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.

Moab, UT 84532

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

This national park was established on September 12, 1964. It’s known for its vast, spectacular landscapes, shaped by the Colorado River and the Green River, which have eroded into canyons 峡谷, mesas 台地, and buttes 孤峰.

The best time to visit it, is the spring. 

Use a map, instead of a navigation system.

The lonesome spire to the left front, is the Totem Pole (wiki)

The park has districts (maps: Island in the Sky Map; The Maze Map; The Needles Map, and Horseshoe Canyon Map)

1. The Maze  (map)
2. Island in The Sky (nps, map)
3. The Needles (dyrt; map)

According to thedyrt.com, an outdoor site’s 2019 post, the Maze is for serious hikers only: there were only 2,000 in 2019, while 264,000 people visited the more popular disctict Island in The Sky. The Needles has many camping sites.

Our stops:

• Grand View Point Trail: GM
• Buck Canyon Overlook (bathrooms) GM
• The Island in the Sky Visitor Center GM
• yoga

(It reminds me of Arcadia park’s – rangers are on duty to explain or help.

The center is like a general store, sells water, caps, etc and as well as souvenirs.)

Roads to Grand View Point Overlook is pretty twisty. Its latitude is 6,080 feet (1,853m), I felt nothing when I did few short runs – afraid for being late for the bus.

One lonesome Ute at the Grand View Point, is one of sights of the park. We’re allotted 35 minutes, wished for more.

La Sal Mountains to the left and Abajo Mountains to the right, White Rim sandstone in the center, Colorado River canyon, the Tatem Pole, etc.

corrugated canyons 波纹状峡谷

White Rim Road is a 100 miles unpaved path, popular with 4WDs (about 3 days), mountain bikes (likely need 4 days) and motorbikes.

The Island in the Sky Visitor Center reminds me of Arcadia Park’s: rangers are on duty. It offers some great landscapes too.

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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 …