Blogs from Andorra, Europe
Conquering the Mountains of Andorra.... On Rental Skis
Published: March 27th 2012Europe » Andorra » Pas de la Casa
March 9th 2012
Well, we lugged some of our ski gear all the way from Toronto to London and on to France in the hopes of getting some time on the snow. Although we weren't able to get to the alps this year for a proper ski trip, we decided to squeeze it into our trip around France, and head to Andorra. And today we finally got a chance to use this equipment! Andorra is a much cheaper alternative to the alps. We rented equipment from the shop in our hotel. They had a 20% off discount (since its low season now) and they threw in the helmets for free. Unfortunately, they didn't have the best skis for Elysia... All they had was the silver level skis, and she wanted gold. But the price was so cheap that we ... read more
March 6th 2012
My adventures in Andorra and Carcassonne began with a cheap flight from Manchester. I landed in Girona, Spain and diligently waited the next morning for one of only two buses per day to take me to Andorra. There was no internet site and no pre-booking so I just had to hope a seat was available. I was in luck and spent the next 4 hours on a bus ride through the Spanish countryside and up into the mountains of the Pyrenees mountains. I stayed for two nights in the Cisco Hotel, right in the heart of the medieval section of Andorra la Vella. The first day I went for a great hike around a path that encircled the entire valley. I saw some cool buildings and bridges along the way and had a fancy tapas style ... read more
March 4th 2012
Während euch in der Heimat die sibirische Kältewelle durch Mark und Bein kroch, besuchte ich mit Mar ihre gute Freundin Anna, die direkt vor der Sagrada Familia wohnt. Als wir ins Freie gingen, um uns mit den anderen zu treffen, atmete ich tief ein und hatte diesen wunderbaren, unbeschreiblich frischen Duft von Schnee in der Nase und rief entzückt: "¡Huele a nieve!". Worauf mich die anderen nur entrückt ansahen. Stunden später, als wir aus einer Bar kamen, zuckte ich zusammen, als ich etwas Feuchtes auf meiner Stirn spürte. Es konnte doch nicht sein, dass jemand etwas aus dem Fenster über uns goss.... Aber nein, es war SCHNEE!!!!! Mar, die Mädels und ich freuten uns wie kleine Kinder und versuchten, ein paar Flocken zu fangen. Am nächsten Tag war leider nichts mehr übrig... Doch schon bald gabs ... read more
October 1st 2011
This morning we were treated to sleeping in for an extra half hour, then, after breakfast, Sara took us on an hour long walk to the Old City of Innsbruck and saw and heard about: Hofburg, Empress Mary Theresa’s winter residence and Maximillian’s empty burial vault due to Innsbruck elite denying his request to be buried in Innsbruck and finally being buried outside Vienna. After returning to our hotel, we loaded into the bus to meet with Fritz, a wonderful entrepreneur in the carriage rides, entertainment, and building home and barns for his horses. We met him in the town of Axams and got onto a 12 person modern carriage drawn by four horses and made our way from the center of town to the fields of corn being shucked, the animals, and open country space. ... read more
September 26th 2011
Well my first proper day of unemployment was full to the brim with exciting things. I managed to go for a run which is something I haven't managed to find time for in ages. I went to Masala to buy a load of cheap t-shirts and shorts and also went to a few stores in town to sell the last few dvds and games. I purchased land lord insurance and did my last shop at my local Tesco store. I also watched the first episode of a idiot abroad 2 and started hoping that my trip was nothing like Karls trip, although the bungie jump looked interesting. This is also the first update of my blog that have done by phone which has proved somewhat difficult (i'm still in Lincoln not Arans) but still achievable. The ... read more
July 1st 2011
sally, and John Hillis had left Cork on the 0825 bus to Galway this prepared them for the sea journey ahead!... They arrived Clifden at 1430 and got a 12 euro cab ride to Cleggan. FR arrived 15 minutes before them. Its 5.5 nM and we had a perfect sail across with southerly F3-4. with our new found cockiness we approaced to within 500 metres of the pier with full main and full jib doing 6 knots! Furled the jib and with main only came very close to the pier before dropping anchor. No engine. sally and John arrived and we bought some supplies before sailingback out. Tried oour hand at catching dinner and got two mackerela and two big pollack. Dinner!. While dinner was being prepared ( by me , sally) there was a call ... read more
June 26th 2011
We woke up in plenty of time for breakfast before catching the first bus down to Andorra La Vela at 9:40. Breakfast was the usual coffee, juice, cereal, toast and spreads, and some fruit. Although the driver was a bit reckless, the ride down was nearly as scary as the ride up had been yesterday. We spent most of the morning shopping for gifts to bring to Manoli's brothers and nephew. For lunch, we almost ate at the same place in the Pyrenees store, but changed our minds when we saw the buffet style layout in another store called Escale. Although most of the restaurants and cafes we'd seen wanted what seemed like ridiculous prices (from 9 Euros and up for a single plate!), this store also had food at much more reasonable prices. We all ... read more
May 19th 2011
End of night three and my legs are beat! Walked London for 9 and a 1/2 hours yesterday. Saw Buckingham Palace in the morning, in time for the changing of the guards...boring! Walked some of the most beautiful parks in the afternoon (Hyde, kensington, etc) - beauty day! Later, I checked out all the building stuff. Although it became rainy, Big Ben, parliament, London tower, St. Paul's, and westminister abbey - all but a few that were caught on my camera. A random chinese-fountain-art-gallery and Taize drop-in ceremony round out the day. Today I trained into Windsor to check out their castle and the college Harry and William went to...the name of which has slipped my mind (left quite the impression apparently). Snuck onto their back gardens - beautiful, another sunny day! Brenna has been a ... read more
March 10th 2011
Nestled high in the Pyrenees is a tiny country that you may not have heard of…Andorra. By a quirk of fate, this country, which is the size of a small county in the US and the population of a small city, is still a country. Andorra is basically one main, sometimes very narrow, mountain valley nestled on the border between Spain and France and is jointly controlled by both. There are a few side roads but the country is only 50 km across at the widest. It is one big ski resort in the winter and in the summer it specializes in mountain sports. Ninety percent of its national product is tourism and employment is 100%. Since we were so close, we could not resist a visit in order to put another country on our list. ... read more
January 29th 2011
Bij aankomst zondagmiddag in hotel Aldosa geeft motorlegende Johan van de Wal uitleg over de techniek van het endurorijden en de opzet van de week. Chris Vermeulen, GP coureur is Johan’s buurman en vaak in de bar van het hotel residence Aldosa te gast. Niet vandaag want terwijl Johan ons uitleg geeft vliegt Chris Vermeulen live over het beeldscherm van de motor GP van Indianapolis. Ook Rossi is vrijwel elke avond te gast in het hotel Aldosa. Rossi is de boxer van Johan van de Wal en zijn vrouw Jopi. Een gewaagde sprong Het is dag één. Met een rotgang gaat het bergafwaarts over smalle stuurpaadjes, stuiterend over keien en boomwortels. De adrenaline pompt en ik vlieg als een speer door de bossen op zo’n 2000 meter hoogte. Op het achterwiel hangen en vooral niet de ... read more
