Day 340 - Maroon Bells

Thought of the day: Maroon Bells. So that's where people go when they visit Aspen in the fall.  It's hardly surprising that this is the most photographed place in Colorado. The mountains are decorated by layers of colors at the base.  In the stillness of an early morning, the mountains and forests are reflected on the lake in their full glory. It's an irresistible place for hikers and photographers alike. We have never been disappointed when we visited here and I know that we'll be back again and again.

Photo of the day:

Lila walking towards the Maroon Bells.

Day 338 - Independence Pass

Thought of the day: It is a beautiful day to drive up Aspen.  Fall is my favorite season to visit Aspen. At this time of the year, the sky is crystal clear, the air is cool and fresh, the light is brilliant and the fall colors are plentiful.  In addition, there are not as many tourists as in the peak seasons of winter and summer. All of that make it a perfect time to pay our annual pilgrimage to Aspen. 

Photo of the day:

We took a brief stop at the Independence Pass on the way to Aspen this afternoon. It was chilly but the view was great.

Day 263 - Broadmoor

Thought of the day: We are visiting Colorado Springs and staying at the Broadmoor Hotel.  In addition to the attractions that Colorado Springs has to offer, which include some interesting places with names as poetic as Garden of the Gods, Cave of the Winds and Manitou Springs, the historic hotel itself is worth a visit in its own right. Broadmoor is located on 3,000 acres at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain with a golf course (currently hosting US Women's Open), tennis courts, restaurants, pools, a spa, a lake and even a cinema. We have only stayed at this hotel in the winter and used it as a base for our activities in Colorado Springs.  This time we're visiting at the peak of the summer and will likely be spending more time inside the resort itself.  Anyway, it's good to be back and put all the worldly worries behind us for a while.

Photo of the day:

A path in the middle of the lake connects the main building and the west building, where we are staying in.  On the far left , three of my favorite people are walking toward the main building.  On the right, a few trainees are walking toward the west building.  Many young people came here for hospitality training from different parts of the world.  Some speak English with a strong accent but they are all very friendly and trying to be helpful, at least all of those I have interacted with.

Day 250 - Paraglider

Thought of the day: We usually take our mornings easy during vacations but this morning we started out early to go up Mt. Rigi by tram.  On top of the mountain, we had a panoramic view of most of the high peaks and many of the lakes of Switzerland. It was an impressive sight. After lunch, we hiked down the mountain. Hiking in the Alps is an activity that I can never get tired of.  With beautiful scenery and cute little mountain villages along the way and tasty food that you can pretty much count on when you reach the destination, hiking in the alps can be a truly magical experience. If I can somehow make such an excursion every day, I wouldn't mind at all moving to Switzerland. Indeed, that would be a dream come true. Of course, the over-romanticized view of a tourist is one thing, living it is another. Daily life is filled with unexpected details and any or all of them can overwhelm and derail a dream. So, perhaps it is wise to leave it as a dream. I can always come back and visit to keep the dream alive.

Photo of the day:

It was a good day for paragliding.  We watched at least a dozen paragliders take off from the top of Mt. Rigi.  Some succeeded in taking off at the first attempt, some took multiple attempts. Lila was completely fascinated by their activities.

Day 244 - Ascona

Thought of the day: Today we took trains for about an hour to Lucarno and then walked for another good hour to the lakefront town of Ascona.  Instead of walking along the lake, we walked through a shortcut in the valley.  With the warm but comfortable summer air, weathered houses, rows and rows of vineyards and olive orchards, and sounds of birds bouncing among the tall trees, this valley recalled the image of Tuscany in my mind. We had lunch in a restaurant facing the lake.  The food was as perfect as the setting.  We hope to stay at Ascona some day, perhaps for the Jazz Festival in the summer.  The view and the food alone are already enough reasons for a return visit, the music would just make it mandatory.

Photo of the day:

Jasmine and Lila playing at the lakeshore of Ascona.

Day 240 - Harbor

Thought of the day: David's aunt and uncle have a boat on the lake of Lucerne and they invited us to spend the day with them on the lake. With the sunny sky, emerald water, towering mountains, and little villages dotting the shore, the view on the boat was blissfully beautiful. The alpine water was a bit chilly but David, Jasmine and Lila were all brave enough to jump into the water at some point. This is probably one of the most beautiful places on earth to own a boat. The Swiss are truly blessed to have such abundance of natural beauty at their doorstep. And they take good care of it and enhance it with picturesque villages, delicious cuisine and colorful traditions.

Photo of the day:

Boats in a peaceful harbor on the lake of Lucerne.