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 236 - Wine Tasting

Thought of the day: One thing we learned after coming here was that Santorini had a long history of wine making. In fact, wine making took place even in the ancient culture before it perished in the huge volcanic eruption. The region makes wines with a special quality and taste because the volcanic soil is lacking in organic materials but is rich in minerals. This morning, we visited a winery called Sigalas on the eastern plain of Oia.  It took us about half an hour to walk there from our hotel.  Along the way, we walked past a number of deserted vineyards, presumably abandoned by locals who moved into the more lucrative tourism industry.  In Sigalas winery, we tried out a few different red, white and dessert wines and really liked the white ones we tasted. In a warm Mediterranean summer day, it was refreshing to sit in the shade of the vines, sip the wine and let the cool ocean breeze wash all over you. Mr. Sigalas is clearly passionate about wine making and I hope this ancient tradition will be carried on in Santorini by him and others like him.

Photo of the day:

Wine tasting in Sigalas Winery.  Beyond the vineyard lies the blue Agean sea. What a place to have a winery!

Day 230 - Cows

Thought of the day: Today we took trains to the town of Einsiedeln at the shore of Sihlsee in central Switzerland.  We visited the monastery but it turned out disappointing. So we spent most of the day walking along the lake shore and visiting the villages along the way. We walked past a number of neat, traditional farmhouses decorated with flowers of vibrant colors outside the windows or in the gardens. And, in the meantime, no less visible were weathered farm equipments parked under the roofs. The old machineries and the display of fresh flowers symbolized a daily struggle with the elements in the rough fields that did not preclude an apparent appreciation of delicate beauty.  The incongruity in this picture highlighted the complexity and sublimity of the human spirit. Yes, we're likely to be different, and often more complicated, than how we look from the outside. Shrek is one of my favorite movies because it contains the same message. In fact, the message is conveyed in literature, stories, and maybe even in the look of some simple farmhouses. Really, the message is universal, if we pay enough attention.

Photo of the day:

Something else that the farmers own, other than flowers and equipments, is a herd of cows. Does owning the cows fall into the realm of work or beauty?  Perhaps both. Perhaps the two realms are so interwined that they're inseparable anyway.

Day 226 - Lunch

Thought of the day: We took the train to visit a relative in a town in Canton Thurgau and had lunch with her today.  She came to meet us at the train station by bike and then we all walked over to her apartment which took a good 20 minutes.  That would be unfathomable in the US, however, it felt perfectly natural here.  Driving is more ingrained in the American culture than in the European.  The walk today was fun as we got to chat and see the town along the way.  It was definitely not a tourist destination but we did walk past quite a few charming streets and buildings.  The weather was pleasant, the flowers were blooming, everybody was happy - what else could one ask for?  I am glad that we won't sit behind a wheel for the next few weeks. So far we have been getting around fine by bus, tram, train and walking shoes.  Boat and bike will join the picture some time in the future. It may be a little inconvenient without a car at times, but I think the vacation will be much less relaxing with one.

Photo of the day:

Lunch at Thurgau.

Day 201 - Pearl St

Thought of the day: We spent the day on the Pearl St.  College graduation was finally over and many students already left town together with their families so the pedestrian mall was a far cry from how it was on Saturday.  It was a more relaxing experience but no less interesting.  The extra space allowed me to take a lot of photos with Lila and her friend, pedestrians, and street musicians.  It was a good day.

Photo of the day:

Lila and her friend walking on the pedestrian mall.  They got quite a few comments from passerbys on their bright dresses and sunhats.

Day 198 - Lila and Tent

Thought of the day: This afternoon I walked home with Jasmine and a friend of hers from school for a play date.  It was a very leisurely walk as the girls climbed rocks, took detours and played games along the way while Lila napped in the stroller.  It took a while to get home but it was just the right pace for a fine spring afternoon.

Photo of the day:

Lila in Gunbarrel at an outdoor gear and apparel sales event this morning.  Not sure it was the best way for Lila to spend a fine spring day but she had a lot of fun checking out the tents and jumping on outdoor camping beds with her friend.  Good quality outdoor product sales are very hot in Boulder.  Even though this event was not as well publicized as some others, it was still packed with people.