An Instructors Weekly Report 10 Dec 2010

After a perfect first week, I was slightly disappointed with this week. I still enjoyed my skiing but the weather had warmed up a little and there was more humidity in the snow than the light dry stuff we all enjoyed so much last week. The conditions were not bad but we had been spoiled by perfect snow that we had previously. However the conditions improved when the Spanish left. The weather was brighter and colder and of course, there were less people. I felt sorry for those who had come up for the holiday as they had the worst conditions so far this season.



There were a lot of Spanish in the resort this week. The 6th Dec is a Spanish National holiday and the 8th (as the devout amongst my readers will know), is the Immaculate Conception, major holiday in Andorra and Spain. The Spanish join these two holidays with the nearest weekend and take a ski break.

I thought that I might advise you on other Bank holidays that may affect your visit to Arinsal.



8th Dec. Immaculate Conception. Can be very busy.

25th and 26th Dec. Bank Holidays as in the UK. Can be very busy

1st Jan. Bank Holiday. Sometimes quiet in the mornings as the Andorrans make a big thing of New Year’s Eve.

6th Jan. Epiphany, The three kings, Little Christmas or the last day of Christmas. Bank Holiday. Usually quiet as the Spanish go home to celebrate this at home. There is a big parade the evening before, during which the 3 kings distribute sweets to the children. The traffic can be awful due to the parade.

17th Jan. St Anthony’s Day. A major holiday in Andorra. The council brew up a huge Stew/Soup in public squares and distribute it to the “poor” of the Parish. It may be worth missing an afternoon’s skiing to attend this event. (Bring your own mug, spoon and glass). There is usually free wine and music and cake to finish.

25th Jan. Robert Burns’ birthday. This is not a bank holiday and does not affect skiing but he Palarine usually provides an excellent Burns’ Supper, with Haggis, tatties and neeps. They also serve Cock-a-leekie soup, prime Scottish Roast Beef, smoked salmon, tipsy laird and other sweets from Scotland. This is followed by Scottish dancing in the bar. We start and finish the evening with the ever popular “Strip the Willow”.

17th Mar. St Patrick’s Day Not a Bank Holiday but usually a great night out in the bars. Again the Palarine puts on an Irish evening with Irish dishes, Colcannon, Irish Stew, Bailey’s Cheesecake and many other dishes that I am not familiar with. There is usually live music and a bit of a knees up in the bar. Last year the Derby imported an Irish band for the week and I enjoyed a very lively après ski there. Regular readers may remember my description of last year’s event. The Irish do like to celebrate St. Paddy, especially when away from Ireland.

19th Mar. St Joseph’s Day ( the Father of Jesus). A major holiday in Andorra.

I hope that the above may be of help if you are visiting Arinsal this winter and have to catch the bank. The resort and the ski school are open every day until the end of the season. I have not mentioned Easter as this year it is so late, I think that the travel companies will have stopped before then. One Bank holiday that caught me out, whilst trying to draw out some cash from the bank, is in October; St. Carlos of Bormio, the patron saint of Bankers. Everyone else ignores poor old St. Carlos and carries on as usual but all the banks were shut. I needed the cash so I thought, “What a load of bankers.”