Vista Verde Day Two

Where to start for day two?  I woke up feeling as serene as I think I've ever felt before.  The large windows in the vaulted ceilings gave me a panoramic view of the white world outside.  It snowed almost the whole time and that morning was no exception.  In a word--it was beautiful. 

The day began with yummy breakfast.  Chef Rob (whom I met later) makes everything from scratch--everything.  I think he should make and package his granola.  It would make a fortune.  I talked quite a bit with my favorite dining room staff member--Sallie from Alabama.  I didn't realize that places in Colorado are always as wintery as Steamboat and she thought that all of Colorado was covered in snow for a good part of the year.  Imagine that.  After breakfast was the highlight of my trip--horseback riding lessons.  Being the citified city girl of cities that I am, I honestly didn't think I'd do very well, but I'm always up for a new experience.  It was, after all, my idea.  Liam went first on his cute little horse.  His sensitive nose was obviously in overdrive--he held it clamped shut for the first hour.  Erik, who had taken care of him the night before during adults-only dinner, led him around on the horse, then did circles in the arena in a motorized cart with him in the passenger seat.  I could tell he really, really liked Erik because he actually spoke to him after a while.  I think I even caught a smile on his adorable little white face.  (Liam's :)).  

My horse was D.B.  I had a close friend in high school named D.B., which stood for Darling Boy.  I have no idea if the acronyms are the same, but the horse was darling, for sure.  He must have liked me as I didn't get bucked off and he did everything I asked him to do.  When I got off and held the lead, he nuzzled me.  Awwwwww!  I've never been an animal person, but I wanted to take D.B. home.  Brian's horse decided he was done near the end and flatly refused to cooperate.  Frustrating for him--funny to me.  My biggest surprise of the day--riding horses is WORK.  I still ache and have new respect for the most boring of movie genres--the western.  Our teacher, Terry, will go to cowboy heaven for his incredible patience and true skill.

After lunch was hot tub time and cooking class.  I'm not sure it was meant to be a private lesson, but that's what I got.  The executive chef, Rob Citto, let me think I was cooking as he deftly created around me.  I mostly enjoyed the dry humor.  I did learn that it does, in fact, matter which order you throw in ingredients.  I was hoping to never find that out.  Knowledge is dangerous, you know.  I have no excuse now for my speed method of cooking.

It was difficult to say goodbye and even more difficult to drive home.  At one point, the white of the sky, the road, the land and the scenery (non-existent) blended into a white-out.  We were driving by the relative positions of the thin, green-grey posts placed every-so-often on the sides of the road.  I'm always happy to be home after a trip, but never so happy as that day.  However, I cannot wait to get back to Vista Verde this summer!

Click here to read VVR part two on Examiner.com.