completely changed how it works. Some platforms allow you to know which spaces have been pointed out by other people, check comments and contact users who are nearby. One of the sites is defined as a collaborative map where the community adds locations, descriptions and ratings, and ensures that points are reviewed to avoid duplicates or fake content.

Meeting spaces

The map consulted by diary shows markers spread across different areas of the country. Without revealing the exact locations, it identifies spaces in the central parishes, especially in commercial and central areas of Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordanybut also points close to roads, car parks, industrial areas and more isolated places. Some are outdoors and others refer to toilets, buildings or enclosed spaces. The same page classifies places according to categories such as parking lots, parks, paths, viewpoints, open spaces, rest areas, and incorporates information about access, level of privacy, crowding or the time of day with the most activity. The points marked on the map of the application are entered by the Internet users themselves.

The real movement happens in the chats. Users can indicate their age, gender, what they’re looking for, and where they’re located. From here, the conversations they move quickly from the greeting to the concrete proposal. Some are looking for an immediate encounter; others ask who will be available at night, on the weekend, or after work. There are also those who offer to travel by vehicle, those who ask for a covered place and those who just want to observe or get to know the other person beforehand. The demands are varied. There are users who are looking for quick and no-strings-attached connections, others who prefer group or couple encounters, and some who express curiosity to experience for the first time. The platform also differentiates cruising from dogging, a practice associated with meetings in cars or open spaces in which there may be an exhibition or observation component. Although the site is specifically aimed at the male homosexual audience, it also promotes spaces for straight couples, bisexual people and swinger communities.

Immediacy is the main appeal. The map allows zoom in on the screen, check the points in the area and jump right into the conversation with people who claim to be connected in the vicinity. There is no need to build a previous relationship or exchange long conversations: the place, time and preferences can be agreed in a few messages. This facility, however, also raises questions about the veracity of the profiles, the safety of the participants, the consent or the presence of minors.

The digital map thus reveals a reality that usually stays out of public view. Behind each marker can be an old location, a joke, an occasional spot, or a space actually used for sex. What is proven is the existence of an online community that places Andorra within this circuit and which transforms everyday corners of the country into possible meeting points. A discreet, anonymous network accessible from any mobile, where the border between the virtual world and the public space is reduced to a click.