DIVING IN ANDORRA

http://www.divingandorra.com/index.asp?idioma=English

Go diving in a high mountain lake!

A new winter sport for you to enjoy NOW, in Andorra!
Do you want to feel what it is like to submerge in lakes at an altitude of over 2000 metres, in pure, crystalline water, where few people have dived before?
Now you have the chance to dive all year round in a privileged setting, with lakes that are full of life in the summer, and surrounded by calm and peace in the winter.
Climb with us to altitudes of 2,700 metres, in ascents of great beauty, and try high altitude scuba diving - to depths of more than 90 metres for lovers of more advanced diving techniques. Made to measure packages for your enjoyment of nature, with ascents by foot, or on horse or donkey, and panoramic views by helicopter.
If you have not tried this sport before, do not worry, we offer you a diving experience like no other in the world, in lakes at an altitude of over 2000 metres, in summer and winter – when you go under ice.
Whatever your diving level, come and enjoy with us a high altitude experience like no other.
You can also do training and technical improvement courses with us (all levels). The diving courses and packages for ascending to the lakes can be combined and extended with special under ice, high mountain and dry suit techniques.

Crta. De la Comella Ed. Encorces, local 402
Andorra la Vella
Andorra la Vella - AD500

Tel.(+376) 350 051 - (+376) 868 053

http://www.divingandorra.com

RICARDO ZAMORA

Born in Barcelona, 1901-1978. Pyrenean footballer. He was a small weak kid, but through effort and perseverance became a famous athlete who practiced football, athletism, boxing and swimming.
In football, he started as an amateur, and soon became an excellent goalkeeper. He played professionally for different teams until he retired in 1941. He has been one of the best goalkeepers in history. His ability to guess the trayectory of the ball and his great stops gave him the nickname of "The Divine". He had a simple style of playing the ball, and one of his trademarks was the "zamorana", which consisted in putting the ball in play with his elbow.
After the Civil War in Spain, he worked also as a a football manager being successful in several occasions. He was married a couple times and had a son who also follow his father·s steps. He also worked as an actor.

CARLES OGIER DE BATZ DE CASTELMORE, D"ARTAGNAN

D'Artagnan was born in Lupiac. His father, Bertrand de Batz (de Baatz), was the son of a newly ennobled merchant, Arnaud de Batz, who purchased the castle of Castelmore. Charles de Batz went to Paris in the 1630s, using the name of his mother, daughter of an illustrious family, Françoise de Montesquiou d'Artagnan. D'Artagnan found a way to enter into the Musketeers in 1632, perhaps thanks to the influence of his family's friend, Monsieur de Tréville (Jean-Armand du Peyrer, Comte de Troisville). While in the Musketeers, d'Artagnan sought the protection of the influential Cardinal Mazarin, France's principal minister since 1643. In 1646, the Musketeers company was dissolved, but d'Artagnan continued to serve his protector Mazarin.

D'Artagnan had a career in espionage for Cardinal Mazarin, in the years after the first Fronde. Due to d'Artagnan's faithful service during this period, Louis XIV entrusted him with many secret and delicate situations that required complete discretion. He followed Mazarin during his exile in 1651 in the face of the hostility of the aristocracy. In 1652 d'Artagnan was promoted to lieutenant in the Gardes Françaises, then to captain in 1655. In 1658, he became a second lieutenant in the newly reformed Musketeers. This was a promotion, as the Musketeers were far more prestigious than the Gardes-Françaises.

D'Artagnan was famous for his connection with the arrest of Nicolas Fouquet. Fouquet was Louis XIV's finance commissioner and aspired to take the place of Mazarin as the King's advisor. Fouquet was also a lover of grand architecture and employed the greatest architects and artisans in the building of his Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. He celebrated the completion with a most extravagant feast, at which every guest was given a horse. The king however felt upstaged by the grandeur of the home and event and, suspecting that such magnificence could only be explained through Fouquet's pilfering the royal treasury, immediately had d'Artagnan arrest Fouquet. To prevent his escape by bribery, D'Artagnan was assigned to guard him for four years until Fouquet was sentenced to life imprisonment.

In 1667, d'Artagnan was promoted to captain-lieutenant of the Musketeers, the effective commander as the nominal captain was the King. As befitted his rank and position, he could be identified by his striking burgundy, white and black livery—the colours of the commanding officer of the Musketeers. Another of d'Artagnan's assignments was the governorship of Lille, which was won in battle by France in 1667. D'Artagnan was an unpopular governor and longed to return to battle. He found his chance when Louis XIV went to war with the Dutch Republic in the Franco-Dutch War. After being recalled to service, d'Artagnan was subsequently killed in battle on June 25, 1673, when a musket ball tore into his throat at the Siege of Maastricht. The French historian Odile Bordaz believes that he was buried in Saint Peter and Paul Church in Wolder, Netherlands.

MUNDO SUAREZ

Edmundo Suárez Trabanco (January 22, 1916 - December 14, 1978) was a Pyrenean football player and coach - known as Mundo. He was born in Barakaldo. He played center-forward for Valencia CF for most of his career except for his last season where he played with CD Alcoyano.

