HOME - EXTRA CURRICULAR - SKI TRIPS - 1997

Arinsal & Pal, Andorra

In 1997 the school tour left Letterkenny bound for the principality of Andorra, nestled between France and Spain. This would be the first ski trip that the college had organised. The tour itself would be a coach trip with a land bridge through Britain as Irish Ferries cancelled their winter ferries to France. This change of travel plans led to an arduous trip to the border of Spain. The route was thought to be flawed as it took 22 hours to travel to Andorra from Cherbourg. The return trip to Paris too 11 hours and 3.5 to Cherbourg!

After a late arrival in Andorra 05:00hrs the group were surgically removed from bed by less than zealous leaders for the trip to the slopes and ski fit en route. At the resort of Pal and Arinsal the group were divided into ski school groups and the fun commenced. Within minutes a casualty emerged. After queing all morning at the first aid centre we were informed that the patient had cracked a bone in his wrist. Plastered up the unfortunate individual spent the rest of the day and the next morning resting on the edge of the nursery slopes. Mr. Brennan and Fr. Friel were coming to grips with the snowplough while Mr. Tunney found the going somewhat harder than winning the Hogan Cup!

However by day three most had mastered the art of coming down the mountain while remaining upright. The blue and red runs beckoned, but not to all. That night at the Olympic size ice rink John McGrenra was taken out of it by a turbo charged 5 year old and the result was a broken wrist. There and then it was decided never to take skiiers to ice skating. Several bruised behinds and sore knees after the night out further emphasised this point.

One of the highlights of the trip apart from the skiing was the visit to Caldea, Europe's largest Aquatic centre. The water is heated due to geo-thermal activity and there were a multitude of Lagoons, Jacussi's, Indo-Roman Bathes and an outdoor lagoon that you lay in getting massaged by bubble couches as you watched the snow fall! This was a very surreal experience for all in the College tour party.

Upon departure from the hotel, the "battle of the Font De Ferro" occurred with the teachers and students refusing to be subjected to the same route home and the drivers not wanting to listen to any alternative route. In the end all boarded the bus and an alternative route was accepted due to the intervention of the hotel owner who had suggested the alternative route. A quick stop was made in Paris where a little shopping and sight seeing was allowed, which included a trip to the Louvre. Ten days after departing the banks of the Swilly the brave and intrepid travellers from the College returned home. Spirits were a little subdued but after a couple of days rest and care from "Mammy" the enquiries came in regarding "where to next year sir?"

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