Traveled around the state last weekend visiting or passing by the Collegiate Peaks near Salida, the Great Sand Dunes National Park, Comanche National Grasslands, Two Buttes, and the Camp Amache National Landmark site, to name just a few!
Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow. – Anita Desai
I was lucky enough to get away for a couple days this week to spend time with two dear friends at the newly opened Crystal Mountain Ranch in Crystal, Colorado. The centerpiece of this silver mining ghost town is the Crystal Mill – one of the most photographed historic sites in Colorado. The Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places and is not exactly easy to reach, especially by car. My friend, Phoebe and I drove to Marble Colorado from the Denver area and were greeted by staff of Crystal Mountain Ranch in a quite capable 4×4 vehicle for a 50-minute nail biter of a ride up a breathtakingly beautiful and steep mountainside. The Ranch owners, my friend Heather and her fiance’ Chris, who own land and much of the property in Crystal including the Mill, have been working tirelessly to open Crystal Mountain Ranch to the public. The Ranch has several cozy and rustic cabins and campsites available. Check them out at Crystal Mountain Ranch. This is definitely a bucket list kinda place!
When you’re in the desert, you look into infinity…. It makes you feel terribly small, and also in a strange way, quite big.
Grand Canyon
Palatki Heritage Site
Near Chapel of the Holy Cross
Near Chapel of the Holy Cross
Tlaquepaque Village in Sedona
Tlaquepaque Village in Sedona
Tlaquepaque Village in Sedona
Tlaquepaque Village in Sedona
Tlaquepaque Village in Sedona
Tlaquepaque Village in Sedona
Sunset on Sedona
Sedona Vortex
Yukka
A spectacular 12-day Mediterranean cruise! Departed from Barcelona, Spain and made stops in Cannes/Nice/Monaco/Monte Carlo Casino in France. Then on to Italy with stops in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Next up was Rome, Italy where we toured the Colosseum and Vatican City. Then on to the Acropolis in Athens Greece. Another stop in Mykonos, Greece for great food and ouzo. Up next was Santorini, Greece (Mamma Mia!). Our last stop was Valetta, Malta with a special trip to Mdna or Città Vecchia- the Silent City, a fortified medieval city.
Malta: Valetta, Mdna or Città Vecchia
Valetta, Malta
The Blue Grotto, Malta
Ancient fishing village of Marsaxlokk, Malta
Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.
Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.
Casa Mdina. Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.
Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.
Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.
Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.
Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.
A smoldering volcano in the Mediterranean.
A beautiful end to the trip of a lifetime!
A spectacular 12-day Mediterranean cruise! Departed from Barcelona, Spain and made stops in Cannes/Nice/Monaco/Monte Carlo Casino in France. Then on to Italy with stops in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Next up was Rome, Italy where we toured the Colosseum and Vatican City. Then on to the Acropolis in Athens Greece. Another stop in Mykonos, Greece for great food and ouzo. Up next was Santorini, Greece (Mamma Mia!). Our last stop was Valetta, Malta with a special trip to Mdna or Città Vecchia- the Silent City, a fortified medieval city.
Italy: Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Next day Rome: The Colosseum and Vatican City
Italian countryside heading toward the hamlet of Rapallo
Santa Margherita Ligure is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa and 16th century castle
Shops in Santa Margherita Ligure
Santa Margherita Ligure
Portofino, Italy is a fishing village and resort. Looks like George Clooney’s yacht!
Arch of Constatine in Rome, Italy.
The Colosseum. Rome, Italy
Inside the Colosseum. Rome, Italy.
Corinthian style Roman columns. Rome, Italy
Church near the Piazza del Popolo (the Plaza of the People)
St Peter’s Basilica. Vatican City, Italy
Vatican City, Italy
Vatican City, Italy
A spectacular 12-day Mediterranean cruise! Departed from Barcelona, Spain and made stops in Cannes/Nice/Monaco/Monte Carlo Casino in France. Then on to Italy with stops in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Next up was Rome, Italy where we toured the Colosseum and Vatican City. Then on to the Acropolis in Athens Greece. Another stop in Mykonos, Greece for great food and ouzo. Up next was Santorini, Greece (Mamma Mia!). Our last stop was Valetta, Malta with a special trip to Mdna or Città Vecchia- the Silent City, a fortified medieval city.
FRANCE: Cannes, Nice (French Riviera), Monaco, and Monte Carlo
Principality of Monaco in the French Riviera
Prince’s Palace of Monaco
Principality of Monaco in the French Riviera
Principality of Monaco in the French Riviera
Saint-Martin Gardens in Monaco
Saint-Martin Gardens overlooking Monaco
Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco
Sunset on the French Riviera
A spectacular 12-day Mediterranean cruise! Departed from Barcelona, Spain and made stops in Cannes/Nice/Monaco/Monte Carlo Casino in France. Then on to Italy with stops in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Next up was Rome, Italy where we toured the Colosseum and Vatican City. Then on to the Acropolis in Athens Greece. Another stop in Mykonos, Greece for great food and ouzo. Up next was Santorini, Greece (Mamma Mia!). Our last stop was Valetta, Malta with a special trip to Mdna or Città Vecchia- the Silent City, a fortified medieval city.
This is Barcelona, Spain
The Hotel Condes de Barcelona
Barcelona streetscape – Gaudi architecture
Gaudi Building
Barcelona shopping
Architectural details
Placa de Catalunya
Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona
Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona
Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona. Spires!
Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona. Angel!
Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona. Bubbles!
A Roman stone in Barcelona somewhere
Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona
Nightcap from the rooftop lounge at the Hotel Condes de Barcelona
After the rains in the evening. From the rooftop lounge at the Hotel Condes de Barcelona
As we sailed off into the sunset leaving Barcelona. Headed for France.
Victor, Colorado – the City of Gold Mines – is located at nearly 10,000 feet on the southwest side of Pikes Peak, in the Cripple Creek Victor Mining District. This well-preserved mining town sits on the side of Battle Mtn., a unique setting of 1890’s structures and turn-of-the-century architecture, with clean, cool mountain air and plenty of year-round sunshine. http://www.victorcolorado.com/
Today was the perfect day for a visit.
The best road trips are often those that begin with a plan as simple as getting in the car and heading in a particular direction. No intended destination, no rigid itinerary to keep up with, no reservations and no idea what you’ll discover along the way. I call these adventures!
On our most recent adventure, we found ourselves in San Luis, Colorado. San Luis is the oldest settlement in Colorado dating back to 1851 when it was part of the Territory of New Mexico…10 years before the establishment of the Colorado Territory. Located in Costillo County in southern Colorado, the town is small with a population of under 1,000. But this tiny historic town has a very unique feature…a mountaintop art installation depicting the Stations of the Cross. Bronze sculptures created by local artist, Huberto Maestas, line a 3/4-mile trail that switchbacks its way up the La Mesa de la Piedad y de la Misericordia (the Hill of Piety and Mercy). The La Capilla de Todos Los Santos (The Chapel of All Saints) at the summit is a beautiful spot for reflection with spectacular views to valley below.
As EYE See... 