Obligatory apology for the lull in daily postings and spectacular content you’ve come to expect.

I visited Breckenridge just before last weekend’s big storm, and found Peak 8 and 9 open. Unfortunately Peak 7, higher runs and many connecting trails were closed.

It snowed all weekend, (the precursor to this week’s storm,) which made for great skiing – but with the limited terrain many visitors crowded the slopes and lift lines. Around noon Friday I almost called it a day due to extremely long lines, but then it suddenly became colder and windier. That was a good thing as it pushed everyone back into town, paring down the crowds for the remaining three hours. Between 2pm and 4pm I made the most of my skiing, albeit on the same eight runs.

The Beaver Run Resort had a Thanksgiving special which included two nights and two Thanksgiving dinner meals at Spencers, their classy restaurant. The Beaver Run Resort is a big boxy complex of Soviet era looking buildings located at the base of Peak 9. Skywalks connect four condo/hotel buildings to pools, rec areas, and a conference center. Its kind of like a cruise ship, only cemented into a hillside. Its not at all pretty or inviting from the outside. With creaky elevators and shabby fixtures the they certainly could move a few decades forward, however the staff is friendly, the room was quiet, and the location can’t be beat for ski in/ski out. For me those three positives far outweigh the lack of pleasing aesthetics. Spencers featured a Thanksgiving buffet that served all afternoon, complete with music, ice sculptures, and amazing butternut squash brown sugar soup.

Our room had this oddball design, kind of reminiscent of Dynasty: Separating the bed area from the living room is a windowed room housing the tub/spa. We guessed its so you can look across the living room and out the window while your sitting in the spa – but really its too low for that. It serves no other purpose than to give your friends a giggle moment before closing the blinds to the storefront view of your naked self.

Out of curiosity I looked up the Tripadvisor reviews and most had the exact same thoughts.

But any trip to Breck is a good one for me, even with early season conditions. I love visiting my regular spots: Erics, Cecilia’s, and sitting in front of the giant fireplace with a martini at The Brown.

I’m off to Playa del Carmen and Merida this week. I’m booked on the Mel Gibson “Apocalypto” all-inclusive stay and pray package. No not really. While I just visited here in ’06 I’m returning to spend a couple days scuba diving, plus see some of the less visited ruins including Coba – and whatever other roadside attractions the Yucatan jungle has to offer. And the DJs at Hotel Basico usually have some good stuff going on.

I hope to find some more interesting out of the way places, and pay a visit to Guillermo, new owner of “El Atrio”, (formerly Cafe Kabah.)

So goodbye to Colorado’s roller coaster weather – at least for a week.