The Word Cloud

Dear friends,

For those of you who are fans of Ben & Jerry’s we have great news. Having taken the tour of their factory in Waterbury Vermont, we were asked to participate in market research for their new flavour Chocowlate Chip. We were only too happy to oblige. The new flavour consists of a really creamy vanilla ice cream laden with cho’cow’late covered caramel cow-shaped chips. Heavenly!

...Sorry, where was I.

From the sublime to the ridiculous, we left ‘Fawlty Towers’ behind and headed into the Green Mountains of Vermont to the most ludicrously luxurious hotel.

Having set ourselves a stringent budget for each one night stay, and having paid roughly the same amount for each one, give or take a few dollars, the level of service and amenities at each hotel seems to vary enormously from place to place. We have stayed everywhere from a Holiday Express Inn to cute, independent B & Bs to this place. It’s a palace!

We were met by a valet who immediately relieved us of our car, enquired if we were Mr & Mrs Wheeler and radioed through to reception who was expecting us when we arrived.  How did the Valet know who we are? The hotel is huge and must have many guests. We wondered if Big FBI’s Little Brother was watching our every move whilst we are here.

A charming young man proceeded to give us a tour of the hotel’s facilities whilst the luggage was miraculously transported to our room awaiting our arrival. (Perhaps this was a ruse in order to search our luggage in which case, yes, we smuggled in Pringles and wine – so sue us!)

The marble-clad en-suite is gigantic, four times the size of our family bathroom at home and the 6’ x 6’ bed stands an impressive 4’ from the ground – we have to launch ourselves onto it! I had to check our pre-paid receipt to make sure we had a) arrived at the correct hotel and b) paid the correct rate. Cuddly robes are included too. I can only assume that the resort classes mid-October as out of season. What a find!

The mountain lodge is set in the most beautiful valley with a web of ski-lifts heading off in all directions. It must look quite spectacular in the snow as well as stunning in these last sunny throws of autumn. For those of you who are into skiing, (we still have it on our to-do list), this is the place. Let me know if you would like the details. There is a fitness centre and a wonderful swim-out pool where you can begin your swim in the comfort of an indoor room and then swim out into the bracing mountain air where the pool still greets you at a steamy, toasty 86 degrees - It feels quite bizarre but at the same time wickedly decadent. I could definitely get used to this and feel a relocation coming on.

It's raining this morning. We did try telling it to go away but, like some dude named Canute in the days gone by, it didn't work for us either. 

Reluctant to leave but it’s time to travel south. See you in Manchester VT.

Love.

Kim & Mike. x