PICK OF THE WEEK: Andorra (Pyrenees)
Main places:
Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, San Julia de Loria, La Massana, Ordino, Encamp, Canillo, Pas de la Casa
PICK OF THE WEEK
2nd – 7th January, 2018
THEATRE
51st Theatre Season of Els Pastorets (in Catalan but so lively you can enjoy it even if you don’t understand the words.) Saturday 6th and Sunday, 7th January at 18h at the Centre Cultural, Sant Julià de Lòria. (Tickets 10€ from the Centre or online from Morabanc). Professionally directed by Juanma Casero with a large cast of inspired amateur actors from all over Andorra. This is a very popular Christmas show: half pantomime, half nativity play, full of devils and angels and two young shepherds who get lost on their way to Bethlem. Satan and Sant Miguel challenge each other in the most powerful struggle of mankind: the struggle between Good and Evil. The Cockerel/ Midnight Mass is about to begin. Everyone is very nervous. Lluquet and Rovelló, the two young shepherds, arrive late, as usual. Will Sant Miguel understand that Lluquet and Rovelló are good people inside? Will Satan condemn them forever? Both will live through a fantastic adventure in the midst of this struggle that will make them grow and know the story of Els Pastorets.
FESTIVALS
THE ARRIVAL OF THE KINGS’ PAGES TO COLLECT
THE CHILDREN’S LETTERS.
Tuesday, 2nd January at 17.30h in the Tourist Office, Plaça de les Fontetes, La Massana. Visit of the Royal Pages to collect the children of La Massana’s letters so as to carry them to Their Majesties the Kings of the Orient.
Until Thursday, 4th January in the lobby of the Centre Cultural de Sant Julià de Lòria: Pages will collect letters for the Kings placed in the special letter box.
Thursday, 4th January starting at 18h in the streets of Andorra La Vella and Escaldes-Engordany (see route below for the Three Kings). Pages will be collecting children’s letters for the Kings.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE CAVALCADES OF THEIR MAJESTIES THE KINGS OF THE ORIENT THROUGHOUT ANDORRA
FRIDAY, 5TH JANUARY
CANILLO: At 18h starting from the cable car through the streets of Canillo ending up at the Plaça del Prat del Riu when Their Majesties will receive the children. Followed by a bonfire and hot chocolate for all.
ENCAMP: From 18h on floats through the streets of Encamp ending at the Plaça dels Arinsols. A parade when the youngest in the parish wait with cold cheeks but shining eyes for the arrival of Their Majesties the Magi of the Orient with their following of pages and elves. The Kings will cross-examine the children to see if they have been good and will distribute presents and sweets – but also may present coal to the naughtiest!
PAS DE LA CASA: At 18h a torchlight descent of Direct ski slope before, at 19h The Kings arrive on floats and 4x4s through the streets to the Sports Centre followed by fireworks.
ORDINO: At 19h Their Majesties arrive at the ACCO where the children of the parish will perform Els Pastorets, followed by traditional Three Kings cake and chocolate in the Plaça Major
LA MASSANA: At 17h (Probably! I could find nothing on Agenda.ad). Last year The Kings rode through the streets ending in the Plaça de les Fontetes when they received all the children from the parish.
From ANDORRA LA VELLA to ESCALDES-ENGORDANY: 18.30h starting in Andorra la Vella at the Plaça Princep Benlloch, Av. Meritxell, Av. Carlemany, Av. Copríncep de Gaulle, Av. del Pessebre, de les Escoles, Prat Gran and Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. This is the granddaddy of them all! Some 600 people take part in the cavalcade of around 20 floats with some 7,000 kg (sic) of sweets being thrown to the crowds (including ones suitable for celiacs.) ending at the Plaça Coprínceps where hundreds of people will welcome the Wise Men of the East.
SANT JULIÀ DE LÒRIA At 18h in front of the Casa Comuna, the Adoration of the Infant Jesus by The Magi and then through the streets of the parish to collect the letters at the Centre Cultural.
