Snowflake plus snowflake... finally we can make a snow sculpture, can't we?

There are a lot of small resort towns that can be found somewhere in the Rockies. Mostly they attract the skiers but not only. It is fun to explore these mountain gems. But today let's talk about just one of them... Breckenridge... There is a lot of sun and nice slopes, which are really good for skiing. But it is not enough to make the town prosperous and blooming. What else? Infrastructure... hotels, restaurants, small stores... and all of these are easy to find in Breckenridge ;)

Just a couple of hours of driving and you find yourself at an elevation of 9600 feet on the hills of great slopes. The town of Breckenridge was incorporated in 1859 and there were only 51 people living there. In 2000 there lived 2408 people (twice as much as just 10 years before). But these are only permanent residents and the population is doubled or tripled during the winter months when the skiers from all around the country are visiting.

What attracts people here besides skiing? Everything! Fresh air and amazing views to the 14ers from even Main street among it ;)

 

And there is a lot of snow covering everything during the winter. And nice sculptures can be seen everywhere too :)

...and Great restaurants like this Bubba Gump...

...or super popular street Crepes a la Cart place (don't pass by if you visit Breck, try the crepes... they are... aMMMMMMMMazing!). Believe me, the people waiting in line here know why they are doing it in freezing weather...

Don't forget about shopping... There are a couple of shopping malls and tons of small stores where everyone can find something special.

And once you are hungry again (which happens quickly with this fresh cold air) and like traditional food, stop by Blue Moose. The breakfast eggs here are just above any expectations:)

But you need more caffeine here, so stop again just across the street and have some espresso in Coffee Depot ;)

And once refueled, go and explore the park that follows the creek and offers snow trails and a lot of fun ;)

And go to Main Street again, explore small stores and buy something that will remind you about this place for years to come.

Or step off the Main and feel like you travel back in time, like 100 years back...

And finally visit a small museum, founded in 1875 by Edwin Carter. Just four small rooms but a lot of history.

Is that it? Sure not! There are mountain ridges everywhere and... something else ;)

Budweiser Snow Sculpture Festival hosted in Breckenridge for about 30 years. Teams from all around the World come here every winter to carve the sculptures from 12 tons snow blocks. 

Budweiser and Columbia are main sponsors, but there are also some others who make this event possible.

Here is the block each team's starting with. It's huge!

"Underwater". Breckenridge, USA - this is the home team!

Holland's team carved the "Cat jumping out of purse" :) Yeap, jumping out and posing for pictures ;)

"Medusa", Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And also the model and tool the team used for carving this one.

"Mere de Nation" (Mother of Nation) by Quebec, Canada. Stylized wedding dress (hollow inside, by the way) pays homage to the adventurous young brides who crossed the Atlantic to marry the settlers of the Saint Lawrence River valley. Between 1663 and 1673 the king of France paid the sea passage of nearly 900 unmarried, poor or parentless young women to New France, known today as Quebec in Eastern Canada. Interesting one, huh?

Something from Jack London's story... and... right. Alaska, USA team ;)

"Marco!", a team from Vermont, tells us a story about kids playing in the water.

"Spirits of the Aurora" by Yukon, Canada's team. Aurora or Northern Lights - are believed to be the torches held in the hands of Spirits seeking the souls of those who have just died, to lead them over the abyss terminating the edge of the world. A narrow pathway leads across it to the land of brightness and plenty, where disease and pain are no more, and where food of all kinds is already in abundance.

Austria, "Save the Sausage" - he never passes up the chance to eat, even if he's up to his neck in it ;) Interesting subject...

"Greenman", Franklin, Wisconsin, just curious, why not a woodman?

The Swedish team created a "Perpetual Motion". Without movement there is no life. Evolution, progress, life itself: all require energy and motion. This sculpture's boundary represents eternal flow, while the faces represent the pulse of the inner and outer world. as well as the search for new directions.

Pictures were taken on January 30, 2011.