Home Safe

Ross and I made it home safe on Sunday. The last few days in Colorado, like most of the trip, was lazy, relaxing and largely uneventful.

We did make make a day of the COG railway, though snow and high winds at the summit prevents us from venturing farther than the six mile mark. Initially I worried that the overcast day would prevent us from seeing much of anything on the way up. While the cloud cover and fog did block much of the panorama of Colorado Spring and the surrounding area, once we approached the timberline and rose above the cloud cover we had amazing views of the mountains themselves.

Another evening Lenore treated us to a personal tour of the Broadmoor...in all it's glory. A few days earlier Ross and I had enjoyed an amazing meal at the Summit on property...where Rob serves as mixologist and Lenore as a waitress...but we hadn't poked around the hotel proper. The snow of the previous few days coated everything, creating an amazing tableau. The trees were coated in dense and delicate crystal formations, the willows dripped with ice. Everything outside was clean, crisp and serene. Inside several events began to unfold including a black tie affair, a less formal cocktail hour dancing with little black dresses, and young gymnasts prancing about between routines. The carpets, walls, ceilings all reeked of craftsmanship and history. One hall proudly announced the visits of those well known. Oh to be able to afford to stay at a place such as this.

We never did make it to the ski resorts for even a day on the slopes...finances, sharing cars and a sudden on set of odd though minor health maladies kept us closer to the Springs. Shame. One day I will try this skiing thing some of my family are so keen on.

Our last day we finally managed to spend some time with Rob and Lenore away from their kids. We headed up to Denver early to catch a leisurely dinner. Rob suggested Osteria Marco. AMAZING meat and cheese platter, much of it made in house. Wood fired pizzas. Elegant mixed drinks. Friendly staff. And with Rob's prevelance in the cocktail and bar scene in CO we were treated to sampling of several cellos made in house. Oh the perks of knowing other foodies...

The food we sampled both here and at the Summit was probably the highlight of the trip...after the wolf excursion of course...

All in all, I hate to call the trip a honeymoon, though it was a great vacation. A honeymoon implies seclusion, romance and lots of intimacy. While we are incredibly grateful to Rob and Lenore for open their home to us during our stay, a screaming infant, high energy preschooler, highly politically-opinionated (aggressively and uncompromisingly so) grandfather and a late night work schedule of our host precluded any of the above. But, finances and time constraints being what they are, we make due, take trips where we can and try to enjoy the moments.

Perhaps come July, when money's in better order and my next layoff rolls around we will venture out again. DC and Williamsburg sound particularly promising. I little bird told me she may have a show of hers in the works over there round about that time...