Writes of Passage

4545 Airport Way
Denver, CO 80239

… more pix & videos on Google Maps.

Frontier Airlines, Inc. is founded in 1994, headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It’s one of the low cost carrier, with 163 planes and 85 destinations, as of 2025; trading on Nasdaq: ULCC, opened at $3.9083 on 2025.6.02. Their tails sport various animals and birds. Ours is two cute penguins.

It’s my first time flying it. Because a tennis partner works for it, I thought why not trying it. I cancelled my AA reservation and switched, then forgot about the name of the airline. When I didn’t receive the checking in email, I’ve to go through my credit card to find the name of the airline.

Can’t download their App because I don’t remember my Apple password … obviously am a very organized person!

It was an A320, leg room is ok. Everything is for sale, which is fine for the short flight. Took off on time, but circulated the destination airport a couple of times to land (this might have been a first too – as the plane was descending, the nose went up twice …), then a bit wait to get a gate. I joked to the Pilot as departing from the plane, “did you guys forget to pay the airport?”

Fort Worth, TX 76102

… more pix on Reddit

2025 competition is the 17th, since 1962 – every four years, (he won International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 in Moscow.) It was held in Bass Hall.

A little yoga during the intermission.

The 2025 competition has 28 competitors:

• the winner is Sham of HK: FW, Dallal News
• the final 3: Sham, Starikov, 30, of Israel/Russia, Evren Ozel, 26, of the United States
• the final 6:
  1. Carter Johnson, 28, Canada/USA √
  2. Philipp Lynov, 26, Russia √
  3. Evren Özel, 26, US
  4. Asisto Sham, 29, HK
  5. Vitaly Starikow, 30, Israel / Russia ^2nd
  6. Angel Stanishlav Wang, 22, US √
• the 12 semifinalists

5.29 Thursday, Semi final #2: two recitals (2:30-5:00)

1. Angel Stanislav Wang (22, US): final 6
2. Jonas Aumiller (26, Germany)

Semi final #3: four piano concertos (7:30-10:00)

1. Philipp Lynov, Russia: final 6
2. Chaeyoung Park, S Korea
3. Vitaly Starikov, Israel/Russia: ^2nd
4. Carter Johnson, Canada/US: final 6

Definitely not a bucket list for me but I did want to come for over two decades: it runs every four years. In the past, either forgotten, missed or Covid… So I finally put this on my calendar last year, voila, there I went.

For the Bass Performance Hall, please see my review on Google – just posted: good concert hall but very silly security process that feels like harassment.

Two semi concerts today (#2 and #3): two recitals in the afternoon (about an hour each) and four (30 min each): happened, all played Mozart’s piano concertos in the night session.

They all played well, polished and poised. (We went to Chopin’s in Miami this past January and the quality of the pianists were not as good – ok, Miami’s was preliminary and this is the final run.)

Between the two in the afternoon session, I prefer Aumiller over Wang: whose pasture is better and plays a little better too. Angel Wang has hunchback (?) which I thought could have corrected early on (his parents are musicians). The four, the lone woman impresses me the most (Chaeyoung Park, 27) who wears a yellow black dress like a bumblebee, which reminds me of Sunja in her youth, in tv series Pachingo.

A thought: did most or all the musicians in the orchestra have gone through this stage – competing to be a soloist? I appreciate them all, virtuoso or part of a team. An elite person in any profession has an exceptional ability and drive but I always consider musicians are tough to be – physical and mental, think of their repertoire – how many millions little notes they’ll have to remember.

Logistic: We stayed in Dallas (Hyatt Regency), took the hour long TRE train to and from. Both ends is less than 10 minutes walk but pretty grungy (didn’t realize). Uber would take about an hour too. I’m a huge train head, would take it over all other types of transportation, whenever possible. Both stations Union in Dallas and Central in Fort Worth are empty, so is the train both ways. I felt I could handle it. (Local friends think I’m nuts …) It turned out, to be very enjoyable rides.

… more thoughts on Van Cliburn – do you still remember him wining the first Tchaikovsky competition, in Moscow, in 1958? And Khrushchev asked if the dammed American was the best (ok, I add “dammed” – it was Cold War era and who knows, maybe he did say it?) Very regretful that he stopped performing publicly long before I came to US.

