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: Monday, 27th August – Sunday, 2nd September, 2018
SPECIAL CHARITY EVENT
The British Marathon runner, Nick Butter, will arrive in Andorra this coming weekend of 1st and 2nd September. He aims to break a world record, to run a marathon in every country of the globe with the solidarity goal of raising money for the association Prostate Cancer UK and give as much visibility to the disease as possible. In 2014, Nick Butter ran with Kevin Webber at the Marathon des Sables in Morocco, considered one of the most demanding tests in the world. There, Butter learnt that Webber was running despite suffering from terminal prostate cancer.
His story profoundly affected Nick who decided to embark on a solidarity project, running for almost two years in all the countries of the world, with the objective of raising £250,000 that will go to the charity. His plan is to run the Andorran leg on 2nd September and everyone is encouraged to join him. He will be starting in Santa Coloma and going as far as Serrat along the Cami Ral. Up till now Nick has run a marathon in 63 of the 196 countries and has covered more than 2,500 km. So far he has collected 7% of his objective. So why not turn out to encourage him on and make a nice big donation towards his very worthwhile cause.
MUSIC
Monday, 27th August at 19:30h in the Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Musicians of the World: 34th Festival of the Colours of Music with The Teasers. An international band with the very elegant voice of the singer Tina Masawi and a repertory moving between retro classics and modern songs of soul and blues.
Tuesday, 28th August at 19:30h in the Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Musicians of the World: 34th Festival of the Colours of Music with the Migue-Chupi Project. Migue Guerra defines music as the colour of different tonalities. He plays within scope of funk-blues with the freshness of improvisation and accompanied by Toni Saigi “Chupi”. He never plays the same music nor in the same way.
Tuesday, 28th August at 19:30h in the Plaça de la Rotonda. (Free) Rhythms, Capital Music with Soweto – playing jazz and rhythm and blues. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening during August there will be performers of different styles of music and dance, livening up the Av. Meritxell shopping area.
Wednesday, 29th August at 19:30h in the Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Musicians of the World: 34th Festival of the Colours of Music with Guillem Roma & Camping Band Orquestra. Everything is moving and the world is changing and so they play Nomads, their latest work, and get carried away traveling through the landscapes of the world.
Wednesday, 29th August at 21:30h in the Plaça Major, Ordino. (Free) 22nd Nits Oberts (Open Nights): Influences between classical guitar and flamenco with David Font Bernet. Two musical cultures mixed together and then fed back. Flamenco was born in a gypsy town in Spain’s southern region of Andalusia. Meanwhile, throughout the Iberian peninsula, musicians lent their ears to learn to write and reproduce that music that is the synthesis of so many other cultures. Both the classical guitar and flamenco have taken advantage of the knowledge and artistic ideas of, among others: Tàrrega, Sainz de la Maza, Turina, Falla, Daniel Fortea, Quintín Esquembre, Emili Pujol, Jose Azpiazu, Albéniz, Àngel Barrios Fernandes, leaving us with a beautiful repertoire that is a direct reference to flamenco.
David Font Bernet began his studies of classical guitar with Thomas Preibsch at the Andorran Institute of Musical Studies, and continued abroad where he graduated from the Professional Conservatory of Badalona. Later, he graduated with a Superior Degree in Musical Interpretation at the Superior Conservatory of the Liceu of Barcelona. Font is currently studying for a Master’s degree in contemporary technological and performing arts at the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao. He has10 years of experience as a guitar teacher in Andorra and Barcelona. Aside from his solo performances, he is also part of the Trio Desconcierto, of which he was a founder. With this group he has played at music festivals in Andorra, Catalonia and Argentina. He has collaborated with disciplines such as contemporary dance and physical theatre.
Thursday, 30th August at 19:30h in the Plaça de la Rotonda. (Free) Rhythms, Capital Music with The Absolute Bellinis: vintage music. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening during August there will be performers of different styles of music and dance, livening up the Av. Meritxell shopping area.
