Sport Hotel Pas de la Casa

... having a beer and watching a man try to dig his van out of the snow. To my knowledge his van is to this moment where it was when I left the bar.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to post some pictures of Canillo when it's snowy and the sun comes out. Don't have too many, but figured it was worth a post.

... month). I wandered around Andorra la Ville, the capital city here, for the majority of today. This is when I realized the importance of shoes that don't get wet in the snow, even my two pairs of socks defense was useless to stand up to the icy attacker. When I realized everything in the capital relates to shopping for things that cost insane amounts of money, I decided to trek back here and post some pictures. Hope you like them and I'll keep you updated.

... village et quand on est arrivé, il avait le marché du matin. On a acheter du vin à environ 1 euro le litre (vin de pays) et du bon fromage bleu pour le déjeuner.

On avait pas le droit de prendre des photos dans la grotte pour pas faire de la pollution lumineuse (il y avait déja des ptites pousses de plante pres des lanternes...ils veulent pas en rajouté non plus). Aussi il faut pas déranger les chauve souris...pauve cocottes...

... than anything else. However, for a first time climber this is often the most difficult. The death grip mush come off the rock and weight comes off your feet. Floating on air! You push aside thoughts of whether or not the rope will hold and begin to descend.

Actually, I found the job of belaying much more difficult than that of climbing. Not only ******* the arms hauling the rope around and holding it securely, was the knowledge that ...

... called ‘Patou’ are raised with a herd (Pyrenees mountain dogs). As a result they will guard and defend their animals from any predator they may face - including humans. If you happen to wander in range they will bark furiously and give you many warnings to get away. If you don’t heed the warnings - you’re at your own risk with a fierce dog that comes up to your ...

... for instructions from our guide. Far enough now, and the group waits in solid silence for what comes next.

Perfectly positioned, the guide turns on a single light and we’re blinded with a whole wall full of images! Not just simple line drawing either - they are quite detailed. Many make use of the natural contours of the rock and the shadows that it creates to add life and depth to the images. A truly remarkable sight as image after ...

... was time to plunge down. Catching a glimpse of the farm with my telephoto lens Brian had some bearings to go by. Into deciduous forest that was misty and light, then further down the valley into darker trees. Ground thick with fallen leaves and branches made traversing difficult. With the steep slope and last night’s rain, it was a little like skree hopping…

Once in the woods it was impossible to see what ...

... major city in the world and streets would be packed with rush-hour throngs, but not here. Spaniards like to stay up late and get up late, but what does it mean when the sun does the same? Not much I reckon except that Spaniards have the satisfaction of feeling like late-night sophisticates. Jo jum…

They DO have an Arc de Triomf close by and that gaudy temple to La Sagrada Familia not far from the bus station either. You ...

... ZEBRE" (Zebra) and "JAUNE" (Yellow), my lead was a good cushion.

But, then, the waitress started helping Arnaud. And I got stuck with the letters "K" and f***ing "W". And Arnaud spelled "EPOQUE." And I hate the "W". And Arnaud won, 184-167.

I was mired in disbelief, shock, and "how the heck did I lose?" But, the night was young. Two red wines already down, I headed with Arnaud to the bar.

We hung out with the bar-tender and co-owner ...

... in the predominantly-French ski village of Pas de la Casa, Andorra ... after hearing the words, "Pas papiéres," (No papers for working here) and seeing restaurant owners shake their heads a lot ... after exhausting all my options except for one final possibility ... I got a job in a small-sized supermarket. Woohoo! Those supermarket shelves are going to be stocked like never before! Suddenly, I´ve become able to follow FRENCH INFILTRATION ...