colorado

breckenridge

2009 begins in breckenridge. it is a picturesque resort town in the mountains, known worldwide for its skiiing and snowboarding. having neither skiied nor snowboarded in my life i was bit intimidated by the steep mountains and hordes of tourists walking around with skis and snowboards and goggles and boots like they knew what they were doing. being of a temperate disposition when it comes to risk taking or simply going faster than my own feet can take me, i was none too excited to hurl myself down a slope. regardless, i rented some skis and went up the mountain. during the brief periods when i was able to stay upright i greatly enjoyed myself.

view from a generally dirty house

the house i'm staying at is an old bed and breakfast now inhabitated by a friend of mine, and at least eight other people and three dogs. it has four bedrooms, a hot tub, and is overall quite filthy in a college house kind of way. it is crowded and hectic and i think indicative of most houses in breckenridge. we met a group of south africans and kiwis living together. there were 18 currently in the same house. there are a lot of young people here not from the area. everyone works either at a bar, restaurant, oxygen bar, or at a ski rental shop. it is how i would imagine l.a., but instead of acting everyone skis or snowboards.

out the car window shot

overally extensive mining hall of fame

mining donkey

we took a trip to a town called leadville and went to the national mining hall of fame and museum. it was a very extensive museum and i imagine the authority on all things related to the mining industry. afterwards we stopped at a few thrift shops and went to see the new tom cruise vehicle, valkyrie. not a bad movie, but it was hard for me to get past the fact that tom cruise spoke neither in german nor with a german accent. in fact, everyone seemed to have a different accent in the movie.