Andorra a first and definitely not last!

2011 seemed to have a running theme of trying new things... our Honeymoon in 2010 was our first international holiday just us. all our previous trips together had involved Disney in some form or another. 2011 was more about exploring other options. After our return from our failed Tunisia trip within a week a plan was hatched with some friends for a snowboarding trip. They had done some boarding in the past and it is something both of us had wanted to try in our teens. A week later it was booked! Eeeek. Another trip outside of our comfort zone and so close to our last disaster...

We visited El Pas de la Casa mountain resort in Andorra Sunday 13th - Sunday 26th Feb at Crest Pas apartments (I have found the name by going through google streetview, That may not have been the name when we stayed but it's definitely the location.)

It was basic but adequate. I had spent a fair amount of time on trip advisor pre trip and had decided to take some comfortable bedding so we could sleep on the sofa bed rather than having a single each.

I will fess up now I am really funny with sleeping in beds I don't know. I always have been and always struggled the first night of a holiday, there have been a few I have taken my own bedding for and a couple where I have slept fully clothed so no part of my skin touches the bed. I have no idea where this came from. I am getting a little better the more we travel and there are certain companies I am used to and trust so tend to go with their hotels as a first choice because of this. Oh my, I am feeling a little anxious writing about this!

Moving on...

We novice's tried out the kiddy slopes

Those are the only photos you will find of me on a snowboard. I am a bit of a wimp and hugely lack confidence for this type of thing. Plus I have zero core strength (ok not quite zero). Carl on the other hand picked it up no issue (obviously because that's what Carl does)

We went for a beer and I made a decision to not go back out with them, I said I would try it again later in the week but I didn't love it and didn't want to be selfish and hold them back.

I think Carl is sad I am forcing him to have another photo taken or he doesn't have a super cool bumblebee hat.

The rest of the week was spent with them going off to board during the day

Harry our mascot

Despite not boarding (the whole reason for going right) I had a great time. I got to really recharge - lie ins and reading late brunches and long walks I actually got to just spend some alone time with no cares or worries. Nothing I had to do and nowhere I had to be. It was really fantastic. I know they struggled a bit with the fact I was perfectly happy with my week to begin with but a few more trips later it's easier for them to get ;-).

There was a great little restaurant on the side of the slopes I liked sitting with a coffee (am) or beer (pm) to people watch. It was also a great location for the others to find me for a lunch break.

We had fantastic weather most of the time a few snow storms to ensure they got decent conditions on the slopes and sunshine to start my tan!

We spent a couple evenings in our apartments where we took in turn hosting. Each coupled cooked one night then we'd play cards. Other nights we went out.

I am writing this 8 years later and only 1 night out really stands out and is worth mentioning. This was our second night - we decided to go out for a meal and check out some of the bars. We ended up in the underground which had a good vibe and was relatively quiet. There were some rep arranged bar crawls going on this evening so there were pockets of it being really busy but a lot of the time it was us. And we were rewarded for our loyalty with a round of free pints, a round of free Jagerbombs and I think there was a third thing.

Otherwise we mostly went for food and to a few bars. I think our favourite restaurant was La Perla Negra Taverna Pirata which, you may have guessed, had a pirate theme. The boys had all you can eat ribs and managed to polish off 2 racks each

I had a steak and I am not sure what Suze had. It was a decent meal. We went for steak somewhere else toward the end of our trip and the food and the service was nowhere near as good!

The others bought little sledges

Those are still taken from our video camera!

For Carl this was start of a new addiction. He had a fantastic time, we all did really and whilst this was a first it certainly is not the last...

Tired en route to the airport after a week of snowboarding