Andorra news for Cynics. Where is Andorra airport?

The once tranquil village of Anyòs with its quaint 12 century church (now called "bol de pols village") is now witness to the arrival of giant TV sets, they seem to be in the shape of the old cathode ray tube backs ( if anyone remembers those), so they obviously are not Smart TVs. In the picture we see the last of them being lifted into position on the right, no clue yet as to where you plug them in though. Those astute amongst you out there will see in the background the original type of property architecture in the days when, by law, at least 60% or so of the building had to be clad in stone. Obviously with all the construction going on the stone has run out and that law was quietly consigned to history somewhere down the line.  Also with the old type of architecture it was possible to actually reach out and clean the windows. However, people have already pointed out that you can actually see directly into them, so maybe it will be a bonus for dusty windows otherwise, abseiling with a bucket may be the only option. Oh, and if anyone is buying or has bought one, just remember..... "We`re watching you !"

The problem with this accord which had been negotiated for the past 10 years or more and then signed almost a couple of years ago is that nobody in the EU had any idea how it could be ratified into law, whether the EU Commission could do so on behalf of the 27 members states, "no mixt", or whether it had to be ratified by each sovereign Parliament of the 27 states, "mixt".  The problem with the latter which the powers to be in Government here want to avoid is that it is estimated that it could take 15 years or more for that to be completed given that Andorra is not exactly a priority in the Hungarian Parliament for example. Our dear leader in France is now concerned that if it is no mixt then it will set precedent in treaties like Mercosur which is at a similar stage as the EU Accord.  Macron is dead against the Mercosur treaty, negotiated for over 20 years with the South American countries which would effectively lift tariffs between the two trading blocks. Unfortunately for Macron this will threaten the Army of French farmers with cheaper imports of beef, poultry, sugar and countless other threats to their regime. Mercosur was signed in principal in 2019 and remains in a ping pong match a bit like the  Andorra Accord. If France can get the Mercosur treaty to be mixt they can effectively block it from ever happening. If the EU Parliament decides Andorra is no mixt and can ratify on behalf of all the States then that is where the panic lies for France !! We may even now have the French lobbying for a "NON" to the EU Accord if we ever get to have one.

During 2024 there were 8 confirmed sightings or evidence of bears wandering through Andorra, there are now estimated to be 96 bears in the Pyrenees from the original reintroduction of 12 or so some yonks ago.  On Monday they discovered a bear print in the snow from a bear (obviously), between Ordino and La Massana and we are advised by the "Cos de Banders"  (Bear Patrol) that if you come across a bear to dial 148 ( Bear HQ presumably).  What they have not advised is whether we are supposed to ask the bear to hang on while calling, or to mind our footing while legging it in a state of panic........

The La Massana village "Bol de Pols" ( Translation Dust Bowl) formerly known as the sleepy village of Anyós with it`s 12th century church has seen the carving out of a hill slope below the road above Pol de Bols known a the Carretera de Beixalís. In removing the entire hillside very mysteriously the road above it could no longer support the traffic and partially collapsed causing the road to be closed and then as is now only open to one way traffic.  Unfortunately the "temporary" traffic lights only change twice per week, so a red traffic light can often lead to dinner and sleeping in the car.  La Massana tax payers have since pleaded guilty to this destruction by the developers and apparently have agreed to fork out 495,000 EUR to help the developers repair it.  Probably the same architect recommended central tunnel supports for the Envalira tunnel and when he was persuaded otherwise by his cleaner, he must have thought removing the hill under the road would be OK too without any supports.

It was only 16 years ago that due to the financial crisis in Europe you could pick up a nice fairly new 3 bed apartment for a hundred grand,  quite simply nobody wanted anything. It seems that due to the emergence of the new "Torres" or Apartment towers in Andorra La Vella and Escaldes the average asking price for an apartment now surpasses prices in Barcelona.  Prices in Andorra La Vella new builds are now 5,607 €/m² and Escaldes-Engordany 7,135,55 €/m² compared to an average price in Barcelona of 5.449 €/m² and Madrid 4,673 €/m². However when compared to Paris, well nothing compares to Paris at 10,683 €/m². With Foreign investors now investing in new builds the Government is having problems providing housing for locals who are pretty much trying to survive on a minimum wage.

Ho ho ho and a merry 2025. !!  It seems as if Google AI has been at the bottle over the festive season. I think from online ads we all have seen something rather silly relating to Andorra but the one below has to beat the lot. These wretched google ads determine where you are located and slots you in to ads that Google thinks may be of interest to you.......