Thursday, 30th August at 21h in the Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Musicians of the World: 34th Festival of the Colours of Music: Night of the 80s and 90s. In the 21st-century, nostalgia is the driving force behind popular culture: sometime ago we could not stop thinking about the 70s and 80s and now, by virtue of basic arithmetic, the 90s accessories! These decades have been spectators of an unprecedented creative effervescence, and have left an ample repertoire of the most varied musical genres: pop, rock and funk. You cannot miss the party of the closing night of the summer with La Glamor Band! An evening of music and gastronomy.
Thursday, 30th August at 22h in the Plaça Sant Miquel, Encamp. (free). Encamp in the key of light: Iarakè & Ginger. Iarakè & Ginger is a band with a long musical career that covers a wide range of styles such as jazz and pop rock from various artists including Tina Turner, Jamie Cullum and Adele. Musicians: Laura Estiarte (vocals); Tet Baanan (drums); Manel Martí (trumpet and percussion); Agustí Cuenta (guitar); Fab Villalba (bass); Robert Marsal (keyboard) and Jean-Louis Thorree (saxophone and trumpet).
DANCE
31st Aplec (gathering) of the Sardana of the Pyrenees and 25th Sardana GroupCompetition.
Saturday, September 1, 2018 – Sunday, September 2, 2018
All in the Plaça dels Arínsols, Encamp unless otherwise stated.
SATURDAY: 12h Performance by the Castellers d’Andorra (‘Human Castlers’) and Els Xiquets del Serrallo (Tarragona). 14h Arrossada/paella (Limited places. Sale of tickets at the square – no price given – includes rice dish + bread + drink + dessert) 17h 25th Sardanist Group Competition with the traditional cobla orchestra La Flama de Farners. 7-tirades sardanes. Towards 18:30h, Awards Ceremony. 20:15h. Fraternity Dinner at the Encamp Sports and Sociocultural Complex with music from the cobla, La Flama de Farners. After dinner, the award ceremony of La Grandalla d’argent (the Silver Narcissus – national flower of Andorra) will be given to an outstanding person from the Sardanist world.
SUNDAY: 10:30h 7-tirades sardanes accompanied by the cobles La Contest of improvised groups with 7-tirades sardanes, Music by the cobles La Flama de Farners and the Principal del Llobregat.
FESTIVAL
Saturday, 1st September at 11h at the Camí Ral de les Bons, Encamp. The Day of Our Lady of the Oratory. Every first Saturday of September the people of Encamp celebrate the day of Our Lady of the Oratory. The Day begins with a prayer to the Virgin Mary, followed by singing the traditional Gojo (special song of joy) and a floral offering. To end the day there will be traditional sardana dancing.
CINEMA
Monday 27th to Thursday, 30th August at 18:30h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemanya, Escaldes-Engordany. (over 18s only) Directed by Brian Henson, Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph In the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, two clashing detectives – one human and the other a puppet – must work together to solve the brutal murders of former cast members of a beloved puppet TV show.
CHILDREN
Monday, 27th August at 15h in the Plaça de l’Església, Pas de la Casa. (Free) Summer afternoons in Pas de la Casa with Treure el nas’ (take off the nose) Have you ever imagined what the home of a couple of clowns might be like? What’s inside? How they live there? What they do? This is an active work of two clowns who invite you to take a look in their house to show you the problems that could happen to you one day. Juggling, stunts, music concerts, jokes and a lot of nonsense that will create an unforgettable afternoon full of surprises and fun.
Tuesday, 28th August at 18h at the Prat Gran, Encamp. (free) Summer afternoons in Encamp with ‘Crazy Dances. The Trap family will be offering you a unique, fresh, dynamic and very amusing entertainment for a fully participative family audience based on dances and songs made for dancers young and old. This peculiar family hand out laughter wherever they go and create the most crazy dances you can imagine!
Thursday, 30th August at 15h in the Plaça de l’Eglésia, Pas de la Casa. Summer afternoons at Pas de la Casa with ‘Qui no vulgui pols, que no vagi a l’era’ (If you don’t want reasons/problems, better not go looking for them) Aesthetic entertainment for all audiences. Individual and collective games, with stories, songs and traditional dances. Giant balloons and a confetti battle will end the party.