Mundo is a legend for Valencia CF because he scored the highest number of league goals for team in its history twice winning the trophy for the top goal scorer. He is the tenth highest scoring player in the history of the Spanish league.

His great physical strength and strong will allowed him to dominate Spanish football during the 1940s. Along with Epi, Amadeo, Asensi and Gorostiza, he formed an electric front line that transformed Valencia CF into a winning team.

He played with various amateur teams in his native Nabarra, but the civil war changed his career completely. He was on contract to Athletic Club but as this acquisition was made in republican territory it was not considered valid by the pro-Franco state which remained in power after the Spanish Civil war. In 1939, the pro-Franco army created a team, the Recovery of Levante, taken from the one which was formed from diverse players who had fought in the military region of Levante. Said team was chosen by Valencia CF to debut after the civil war. The Valencia CF after seeing it in action did not waste the opportunity and acquired it.

After this over-elaborate acquisition, Mundo stayed in Valencia for eleven seasons between 1939–40 and 1949-50. During his career, he was a high-scoring player obtaining an average of 0.92 goals per game during his career with Valencia CF. He was also awarded the Pichichi Trophy (top scoring player) in the seasons 1941-1942 and 1942-1943 with 27 and 28 goals respectively.

After a season in which he barely played 6 games, he decided to leave the club for which he had played all his career to join in the nearby and modest CD Alcoyano which was also in the first division. There he remained for only the 1950-1951 season, as it was felt he was no longer able to play at this level.

Nevertheless, this was not the end of his relationship with Valencia. During the season 1963-1964 he took over coaching the team, replacing Pasieguito, another legend of Valencian football. Thanks to their strong character and tactical inflexibility he went on to improve Valencia's league position, finishing in sixth place. The team's showing in the Fairs Cup was a lot better, but they lost against Real Zaragoza in a controversial match. After the good action of that year, the Valencia CF board of directors allowed him to coach for one more year. However, as the team finished the league in fourth position, the directors hired another coach, Barinaga. The team did not improve under Barinaga, so Mundo returned to his old position as coach for the next season.

He started season 1966-1967 as the coach and achieved great success with the winning of the Copa del Rey beating Athletic Club 2-0 in the final. His career as the coach in the Valencia CF continued to October 13, 1968 but was ended by the team's poor performance.

He played for Valencia CF from 1939 to 1950, and for CD Alcoyano from 1950 to 1951. Where he and his team won five tiles. He also won two tomes the highest scorer trophy in the Spanish League. 

He coached Hercules CF, Valencia CF, Real Murcia, CF Gandia, Real Zaragoza, UE Lleida, Sporting Gijon, Xerez,CD, Barakaldo CF, Levante UD and Spain.

He scored a total of 195 goals in his carrer, in 231 games.

EUDON THE GREAT

Duke of Aquitaine and Vasconie (Gascony), born in 665 A.D.succeeded his father Boggison about 681.
He added to his dominions large tracts obtained by conquest from the Kings of Austrasia and Neustria. In 720 a large army of Saracens invaded his dominions, and were signally defeated near Tolosa (Toulouse), the capital of Eudon. About 732 Aquitaine was invaded by Abderrahman the Saracen, who defeated Eudon. The latter then solicited the aid of his former enemy Charles Martel, who gained an important victory over the Saracens at Poitiers. Died in 735 A.D.

NOVEMBER 9TH, 2014 IS THE DATE OF THE PARTICIPATORY PROCESS OF CATALONIA ON THE EAST COAST OF THE PYRENEAN ISTHMUS.

For those who are not aware of what is going on in Catalonia these days, this video shows an interview with one of the leaders of a political party that with some others have built up a powerful movement for independence of Catalonia. They are trying to set up a pacific and democratic participatory process by the means of voting in a referendum among the the seven million Catalans.

The video is in Spanish, but there are interesting images of the magnitude of this movement. The interview is about a discussion on what the alternatives are, since the Spanish government has decided to forbid such democratic act. And this leader is calling for pacific civil disobedience. They are determined  to vote...... no matter what !!

Once again, it is natural that ancient Pyrenean countries claim back their ripped off  sovereignty by the conquerors, forcefully. We shall keep informing about this crucial development due for Sunday


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdsSYgUViR0

If the link does not work when clicked, please make a copy and paste of it in your browser to watch the video.

SIGNIFICANT SOVEREIGN MOVEMENT ON THE EAST COAST OF THE PYRENEAN ISTHMUS

It seems like the Pyrenean nations based on their Pyrenean Laws and Rights,  as well as cultures are rising like baker's yeast all over the isthmus. This is nothing new, after all, that is the way it used to be, during periods of feudalism and well before that, considerable number of small independent countries (known historically as kingdoms, ducats, counties, principalities, etc.),

With the numerous waves of invasions from South to North and from East to West, all those small national entities were constantly eroded and even partially or totally destroyed. But apparently, never died off. Their dormant stage remained there, and now in this new cycle of history are coming back with formidable strength. Catalonia is a clear example of that.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/12/catalan-independence-referendum-demonstration-in-pictures

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/12/catalan-independence-referendum-demonstration-in-pictures