mountain – the suite life of travel

Another beautiful day to ski with overcast skis that will soon clear up for a sunny day. While I am a little sore from skiing yesterday, I am more excited to ski Park City Mountain Resort, which hosted the 2002 Olympic Games. I am also excited to meet up with a high school friend whose husband works at the resort and I am looking forward to meeting her two boys.

Leaving the house in Heber City, the view was absolutely spectacular. The snow-capped mountains with their bluish grey highlights seemed at eye’s level as we descended down into town towards the slopes.

This is four-wheel drive weather and we were setting out on steep terrain with lots of hills. The roads were cleared early this morning, so we managed to stay within the tracks of vehicles that had previously made their way down the mountain.

Several majestic homes were set into the side of the mountain where their large picture windows offered spectacular views of peaks which could have been seen for miles.

As we continued on towards Park City, we passed a large lake that had frozen over for the winter. The stillness and solitude of the scenery was soothing as we prepared for another full day of skiing.

We entered the park, picked up our skis and headed towards the slopes. I decided only to ski for a couple of hours, realizing how sore I was from the previous day. My muscles needed a little rest since we were planning on sledding event later that the evening.

Park City Mountain Resort is about a half an hour, 45 minutes from Salt Lake City. The resort opened in 1963 under the name “Treasure Mountain” as it was once an active mining town.

There are shops and restaurants where we rented our skis and a skating rink in the center. We arrived early so it felt as if we had the park all to ourselves. The sun was out as we took a seat on one of the benches to put on our boots.

There are over 3,000 acres of skiing with sixteen chairlifts. It was exciting to think that there were several events that took place in this very spot during the 2002 Olympic Games. Park City Mountain Resort hosted the giant slalom events as well as the snowboarding competition.

I managed to ski the beginner slopes (blue circles) a couple of times to warm up. While skiing, there were other beginners as well as snowboarders, but I knew if I was going to ski the green slopes today, I would need to do it earlier in the day when I was not as tired.

Making my way to the end of the slope, I imagined what it would have been like to have close to 100,000 spectators for the Olympic Games. I am most certain that none of the events were using the blues and greens that I’m skiing, but nonetheless, it was fascinating to think that the best talent in skiing and snowboarding were once here competing.

After skiing the morning hours, I made it to the bottom of my last run and I was ready for lunch. With over 314 trails here at Park City Mountain Resort, I skied only four. I had a few minutes to check out the shops to see if I could find a hat or souvenir of my trip before making my way to the restaurant.

The restaurant was lovely with outdoor seating where we could catch up over a glass of wine. Surrounded by mountains and ski lifts, this picturesque scene also included large bear statues.

After lunch, I joined Dawn’s son for a ride on the alpine roller coaster. Bodi competes on a ski team and is quite talented, ranking high in the polls. He has a great future ahead of him should he choose to continue in his training.

I hated to leave Dawn and the boys but it was time to take the shuttle to a neighboring slope to prepare for our evening of tubing and sledding. I look forward to hearing about Bodi’s success and skiing and hope to visit Park City again.

Where is your favorite place to ski? Have you been to Park City Mountain Resort? I would love to hear about your experience, so leave your comments below! Happy Travels!

Park City Mountain Resort is located at 1345 Lowell Avenue, Park City, Utah 84060. During the ski season, the slopes and ski lifts are open from 9AM to 4PM. Some of the trails are open later for night skiing. For more information about the resort, ski lift tickets and rentals, ski instruction, etc., visit their website at www.parkcitymountain.com.

My friend, Dawn, and her two boys

The Amazing View of Park City from the Slopes

Painted Moose on Skis

Today Dave and I will be escaping the Port Zante shopping plaza to visit the heart of Brassaterre in St. Kitts. Beautiful pastel colored structures welcomed us, just as with many other Caribbean ports, but we were eager to experience the West Indies feel of the island and could not wait to leave the crowds behind for a more relaxing day.

The security and welcome center sits at the end of the dock where cruise ship passengers must show their credentials to obtain passage to the dock. Once we crossed through the check point, we followed the signs that would take us into the island’s historical center. To our far left was a pier for the island ferry that connects St. Kitts to Nevis’ capital of Charlestown.

Before escaping the pier, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to pay $5 for a few photos with the island’s green vervet monkey. I was tempted to bring him back with me, but he wouldn’t fit into my bag. Such a fun start to my day on St. Kitts.

Immediately we arrived at the historical district starting with a visit to the National Museum. Formerly the city’s treasury building, it is quite noticeable with its large rotunda and archway entrance. When sugar cane was once the primary income for St. Kitts, this building was an important part of the island’s economic structure.

