WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

It occurred to me that people might still look at this blog and wonder if I have done nothing at all, gone nowhere, and been generally idle for three years. Not so...I just switched my efforts over to Facebook. Please visit me there!

Jean

2013 Beaver Creek Ski Trip

Our family started making an annual trek to Colorado for skiing in 1983, and since 1989 we have been coming to Park Plaza in Beaver Creek.  The Mihaly family has nearly always been a special part of our Beaver Creek ski vacation. We were a small group this year. We missed the family members who were not able to make it.

Amanda and Sophie went to ski school for four days. This was day one.

Auntie Jenn and Grandma helped get the girls registered for ski school.

Amanda's birthday is in February and Sophia's is in March. Auntie Jenn planned and executed a great party for both girls. Sophie, Amanda, and Uncle Eric's Cousin Emma, who lives in Eagle, and the girls made and decorated cupcakes.

Mindy tries her new snowshoes on the Creekside trail along Beaver Creek.

Cousin Jasper, who lives in Eagle, came for a swim.

Jean on the Creekside trail

The aspens are lovely, even without their leaves.

This is the view at mid-mountain as you get off the Centennial lift.

Penny and Amanda pose on one of my favorite runs, Centennial.

Amanda's ski school goal was to reach Level 5 and earn her poles. She did it on Tuesday!

Amanda takes Grandma to a black...steep but groomed. Grandma doesn't do bumps.

Jean's big day...skied all morning; snowshoed on McCoy Peak with Cousin Michelle in the afternoon; did the glowstick parade at night with Amanda and Jenn.

Cousin Michelle on McCoy Peak

Penny, Jean, Amanda, Sophie, and Mindy

Sophie has mastered the ski school Duck Walk, which is a handy skill when you have to move without poles.

Jean at mid-mountain

Mindy, Jenn, Penny, and Jean after lunch at Mamie's Mountain Grill at Bachelor Gulch

BURGUNDY: VINES AND WINES

During our stay with Steve and Maria in Switzerland, Steve, Bill and I took the weekend trip any wine lover would envy. We literally drove through every vineyard in the Cote d'Ore, the famous Burgundy wine region between Beaune and Dijon.

It was foggy and pouring rain, which did not stop this guy...or us. But at least we were in the car and had umbrellas. 

Rodolphe Demougeol

Home of Maurice Chapuis, with the entrance to his cave on the right

Maurice Chapuis in his cave

Maurice's cellar has been in use for over 800 years and in his family for four generations.

Steve and Maria have been here before. This is their favorite area hotel and restaurant,  Hostellerie du Vieux Moulin in Bouilland.

Road to Hostellerie du Vieux Moulin in Bouilland

The hotel sheep come to the fence to visit.

One of several tasting experiences

St. Vincent of Saragossa, a 3^rd Century Spanish deacon, is the patron saint of wine and vinegar makers. His statue appears around the villages and vineyards of Burgundy, where his feast day, January 22, is celebrated with a fete known as St-Vincent Tournante.

Steve at Romanée-Conti, reputed to be the finest and most expensive wine in the world.

Bill, too, standing in the midst of greatness

Lots of grapes were still on the vines. We don't know why.

We happened to be there on November 11, and we saw several gatherings around World War I and II memorials.

Just before we left to back home to Switzerland on Sunday, we saw that this wine make was open and stopped for a last tasting. She was most welcoming--a lovely finish on a lovely weekend.