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Pete’s Saturday message
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Cracking day skiing day yesterday under clear skies. I don't think that will be repeated today though with cloud already building and the forecast still saying rain this afternoon. I'm up and off early to make the most of the morning and will probably catch the rugby this afternoon.

Something for the weekend sir? Well I have it. A new digital catalog in the National Archives of Andorra includes 60 images of the first tourist sites in the principality of the 1950's. This decade is considered to be the beginning of the prosperity and progress in Andorra, which was due to the rapid post war positive changes in the economies of neighboring Spain and France. At that time Andorra began to attract visitors from the neighbouring countries, who preferred to buy products here because of a significant difference in prices.

Well worth downloading I've skimmed through them but will spend some hours no doubt trying to identify the various locations - any help would be appreciated.
https://www.cultura.ad/images/stories/Arxius/Documents/Catalegs/De_les_Aigues_Termals_al_Duralex.pdf

No Blog tomorrow so you'll have to wait till Monday to see what the weather brought to us this weekend - the forecast is looking good for next week, a bit colder maybe but mainly sunny. No snow on the horizon though which is a shame.

Enjoy the weekend my friends.

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www.cultura.ad

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I was woken by rattling shutters as overnight the wind picked up to gale force. Although the wind has subsided this morning to about 20kph a number of the runs have been affected and we're down to a mere 120/127 runs open - about 202km in total. A high pressure area is stuck over the Azores (the 'Azores High' is a common summer weather pattern) and is dragging an unpredictable westerly airflow in. The forecasters are changing their minds daily and their predictions of heavy snow this weekend have lessened to a 'maybe it will, maybe it won't'. We'll have to wait and see.

I mentioned a couple of days ago the longer term plans for Vallnord and I thought I'd give you a bit more information today.

'Vallnord' is a trademark managed by the Mayors of the administrative districts (parishes) of Ordino and La Massana. La Massana - through the company E.M.A.P. - controls the ski resort of Pal-Arinsal, and Ordino - through the company SECNOA - controls the Arcalis ski resort.

E.M.A.P. intends to invest € 6.7 million over the next two years in developing the infrastructure of the Pal Arinsal sector. The aim is to upgrade and improve the Pal Arinsal station, by the acquisition of new equipment, increasing the range of services and installing new cannons for artificial snow. The cannons will be installed in Pal, on the Font Roja and la Transversal slopes. Overall 2.4 million euros will be spent this year and 4.3 million euros next year.

The first stage of the project will also include improving the arrival zone at the Coll de la Botella station – the construction of new parking, the opening of a new ski school and new restaurants with large terraces.

The second stage of the project envisages arranging new routes for beginners in the sectors of both Pal and Arinsal, as well as the creation of all necessary infrastructure for international mountain skiing competitions. €340k of the investment will be used to modernise the ski school in Arinsal.

In the area of ​​Comallemple a 20 thousand cubic metre reservoir will be built - necessary for the production of artificial snow.

The work will be fully funded from the La Massana administrative department’s budget. (E.M.A.P. did make a profit of €17m last season before expenses after all!).

So a bit of healthy competition for Grandvalira and that's good news. A quick look at the wind speed tells me it's risen to nearly 40kph so although it's a cloudless sunny day I think I'll give it a miss, do some housework and practice my banjo for the 'trad' session in the Harp aprés ski.

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Last morning of 2017 in soldeu.

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Slope conditions for the weekend

LATEST UPDATE:
Friday, 15 December, 6pm. 14/12/2017
Grandvalira expects to open 107 skiing kilometers for this weekend. All sectors will be operational, although due to technical problems Soldeu-Grau Roig connection by slopes cannot be guaranteed, as it was planned. Technical departments continue working in order to have connection ready as soon as possible.

Therefore, Grandvalira is offering a shuttle bus free service to connect sectors by road. To access to this service it is necessary to provide a valid Grandvalira ski pass (daily, multiday or season pass).
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Shuttle bus service is provided by Andbus, and it will be reinforced by two buses operating from Encamp (starting point) from 8:30h and 9:00h until 17:00h. The bus will be properly identified and will run continuously.

08.30 this morning, visibility good,, from the balcony! View overlooking El tarter.

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