Arinsal Andorra

It always snows in April in Andorra that has been true for the last 26 years that I have been here. This year we had three falls during the first week of April, so we have been enjoying good skiing for the past week. It has been very busy during this week, as a lot of Portuguese arrived and gave work to the Spanish speaking instructors. Some of the English speaking ones left early as they thought that there would be no work for them this week. One is on his way back to Australia for their winter season. We needed you Dingo, have a great season down under.

Now that the season is over, I have been thinking what I shall miss in Arinsal and what I am looking forward to in England. Of course, I will miss the skiing and the great holiday atmosphere in the village. I will miss my many friends that I will not see again until December. I must also mention the tremendous hospitality of all the staff at the Palarine, especially Graham, Maria, Stuart (BBA) and the lovely newcomer, Daniela.. And finally free skiing with my good friend Corinne. What I will NOT miss is the smoky bars. Andorra still permits smoking in bars and restaurants. They will eventually catch up with the rest of Europe, after all they have allowed women to vote since 1970.

Now, for the things that I am looking forward to in England. Firstly, seeing my wife and daughter, Alexandra. A pint of real ale in a smoke free pub.. Seeing this year’s spring flowers. This year they are late appearing in Andorra.. Usually I see crocus, hepatica, grape hyacinths and hellebore before I leave Andorra.

This will be my last report until next season, unless I hear something interesting about Arinsal, before next winter. Bye for now and have a great summer.

Last week I attended an instructor’s refresher course in the nearby resort of Soldeu. This course was both enjoyable and informative. When the course finished, we like many other skiers, decided to go for an “après ski” beer. We went into the Aspen Bar, an ordinary bar but very conveniently situated in the main street. I was shocked to be charged €6 for two bottles of local beer. Back in Arinsal you would have been charged €2-50 for the same round in the Palarine during après ski. Two pints of the same beer on draught would have cost you €3 in Cisco’s and there, they would have offered you free nachos. Soldeu has an extensive ski area and is a much larger village. Many people have said that it is not as friendly as Arinsal. Now I have decided that it is also a lot more expensive, especially The Aspen Bar.

Enough of me complaining about the price of beer in Soldeu, let me tell you about the great spring skiing that we have been enjoying in Arinsal. The past week has been very warm and sunny. This means that the snow is very slushy by the late afternoon but we have enjoyed great skiing in the mornings and higher up the mountain during the lunch time. We had a fresh fall of snow on the 1st of April and it was a lot colder, so the skiing was great for the whole day. We have very few British skiers in the resort but quite a few Spanish enjoying the Easter holidays.

Next week is the last of the season, and then it is back to England for the summer. I am always sad at the end of the season but I am looking forward to seeing my family again.