Sometimes it’s good to go out and visit places you have never been. This weekend JRod and I were itching to get away so we hopped online and searched for cheap airfare and hotels. Not so much cheap airfare was to be had but there was some steep discounts in the Hotel department. Looking at the map we decided that a 4hour drive was acceptable and that neither of us had been to Aspen. Now when I think of Aspen, I see Stars on the Slopes. Not quite what we found.
Well, it’s spring, most of the snow has melted and the drive from Denver up into the Mountains past Breckenridge and into the Aspen Valley is breath taking. Mountain Goat herds around highway signs. Chartreuse Aspen trees against a background of brick red cliffs and fields of hunter green and Columbine blue is amazing. My camera can not do the scenery any justice.
We got into Aspen before noon and we couldn’t check into our cabin until three so we went for walk. Things seemed a bit off. There were cars parked everywhere but not many driving around and not many people out and about. Walking into a restaurant for a bite of lunch we were greeted by bored servers and vacant tables. Apparently we arrived in the four week lull that most locals take vacation from the town. After a tasty bite of lunch it was off for a drive to find Goldie Hawn’s house. No such luck. Couldn’t find Lance Armstrong’s either. Not only had most of the locals left but so had all of the Stars. We did however see amazing homes in crazy locations. One house was being built at the entrance of the National Park so it could Share the Lake. Another three were built over and around the Ute Cemetery that was established in 1888. Their porches looked over the Civil War graves and decaying unmarked tombs. I would have loved to been a fly on the wall to hear that Realtor earn their money.
Back downtown we checked into the honeymoon cabin at L'auberge d'Aspen wich is a group of quaint cabins on Main Street which is close to “the action” and cute. After we were settled we decided to head to the store for some forgotten essentials. Inside the grocery store instead of one isle of organic food and earth friendly goods it was half of the store. There was no soda or chip isle. We did find a few of those half cans of pop covered in dust they use to serve on the airplanes. We walked around one of the parks and admired huge anatomically correct sculptures of animals made out of old chrome car bumpers, and park benches dedicated to loved ones lost and memorials to various celebrities.
It was time for dinner and JRod was hungry for Austrian food so it was off to Wienerstube. This has been an Aspen landmark for over 43 years. It has recently been purchased by Harald Neuweg a renowned Austrian chef who had always dreamed of opening an Austrian restaurant in the Rocky Mountains so says his website until now. Now he says he hates the town because no one eats fattening food, they all have little dogs and ride their bikes around to the granola store. The place was empty. The Bartender/Host/Waiter looked shocked to see us. The owner and Assistant chef were outside in shorts finishing the porch. They suited up and started cooking while our host brought homemade breads and a boot full of beer. Like a glass knee high logging boot. It must have held a gallon of pilsner. After that was the best wienersnitzel I have ever had and apple strudel you would punch your mother for. With full bellies and buzzed brains we were in need of another walk and that is when we started to notice the Stepford charm of this town. There are no fat people. If you are on the street you must be riding a bike, walking a small dog or have a cell phone pressed up to your ear. Extra points for all three at once. There are no store chains or restaurant chains. Of the two grocery stores in town one is hidden in a dark corner and the other is inside a Boutique mini mall with a hardware store below it. It was like the town council had done it’s best make this a feel like a small town except with multi million dollar condos and billion dollar homes covering every inch of real-estate. Outside the store two blocks down we found Galena Street. In this area within four square blocks you will find every high end International Fashion House you can dream of. Fendi, Bvlgari, Prada, Gucci, and on and on if I did I would just be name dropping and wasting type.. You get the picture. Around this hub of decadence was art galleries, designer children’s stores, Ski Resort empire showrooms and Bear statues everywhere. If I had to describe this town in three words they would have to be Country, Patchouli and Diamonds.
The drive home was just as breathtaking. We drove past a Black Bear standing next to the freeway, I thought it was another statue, then it’s head moved then I thought it must be animatronics, this town thinks of everything. As I looked in the rearview mirror I saw it walking. Aspen is a whole different world.
