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Colorado, 2004

We attended five days of opera and concerts in Central City and Aspen, respectively, August 4-8.

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Independence Pass 1.jpg (58256 bytes) Aspen - Ron at Music Festival.jpg (187591 bytes) Audience among the Aspen.jpg (182126 bytes) Central City Opera Crowd.jpg (95313 bytes)
After seeing Massenet's Le Jongleur De Notre Dame in Central City, we drove the next day to Aspen, stopping at Independence Pass. Continuing with the musical side of our trip, went to a concert each of two nights at the Aspen Music Festival, enjoying a program of viola quintets the first night and a symphonic program the next. Intermissions included relaxing among the aspens outside the music tent. Back in Central City, we mingled with another music crowd outside the Opera House.

 

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There were many other things to see in Aspen besides the music festival, including the former mining town itself. Among its treats were many beautiful gardens like this one. Almost a national symbol of fresh mountain air, Maroon Bells stands just a few miles outside Aspen

 

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For a better view, we took the gondola up Aspen Mountain, over the trails I've skied in several winters, with the town laid out below. Here I am at the top of Aspen Mountain, also known as Ajax to skiers. We hiked around the top for about an hour, taking in views like this one.