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Xmas and New Year in AndorraJan 6, 2006
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Our little village
The Pyrenees and the Village Castellbo
The Girls in front of their master work - Xmas Dinner
Being orphaned in London over Christmas wasn't really our idea of the best way to spend Christmas and New Year so we teamed up with a great crew of expats and headed for the Pryrenees. We had meet Tim and Nadine in Bolivia and we meet Steve and Marina through them, so the it was the six of us, two boot-loades of food and booze and the fresh mountain air of our small village lodgings Turbius (which was actually in Spain but Andorra sounds more exotic...) There wasnt much snow but it was stunning all the same. Christmas day was highlighted by early morning pressents, a trip into Andorra to get some ski passes sorted and a massive Christmas Turkey Dinner -Courtesy of the Girls (the Boys washed up). Dancing, cigars and shots of Frangellico followed making the next morning at the snow a bit bright and hazy, but the weather was stunning so no complaints. We started by having a lesson with Steve and Marina, who had also never skied, Tim went to have a lesson in snow boarding and Nads got straight into the boarding being the pro that she is. After three days skiing I can confidently say that we are now both kickarse skiers, and have qualified for the winter Olympics in Turin... well maybe not quite, but close.
Chris was so hooked he signed up for a Forth day with Tim and Nads. It snowed for most of the day leaving heaps of fresh powder to play in... fabulous fun.
Had a drink at the pub (a locals lounge room with full bar) one night on the way home at Castellbo, the little place just before Turbius. Great fun, I think we interupted the family TV time but the grandad seems to be very interested in us and informed us that when the lambs eat the grass you can go cross country skiing. This took about 1/2 hour to communicate and the use of a 1974 calender with a picture of a lamb in it.
New years night saw another big cook up, plently of booze and the start of a massive monoploy game that would last two days... By New Years Day everyone was knacked so we thought it would be a good Idea to go into Andorra's massive health spa and relax the day away. Water jet massage Spa's, Sauna's, Steam Rooms, Plunge pools, wood scented relaxation rooms, and an enormous thermal pool that you could swin for inside to outside in washed away the day (sorry bad for the bad pun - could resist.
And on the last morning it snow for us! The little village was awesome in white.
We caught a lift with Steve and Marina back to Barcelona to spend the day/night before flying out the next day. Gotta love Bracelona. Crused around and did some shopping before heading out to the restaurants for some piella! Deciding that we needed to start a detox when we returned to London, we went all out on the booze and the food - it was delicious!!! But now we are in a rigorous regime to tone up for Bec and Roscos wedding in March. No Nutella for two Months, its going to be tough!!!!
And so the end of 2005! Not a bad year. Well its was absolutely fantastic to be honest!
Hope everyone at home had a great Xmas and New Year - here's to 2006!
Chris and Sharna.