420 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

A relaxing, pedestrian-friendly downtown area with shops, steakhouses and sports bars. The Plaza has small theaters, events and concerts.

Not sure the two Van Cliburn banners are permanent or only during his piano completion, which occurs every four years. It’s a short walk to the Bass Hall where the competition takes place – which brought us to Fort Worth.

Three musicians are playing jazz on a Thursday afternoon at the Plaza – still playing at 7pm.

… the Plaza

… and the downtown

Palace of the Governors
Santa Fe, NM

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp, TA ^1st

Will return – shopped there daily -:)

Some calls it Native American Artisans Portal Program, or Native American Vendors Program of the Palace of the Governors @ New Mexico History Museum. They are in the corridor with a roof over their head. Opposite from them, are non-native vendors with their carts.

… looking out from the Palace of the Governors

It’s a block away from our hotel. Native vendors are kind. Some are businesslike, while others hardly mutter a word. Their self made jewelry, mostly with turquoise, is wonderful. They can resize rings.

The opaque, blue-to-green turquoise is a mineral. Persian stones from Nishapur (of Iran) is used as a guiding reference for evaluating turquoise quality. Navajo and Hopi tribes are known to produce high quality turquoise jewelry. The top two of the following 4 kinds of turquoise are widely used in Santa Fe area:

1. Sleeping Beauty Turquoise
2. Kingman Turquoise
3. Bisbee
4. Royston

They (including the stores as well) prize Sleeping Beauty for its consistent sky-blue color. However, it’s no longer being mined (?), while Kingsman has brilliant blue color, but it isn’t as precious as SL due to the fact that they’re still abundantly being mined.

One native vendor explained how the program work: They’ve a committee, to determine the eligibility (sometimes vendor has to go before the committee to demonstrate their skills – like making a piece). The covered corridor has 63 spaces, each marks with a white number. If the vendors are more than the spaces, they’ll have to do a lottery, which means a particular vendor may not come tomorrow. In General, a particular vendor doesn’t come everyday.

When they sell, they provide their business card, which is super helpful.

On the last day there, I purchased a bracelet from a generous man, who explains the logos are his name and his daughter’s. When I pay, he tells me a less amount voluntarily.

I was a little hesitate. Although I like bargains and discounts, but I don’t ask for it with small vendor, especially with the artist him or herself.

“Are you sure?” I asked. Actually I was not 100% sure what he had quoted me earlier.

“Yes, it looks so nice on your wrist.”

I paid what he asked.

Thank you.

E Palace Ave (bet Otero & Washington)
Santa Fe, NM

Two minutes from Drury Plaza hotel, E Palace Ave between Otero St (wear your GRACE, a jewelry store @ 125 E Palace Ave #137) and Washington Ave (Worrell Gallery @ 103 Washington Ave.) is an arty block, filled with shops that sell clothing, jewelry, gifts, tiles, etc. There are galleries and courtyard. Across Washington Ave. is the Native vendors and the Plaza: very well situated.

500 Terrace Ave
Chama, NM 87520

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp n TA

Chama is a village in the Rocky Mountains about 7 miles (11 k m) south of the Colorado-New Mexico border, population was 917 at the 2020 census.

We stopped here after bathroom break at WalMart in Pagosa Springs (CO, pop 1,571).

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that runs between Charma and Antonito, Colorado. It’s 64 miles (103 km) long, takes about 6:45 … nearly 7 hours.

Charma narrow gauge to San Antonia – historical train. 9:50-10:00, bathroom and to see the train leaves.

We stopped by here on a Saturday at 10am, hoping to see the train off. But it closed.

We walked around the yellow building, seeing coal tower which is rare. Old but charming.

.
1513 S 1500 E,
Salt Lake City, UT 84105

… more pix & videos on Google Maps, Yelp

Will return.

A little hideaway gem.

A local friend took us there. It was a reunion of four boat mates in 2022, with the fourth mate came in from New York. The weather was so cooperating, after raining yesterday and much of today, we actually went into the restaurant under the blue skies.

This Spanish tapa place is homey and small, with outdoor tables, in a lovely neighborhood, by owner Owner Scott Evans.

We’ve warm olives, two salads and the shrimp: all are really good. And the churros are to die for: light and fluffy!

