Posted
by Joel Mathis
July 24, 2007 at 10:23 p.m.
Quiet
Dear L.commers:The Chautauqua Park, where we are staying in Boulder, has quiet hours.Seriously. Between 1 and 3 in the afternoon, guests at the rental cottages are asked to shush up; it's considered a "siesta" time. I'd probably laugh at this, except that after a morning hike on an "easy" trail that ended up kicking my butt, I needed an hour nap right about that time today.Truth is, the whole place is built on eliminating noise. The cottages don't have television or air-conditioning, and the free wifi is rationed to two hours a day, after which they start charging you - a practice I'm guessing is rooted more in the philosophical bent of the place than in any predatory capitalism.Funny thing is: It works. Without the usual distractions, one finds oneself sitting on the cottage porch, or under a tree, lapsing into idle reverie. Or, you know, reading.Beats the hell out of staying at a hotel, is all I can say. The place where we spend our nights is also a place we can relax during the day, instead of a base to launch us on frenetic rounds of tourism that leave the typical vacationer more exhausted than when the vacation started.It's quiet. I'm recharging, instead of running around. It is good.Love, JoelP.S.: In keeping with the mission of Chautauqua, there are cultural and educational offerings here for those who want them. We just saw the great klezmer clarinetist Dave Krakauer in concert. Awesome.
Comments
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JohnB (anonymous) says…
Imagine! A place more laid-back than Lawrence.
Enjoy.
slowburn (anonymous) says…
I'm really trying to crawl out of my troll clothes, but come on Joel! You are on vacation celebrating your anniversary.
People don't need to hear about quiet hours. Go love your wife...
cutny (anonymous) says…
Seriously man...take a day off.
emawkc (anonymous) says…
"...klezmer clarinetist Dave Krakauer in concert."
Nice alliteration, man.