First week end in Andorra: 13-14th december 2008

Yes indeed !
our first real adventure in Andora ( not taking in account the 1st time we went there , 2 weeks ago , when we had so much trouble with our car and the snow that I will not relate here our shameless story)
Alicia and I left on Saturday morning very early before the sun rise and the Panaderia (Bread shop) open ! Time to load the Seat with our bags and we are on the road to Andorra , taking directly the motorway . We reach the Tunel de Cadi at 10.00 am or so and we manage to hit our destibation at 11. We arrived safely at Vallnord ski station ,although there is in fact 3 different ski station : Pal, Arinsal et Arcalis . Not all of them are connected , but it is great to be able to ride in 3 stations with 1 pass !
http://en.vallnord.com/index.asp
We are so so happy to be there, the weather conditon are good ( no white day for the mountain) it is a bit windy and coldish but we are so delighted to be there that we do not really care. Arcalis is a very interesting station as there is everything close to our hand , a descent snowpark with several module and kickers and also an enormous slope of freeride ! This is absolty great . and there is not a lot of people. no time wasted in the lift queue , we can enjoy fully day. It is time for lunch and we deserve a full sandwich for smoked ham and chips ! joy and pleasure !
we are stcoked to be there . After this excelent lunch , we hit back the slope. The wind is freezing and make the snow harder to ride . I hit the small kicker of the snowpark , reception a bit sketchy but ok. Last run together with Alicia , it is 4.30 and we decide to go back to Andorra la Vella city to do some window shopping ( and also find an helmet for me). This city is amazing , it is a mix between Monaco and Neuchatel ( in Swizterland ) If you love Xmas decoration and big shops than go there ! We visited KillVill , a well built snowboard shop, whe you can find all the Burton collection amd more such as The Signal Park 152 (I love this board), we did sevral shop. We found that for electonic and alcohool/cigarett it is seriously cheaper but for the rest , nothing to be crazy about, the price are similar than any good surf shop in BCN. It is 6.00 pm and time to dirve down to our Camping we have rented a caravan for 30 euro ! Yes 15 euro each , and it is great! After having a coffe with a friend of us , we have apero and then a 2 meal dish , hot , fatty but so good ! Pyrennees gastronomy is so yummy . A bottle of wine later and few phone call to find out that Alicia and I are Uncle and Antie, it is time to go to bed although we wnated to watch Barca Madrid football match ( but the TV receptor was not working properly). After a good night rest for me and a hard waking up session for Alicia (morning sickness due to indigestion, she will remember it) I look at out if the windiw it has been dumping big time ! 15cm of fresh snow in the Frontera camping. So we imagined the same on the slopes. And Yes , it is snowing , white day bt the snow condition are excelent . Alicia and I decide to do a little run off-piste in 20cm of fresh ! what a feeling , pure sensation !
Then it is time to head off Barcelona , and we arrived home 3 H later
A superb week end !