After dinner, our friend drove us around the neighborhood: thank you so much!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kbzEaL4DXRKp3oiL8

The Plaza Coral Gables
2811 Ponce de Leon, Miami

Coral Gables is a city, part of the Miami metropolitan area of South Florida, 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Downtown Miami. Population 49,248 (2020 census). It has University of Miami (the largest employer).

The Plaza Coral Gables (2811 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables) is a hub and downtown. The neighborhoods in CG are generally upscale.

• Cvi.Che 105
• University of Miami
• Coral Fountains

Coral Fountains (2021) by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel (1964-)

Mirrored Stainless Steel Beads

“Coral Fountains” links its water element to the sea. As Coral Gables is often presented as the pearl of South Florida, the artist selected his signature element, the bead, to create sculptures that joyfully play in the water pond, as enigmatic and shimmering as lively sea creatures.

Commissioned by Agave Holdings, LLC

Coral Gables Art in Public Places Program

Coral Way in Coral Gables (Miami) area, has many mature trees, including banyan and oak, creating a natural canopy over the street.

Sarasota opera house

Verdi’s Stiffelio (1849) 👍 straightforward and powerful, and a great production.

This is the fourth and last of the 2025 winter season.

A Protestant minister of the church with an adulterous wife … to forgive as the Bible says or seeks revenge as human

Anger of the husband
Anguish of her father
Ashamed wife

Is it my imagination or the singers are just great, I thought I heard the pains and regrets in their voices …

一新教牧师的媳妇有了外遇. 纠结啊

丈夫的愤怒
父亲的痛苦
妻子的羞愧

圣经教导 – 原谅
人性本能 – 报复

最后 …

Jacqueline du Pré (杰奎琳·杜普蕾; 1945-87).

This is one of my faves: Schumann’s cello concerto with du Pré and her husband Barenboim (and piano concerto too).

Du Pré’s life was short due to her illness – MS multiple sclerosis. They’d better times together: they met on the Christmas Eve in 1966. After the Six-Day War (1967, June 5-10), she cancelled all her engagements and went to Jerusalem with him, performing for the Israelis. Then married shortly after in Jerusalem at a Western Wall ceremony, with Zubin Mehta (… I’d to temporarily be renamed Moshe Cohen) as the witness.

Although their union lasted till her death, but they both had affairs: she with her brother-in-law and he with a Russian pianist who born him two sons, in 1983 and 85 in Paris. Both boys were born before du Pre’s death. I saw Michael Barenboim at Carnegie Hall – a journeyman.

这是我特别喜欢的一个CD. 前面那个视频里没有 Daniel Barenboim (丹尼尔·巴伦博伊姆; 1942-). 笑弯腰的是他的媳妇杜娃: 难得一见开怀大笑
他们相遇1966年圣诞夜. 1967 年六日战争爆发前不久, 她取消了所有表演合同, 与巴一起飞往耶路撒冷. 她皈依了犹太教, 并在为以色列军队和民众举办音乐会后, 1967年在西墙结婚.
金童玉女
可惜好景不长. 她1973年10月被诊断患有多发性硬化症 multiple sclerosis MS. 她最后一次在伦敦举办音乐会是在 1973 年 2 月, 与祖宾·梅塔合作. 她的最后一场公开音乐会于 1973 年 2 月在纽约. 与Pinchas Zukerman (平夏斯·祖克曼; 1948-), 伯恩斯坦指挥四场勃拉姆斯双协奏曲. 她只参加了四场音乐会中的三场 (指头失去感觉了), 最后一场, 由 Isaac Stern (艾萨克·斯特恩; 1920-2001)代替她演奏了门德尔松的小提琴协奏曲.
死后她的姐姐Hilary (1942-) 出版了传记 A Genius in the Family (1997) 改编🎬 Hilary and Jackie (1998), 唏嘘 动容
杜和巴都有婚外情 她和姐夫, 他和一俄罗斯犹太钢琴娃 孕二子 都在杜娃死前出世. 我看过他们的小儿子迈克尔的室内🎼 音乐会 – 没有惊艳 – a journeyman.

听一音乐爱好者说 当年他们的婚事在英国是满城风雨, 她可是英帝的女神…
时光荏苒 巴也熬到了爷爷的位置 是一位值得尊敬的音乐家.

…
有人提起小泽 我觉得不可比 (梅塔) 日本的古典音乐圈比印度大非常多 人才济济 Midori, Mitsuko Uchida, etc.