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Tale of Two Cities |
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Some say that skiing in Europe is the best you'll get, for the quality of the snow and of the resorts, and for the tourism opportunities the continent provides. Here are two profiles of cities that, in one way or the other, bring skiers to the best of this beautiful continent.
When thinking of southern Spain, images of bullfights, flamenco and tapas may come to mind, or even Don Juan running through the streets of Seville. But these images don't touch on one of southern Spain's other gems
- the Sierra Nevada.
The Sierra Nevada (Spanish for the Snowy Mountain Range) lies a half-hour from the city of Granada and offers the best kind of ski travel. In the morning, visitors can ascend the slopes under cloudless skies that, on certain days, allow visitors to see south across the Mediterranean Sea right down to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The runs are spread wide across the mountain and offer great skiing for those who prefer a long cruise down the slopes. |
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Intermediates and beginners may have a smooth ride down the mountain but backcountry skiers will always find their way to more challenging terrain. The far bowls have some nice challenges and the ungroomed areas offer any level skier a good test of their abilities. The Laguna de Lleguas bowl offers 2,300 vertical feet of more challenging intermediate terrain with lots of open snowfields. The resort also offers an off-piste itinerary called Tajos de Virgen that provides beautiful mountain views. Overall, the resort enjoys a 3,757-foot abovetree-line vertical.
Boarders are allowed in every part of the mountain but are limited in the easier Borreguiles zone. Tajos de Virgen offers great snowboarding as well.
After hanging up the equipment and the winter jacket, head down to the much warmer city of Granada for some of the best cultural and architectural finds in all of Spain. The main neighborhood, the Albaicín, is split up by streets, some no wider than an armspan, that take the brave traveler to all sorts of cafés, plazas and teterías (cafés that serve different types of teas and sweets from all across Europe and Northern Africa).
Sometimes, locals will leave their doors open and passers-by can catch a glimpse of the indoor patios through ornate iron gates. The first-floor patios are always in the middle of the house, with an open roof that lets in sunlight. They often house elaborate gardens with ornate fountains, and can be seen all over Andalusia as a sign of wealth.
For those who don't really want to venture into the unknown streets (which might be hard to maneuver for non-Spanish speakers), the main avenues of the city offer tons of great sightseeing. Granada has a thick Moorish influence, having been an Arab city until 1492.This influence is no more evident than in the Alhambra, an Arab castle that dates back to the 13th century. Rooms in this sprawling royal retreat are linked by an extensive system of patios, gardens and fountains.
The most stunning architectural features of this castle are the walls themselves. Poetry is plaster-cast onto the walls themselves in opulent Arabic script, surrounded by Arabic artwork also cast onto the walls. This expansive UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also includes the royal gardens of Generalife, is a tremendous look into the complicated history and culture of Europe's half-European, half-Moorish son.
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Voulez-vous Skier avec moi? |
While Spain may be the place to go for ski tourism, let's not forget the real reason you came across the pond. Of the four main ski countries in Europe (France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy), France certainly claims the biggest territory. The French Alps have an endless network of ski resorts and ski areas that arguably offer the best skiing in the world. Let's discover one of this area's absolute treasures: Les Trois Vallées.
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The Three Valleys (Les Trois Vallées) is the biggest winter sports area in the world. Boasting 189 lifts and 375 miles of slopes (with a virtually unlimited off-trail area), the possibilities are endless for both experts wanting the off-piste runs and mileage-hungry intermediates. For beginners, finding your ski legs when you don't know where to look for them can be a scary feeling in the Alps. But there are several designated beginner areas for those who decide to jump head first into the world of winter sports.
For instance, Courchevel, the easternmost area of the Three Valleys, offers five different ski areas, separated by elevation. Courchevel 1850 has expanded ZEN, or its
"Novice Elevation Zone," to make a more effective practice area by shortening its longer lifts to accommodate novices and finally developing a beginner's run. But don't think Courchevel is only for the less experienced. This area boasts 63 ski-lifts and 117 downhill skiing runs with an accumulated length of 90 miles
- plenty of terrain for every level of expertise.
Méribel, one of the Valleys' most renown resorts, is a treasure in its own right. To look at stats alone, the area has 94 miles of groomed runs, 76 runs, 2 Olympic runs, 2 slalom stadiums and 2 snowboarding areas, the Moonpark and the Plattières snowparks
- an impressive record indeed. Add to |
that other winter activities like Heli-skiing, paragliding and ice fall viewing, all a few hours from the rest of the Three Valleys. Caution: once you arrive, you may not want to leave.
The Three Valleys are certainly not the only place to ski internationally but they certainly are the most extensive (unless you have any intentions of flying to Nepal for some real off-piste skiing). MWS's suggestion: learn to crawl before you can walk.
The choices Europe affords visitors in the realms of both skiing and tourism are endless. For non-skiing activities, Granada is certainly this writer's favorite. But don't forget that, no matter where you go, you should never have to experience something as exciting as skiing and snowboarding alone. Get a group of friends together... or join a club and have them plan it for you!
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| Gather Your Group and GO! |
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