SPORT
Saturday, 1st September. 5th Mountain Marathon, Valls de Canillo and the 31st Travesía de Canillo. The price includes dorsal, gift, service showers in the Palau de Gel, and lunch ticket (mandatory).
Marathon, Valls de Canillo 42 km. 2,780m of altitude change. Hourly cuts. Registration cost 40€. Scoreable for the Andorra Cup in categories Veterans and Masters. Dorsal delivery: from 6:30h to 7:15h at the race start (opposite the Comú) Briefing: 7:20h at the start of the race. Departure: 7:30h.
Half Marathon Valls de Canillo (historical Travesía) 21 km. with 1,300 m of altitude change. Registration cost 25€. Scoring for the Andorra Junior Cup category. Dorsal delivery: 6:30h to 7:15h at the race start (opposite the Comú) Briefing: 7:20h at the start of the race. Departure: 7:30h.
Youth Circuit: 10.5 km, 900m of altitude change. Registration cost 15€. Scoreable for the Andorra Cup in categories Aleví, Infantil and Cadet. Dorsal delivery: 8h to 8:45h at the race start. Briefing: 9:15h at the race start. Departure: 9:30h.
Circuit Xus
5 km with 200m of altitude change for 5 to 10 year olds. Registration cost 5€. Dorsal delivery: 9:45h and 10:15h at the race start (Canillo) Briefing:10:45h at the Grandvalira Parking (Nordic Hotel) Departure: 11h at GrandValira Parking (Nordic Hotel)
Programme of the day
11h to 14h Sporting Goods Fair. 12h Activities for children.14h Lunch at the Plaça del Telecabina. 15h Awards ceremony. Gifts for all participants. Medals for all podiums from all categories. Gift vouchers for the 3 classifieds of the Absolute masculine and feminine.
Accompanied lunch: 10€ (via web) – Price of the same day lunch: 15€.
MORE SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE MUSEUMS
Wednesday, 29th August, at 20:30h at the Museum of electricity, Escaldes-Engordany, guided tour of the Engordany route. (Free. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes.) An itinerary to discover the most hidden corners of Engordany: a passage through the memory of Andorra from the beginning of the 20th century by way of the conserved traditional architecture. Leaving from the bridge of Engordany in the plaça Santa Anna. At 22h in the plaça d’Engordany, there will be a musical is spectacular called: Music and Versions on water. By the musician and composer Ner Suárez, and the actress Jèssica Casal.
Friday 31st August at 21:30h at the Iron mine in Llorts, Ordino. (Tickets and prior booking obligatory on tel. (+376) 878 173.) A night visit to the Llorts iron mine and the Iron Way. Visit the interior of an ancient, 30-meter-long iron mine, walk along the Iron Way with headlamps and discover an outdoor sculpture exhibition. It is recommended to wear a headlamp. Approximate duration two hours and 30 minutes.
Until Friday, 31st August every day from 10h – 14h and from 15h – 19h Romanesque one-on-one. Summer opening of all the Romanesque churches with free guided tours: Sant Romà de les Bons, Sant Martí de la Cortinada, Sant Serni de Nagol, Sant Miquel d’Engolasters. Also a joint visit to the interpretation Centre of Romanesque Andorra + the church of Sant Climent de Pal until Friday, 31st August. Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10h – 14h and from 15h – 19h. Sunday from 10h – 14h.
Saturday, 1st September at 20h in the Museum Casa Areny-Plandolit, Ordino. Last summer in Ordino. During a search, Joan Peruga discovered the correspondence of Sumpta, one of the daughters of one of Andorra’s most distinguished characters, Don Guillem d’Areny-Plandolit. This was the trigger that led him to publish in 1998 Last summer in Ordino, his first novel inspired by this family saga. Twenty years after it was published for the first time, the An-danda-ra Theater Company, with the collaboration of the author and the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, has made a theatrical adaptation which can be seen in the family’s Armory. Tickets available at the National Automobile Museum, Casa Areny-Plandolit Museum, Casa Rull Museum, Rossell Forge and Casa de la Val and at the door on the night if still available.
Cultural Events is sponsored by the International Club of Andorra in support of the Cor Internacional d’Andorra.
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