CINEMA
The Disaster Artist Until Thursday, 4th January at 20.15 at the Cinemes Illa Carlemany, Escaldes-Engordany. The Disaster Artist directed by James Franco. Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Ari Graynor. With ‘The Disaster Artist,’ James Franco transforms the tragicomic true-story of aspiring filmmaker and infamous Hollywood outsider Tommy Wiseau—an artist whose passion was as sincere as his methods were questionable—into a celebration of friendship, artistic expression, and dreams pursued against insurmountable odds. Based on Greg Sestero best-selling tell-all about the making of Tommy’s cult-classic disasterpiece ‘The Room’ (“The Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made”), ‘The Disaster Artist’ is a hilarious and welcome reminder that there is more than one way to become a legend—and no limit to what you can achieve when you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing.
ICE SHOW
Dreams on Ice: Wednesday, 3rd January at 19.45h in the Palau de Gel ice rink, Canillo. (Tickets 6€, free for children under 3, available at reception at the Palau or from Morabanc. The skaters of the Andorra Club Gel (ice skating club) will present an ice show suitable for young and old with Mickey and his friends.
CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
BIANCO Tuesday, 2nd January at 16.30h at the Teatre de les Fontetes, La Massana. (Free) BIANCO, a young people’s Christmas show in Catalan, performed by Teatre LaBú. Bianco is the story of a girl who works in an old hostel and who receives an unexpected visit from an enchanting traveller who invites her to open the doors and windows of her heart. An amusing encounter that leads the protagonist to a new way of seeing life. The acceptance of change, how we modify the changes in our lives – whether large or small – how to manage them in the most appropriate way, to let go of a memory so as to evolve as a person, the loss of someone or something that you love … They are universal values that, in today’s society, often go unnoticed and which the LaBú Teatre try to express through visual, comic and poetic language.
El conte de l’Ona i la Laia. Thursday, 4th January at 18h at the Museum Casa d’Areny-Plandolit, Ordino. (4€ per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult, whose entry is free. Tickets on sale prior to the show at the National Museum of Automobiles, Museum Casa d’Areny-Plandolit, Museum Casa Rull, Farga Rossell and Casa de la Vall. Or at the door on the night depending of availability.)
El conte de l’Ona i la Laia. Un viatge a l’Andorra d’abans. (The story of Ona and Laia, a journey into Andorra’s past performed in Catalan.) Ona and Laia are two sisters who draw and sing quietly while their parents doze. But, without knowing it, everything Ona draws and Laia sings becomes reality, which leads to an unexpected adventure: a trip into Andorra’s past. Meet Peter, a boy who will introduce Andorra before explaining some of the traditions and customs, legends, and the way of life from earlier times, and will help the two girls to value what they have in the present and learn more about their country’s past.
Andorra’s 26th Salon for Children and Youths in Pas de la Casa
Wednesday 3rd – Friday, 5th January from 16h – 21h at the Sports Complex, Pas de la Casa. (5€ per day or a 3 day season ticket for 8€.) Salon for children and youths aged from 2 – 18. This very popular event attracts young of all ages. Activities are spread between various zones in the complex dependant on age. In Pas de la Casa the children’s hall will be divided into two zones: the multipurpose room, where arcade machines will be found, simulators (GP motorcycle, helicopter, surfing, motorcycle, cross), two F1 cabins with plasma, elastic beds, a circuit of electric cars, inflatables (wipeout ballway, military American track, train and the Treasure Island), as well as the possibility of playing FIFA 17 on a 50-inch screen and enjoying different workshops and shows every day. In addition, in the martial arts room, the youngest will be able to enjoy the library space.
Culturally yours,
Clare
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Look for about the author of the blog Clare Allcard
See also Andorra travel guide
See also Pyrenees travel guide
See also France travel guide
See also Spain travel guide
