When REM wrote Can’t Get There From Here they weren’t referring to Telluride, Colorado, but they could have been. Tucked away in the southwest corner of the state on the western side of the San Juan Mountains, it’s not an easy place to get to, which is part of the allure.
Telluride is an eclectic blend of new and old, rich and not-so-rich. It’s a resort playground for the wealthy, a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, a way-station for un-rooted and unattached youth, a refuge from the rat-race and a home to some hard working folks that strive to stay ahead of the cash burn rate in an area where the cost of living rivals that of any high-cost area in the country.
The town takes its western heritage seriously. Aging and restored Victorian homes line its residential streets. Apartments and condos rise between restaurants and bars steeped in western décor.
Telluride is also modern. I’m blogging from the public library where Wi-Fi is available (it’s in parts of the campground too.) The gondola connecting town with Mountain Village not only carries skiers in winter, but serves as a public transportation system year-round.
In the calm before the storm of the 36th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival and between the very real storms of the past week, I got a chance to get out and about to take some pictures. Welcome to Telluride.
Welcome
Colorado Ave. looking east
Stagecoach
Free box
Free expression
View of town from gondola
Mt. Wilson
Restored house atop Bridal Veil Falls
