El Tarter, Andorra
21st - 28th December 2008
Our
second Xmas in UK means our second ski trip for Xmas
So last year we went to Borovets in Bulgaria for Xmas skiing. This year, we got our act together earlier and decided to go to El Tarter resort in Andorra. Geographically, Andorra is located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. We organised the package through a company called DirectSki, who we saw as a package providor when we went to Bulgaria. We'd basically decided on our hotel (Hotel Euroski) and then tried to get the best package we could from there.
Couple of highlight videos before we get into the pictures.
Ashika, the pro skiier, now parralleling all the way...
Me, not far behind, though I was the only one to attempt a black run before leaving Andorra...
And finally Ashika on the Husky sleigh on Christmas day ...
Pverll, we met some very nice people in the hotel as well as in our ski classes. There are some comments as the pictures progress, so I hope you enjoy.
Monday 22nd December
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| Ready to start skiing again, one year on | Looking across to the hotel next door |
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| Slush everywhere | Ashika's all geard up for her first day back |
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| Slopes at the top of the gondola looked great | They were only the green ones though |
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| Lunch spot | View from lunch spot |
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| Self portrait |
Tuesday 23rd December
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| Day 2 and we hit the higher mountains | Ohhh, it's sooo high |
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| No it's not, well, not yet | That's steep |
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| Ashika and me, with mIke in the background | The mountains were covered, looked awesome |
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| And the skking was also awesome higher up | Mike, squeezing into the pics again |
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| Ashika posing | |
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| Pity she was stationary | SOme of the gondolas WERE very high up |
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| Pit stop | Fueling up... carbo loading! Beefcake! |
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| Hot chocolate with Baileys | |
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| Parachuter on the slopes | Crazy! |
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| This doesnt look steep, but actually is. | Elise and Ashika |
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| Speedy gonzales | Taking a well earned breather |
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| Some people sun baking | The creek that ran through the middle of our hotel |
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| Look at the icicles | Buggered after a long day out |
Wednesday 24th December
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| Day 3, weather as good as ever | Slopes were empty to start with |
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| Not sure why the big smile? | The views were great |
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| Ashika taking in the serenity | Rest stop |
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| More parachuters | SOme of the others in our group |
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| Getting ready for another session | What you lookin' at Willis? |
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| Eat my dust | |
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Thursday 25th December - Christmas Day
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| Christmas day cuddle | Slopes were empty, many hangovers I think |
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| The usual rest stop | |
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| Ashika infront of the slalom | Some random in the background, is that you Mike? |
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| We went for a Husy ride, these were some of them | |
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| One of the baby's, born 2 days ago | |
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| Babies suckling up to the mother | |
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| Ashiika's ride | My ride |
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| Ashika ready to go | Oh, I really have to go =) |
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| Oh yeah, here I come! | Mid ride break |
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| Posing with the demons | Nice photo opportunity |
Friday 26th December
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| Weather turned nasty | Snow everywhere and falling heavily |
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| So we rest up inside for it to clear | Off to the presentation night |
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| Some random beer, could have been San Miguel | Baileys and milk, on the rocks please |
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| Others from our group | Matt and Mike, they stayed at our hotel too |
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| Ashika getting a kiss from Skipper (our instructer) | More kisses |
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| And more | Me getting the certificate |
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| Is thet Mike again? | Some of our ski class group, skipper in the middle |
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| Not sure, but looks like it was interesting conversation | The boys were bored (Matt and mike) |
Saturday 27th December
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| Last day on the snow, the cool group | Oh yeah baby! |