Walking deeper into town, the charming architecture mimics that of Sint Maarten with its gingerbread trim. We noticed a green cast iron clock with fountains on each side. Located in the center of a circular roundabout, it is known as “The Circus”, reminiscent of London’s Piccadilly Circus. Where several roads meet in the middle, the Berkeley Memorial Clock pays respect to the former president of St. Kitts’ Legislative Assembly, Thomas Berkeley.

Our walk takes us towards the right, away from the clock tower and approaching Independence Square. Originally named Pall Mall, this was once a slave market where enslaved Africans would congregate to sell their merchandise.

Surrounding the park were 18th century warehouses where slaves were held prior to being sold. These structures stand as a reminder of St. Kitts’ past. In 1983, it was renamed Independence Square to commemorate the independence of St. Kitts and St. Nevis from the rule of Great Britain.

Leaving the square, we found Cayon Street which led us to St. George’s Anglican Church. This beautiful, brownstone chapel was constructed in 1869 and sits on a former battle site. Built over land where soldiers had died, many believe its location is the reason for its series of catastrophes dating back to 1670 when it was first erected.

Walking towards the back of the church, we learned from an older couple that visitors could climb to the top of the bell tower. If there is one thing that I love, it is a scenic view, so I headed back inside where I noticed a small door. Although the opening was tight, there was a small winding staircase and another set of stairs that led to the top.

The stairs were steep so a few who had set out for the climb decided to return downstairs. I was glad I reached the top because the view was worth the climb. There were small cut-outs in the rock were I could capture a view from each side of the bell tower. From one location I could see the neighborhood streets of St. Kitts.

Towards the north was the cloudy peak of the mountain.

The cruise ships in port dominated the scenery at the south.

And on the east end, I caught a glimpse of the island’s football (soccer) field. I was careful not to step directly on the tin roof in fear that it may collapse. As I was taking the steep ladder and stairs down to the bottom, I was alarmed by the sound of the bells as they rang from the clocktower.

The cathedral marked the end of our walking tour and Dave suggested we stop at a local restaurant for a couple of Caribe beers. We ordered the special, 3 for $5 before making our way back to the ship.

We passed through security and continued our walk on the pier greeted by two ships in the distance. There was plenty of time between now until our departure, but we decided to board early for some time to recharge and reminisce about another beautiful day in paradise.

Do you prefer taking a ship excursion for each port or would you rather go out on your own? I would love to hear your pros and cons in the comments section below! Many thanks for reading about our time in St.Kitts! Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The National Museum
Bay Road
Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis

Admission Fee: Adults and Children: US $3
Hours: Open Monday through Friday from 9:15AM to 5PM. Open Saturday from 9:15AM to 1PM on Saturday and on Sunday from 9AM to 1PM.
Length of Visit: 1 – 2 hours
Tips for Your Visit: The museum is within walking distance from the port.

Independence Square
Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis

St. George’s Anglican Church
Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis
Telephone: 869 465 2167

Where to Stay:

Royal St. Kitts Hotel
406 Zenway Boulevard
Frigate Bay, St Kitts & Nevis
Telephone: 869 465 8651

Where to Eat:

Marshalls
Horizon Villa Resort
Fort Tyson Rise
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Telephone: 869 466 8245

The view from Marshalls is spectacular with the restaurant overlooking the gorgeous harbor. David and I decided to order several starters because their descriptions were enticing. We selected the Freshly Caught White Ceviche marinated in lime, red onions, cilantro and hot peppers, garnished with green plantain chips, the Conch Fritters spiced with bell peppers, onion, celery, served with tartar sauce, the crab cake served with remoulade sauce and escargots. For our main entree, we shared the Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass enhanced with olive tapenade served with lemon beurre blanc. The carrot cake was decadent and we could not pass up the chocolatey molten chocolate cake.

What to Eat:

Blood Pudding, a cuisine influenced by the island’s former British rule
Conch Fritters
Cook up, also known as Pelau, this dish is a local favorite with a mix of meats (usually beef, salt fish and pork), additional ingredients include rice, pigeon peas and a number of vegetables.
Goat Water – local goat stew
Johnny Cakes a sweet, flour based cake that is deep fried
Lobster
Roti – unleavened flat bread filled with a variety of meats and/or vegetables
Salt Fish and Dumplings, the island’s national dish, this meal is made of local salt fish, breadfruit, coconut dumplings and spicy plantains.
Sugar Cake – a desert made of sugar, coconut and ginger

What to Read: