Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado

If you are looking for a western styled, romantic getaway this winter or summer, Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado might be the answer. Dunton Hot Springs - where? Actually, it's a ghost town located deep in the Rockies Mountain Range at the "four corners" area of Colorado where Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona all meet. Once a mining town abandoned in 1918, the town has been at times a biker and hippie hangout, a dude ranch, and now, a world class resort. From the outside, everything looks just like it did back in the 1800's. Inside though, the rustic log cabins have been totally redone, updated, and remodeled with pillow top beds, down comforters, Egyptian cotton sheets, wi-fi capability(!), antiques and first rate photographs. Think Ralph Lauren meets Butch Cassidy. The resort's main attraction though, are its five hot springs. There's a bath house cabin built over the largest of the springs which the entire "town" can use. Another hot spring is located in a private guest cabin. The high mineral count of the springs make them physically therapeutic. There's a cold water plunge outside and a large waterfall which adds to romance. Of course, there are yoga classes, exercise classes, and other spa amenities, like hot stone massages. All meals are included and while the menu looks heavy on game fare, the food is all organic.

Winter sports include cross country skiing and heli-skiing where a helicopter drops you down on the slopes. There is no ski in or ski out here, so if that is what you need, this probably isn't the place for you. Telluride skiing is an hour away, though. Summer sports include fly fishing, horseback riding and hiking. The rates are high, but not unreasonable for the luxury and remoteness of the resort. The nearest town is 38 miles way, and the word "town" is stretching it. For details on this resort, click here.

The Bath House with its large hot spring and roaring fire to keep warm in the winter.

The cold water plunge.

Two guest cabins, except one is actually a teepee.

The interior of the guest teepee.

The library - isn't this wonderful? A reason to visit.

Winter at the resort.

One of the outdoor springs with it's high mineral count.

The commons area.

A guest cabin.

An interior shot of a log cabin.

Summer activity: horseback riding in the Rockies Mountains.

Another cabin interior - note the iron stove in the corner.

The Wedding Chapel for destination weddings.

I love this picture - look at the bride "walking down the aisle." The dog is the maid of honor.

Another log cabin guest house.

The restaurant.

How peaceful and inviting can you get?

Summer at Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado.

Antique Judaica

Jews all over the world are celebrating the holiday of Chanukah this week. Chanukah, or The Festival of Lights, is a very minor holiday with little religious significance. A battle fought between the Greeks and the Jews, under the leadership of Judah Maccabee and his brothers, was finally ended when the Jews drove out the Greeks and began to rededicate the second Jewish temple in Jerusalum. Olive oil, which was needed to burn the temple's eternal flame, was scare. There was only enough oil to last one night, but miraculously God enabled the oil to burn for 8 days - the time it took to process new olive oil. Alongside the huge growth of the commercialism of Chrismas, Chanukah has become a widely celebrated holiday by mostly Jews worldwide. The most visible symbol of the holiday is the menorah, or the candelabra with its eight candle holders plus one which is used to light each individual candle. The fesital lasts 8 days and corresponds with the winter solstice, as does Christmas. Most Jewish families have several menorahs, a new one given perhaps as a wedding shower gift, and an old one that has been passed down for a generation or two.

These old menorahs are widely valued in the collecting field known as Judaica, or the area of collecting Jewish ceremonial and secular items. This field has grown enormously in the past decade and major auction houses such as Christies and Sotheby's have their own Judaica divisions. Perhaps it is the hunger for a more spiritual life that has fueled this field of collecting or maybe it result of the Holocaust that has caused this pride of religion. Regardless of it's reasons, Judaica is a hot item - not quite reaching Major Trend Alert status, prices of Judaica are going through the roof.

There are three components of Judaica: manuscripts and books written in Hebrew, fine art, and ritual objects (of which the menorah would fall under). Items can be secular or relgious. Since Jew migrated from the Holy Land through Spain, into Eastern Europe through Germany and finally Russia - before they began their westward flight to the Americas, Northern and Southern, Judaica comes from many countries, with each country's unique influence onto a single object. Religious objects are universally either silver, pewter, or brass. Gold is rarely, if ever seen.