by Pa Rock
Besotted Goat
This weekend finds me in the quaint and hilly hamlet of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in the company of a lovely lady. It would be hard for life to get any better than this!
Eureka Springs is a picturesque community that bills itself as the "Switzerland of the Ozarks." It boasts several old Victorian homes with colorful exteriors and gingerbread trim, and a variety of charming shops and businesses along the main business district that build up the illusion of being in some German or Swiss village a hundred years ago.
Carrie Nation, the famous saloon-smasher of the pre-Prohibition era once called Eureka Springs her home, and in the 1960's the little town was taken over by young hippies, many of whom bought businesses and lived their lives here. Today those social outlaws - or their descendants - still control much of the commerce of the town and strive to maintain its unique charms. Some of those newcomers to Eureka Springs in the mid-twentieth century were same-sex couples. They went on to foster a climate of tolerance and acceptance that prevails throughout the town - but remains somewhat foreign to the surrounding Ozark region. There have been national news articles, in fact, that refer to Eureka Springs as the "gayest" community in Arkansas and across much of the American south.
At one time Eureka Springs had a very popular jazz festival each September. I haven't asked about it yet, but I hope that it has survived and is thriving. The ones that I attended in the past were wonderful, spreading the sweet sounds of jazz throughout the town's parks and many fine eateries.
The streets are narrow, up-and-down, and twisty, making walking the most efficient way to actually experience Eureka Springs. But the streets and sidewalks here are old, with stretches of pavement that are uneven, slick, or treacherous in other ways - so senior citizens, like me and my lady, have to be extra cautious walking from shop to shop. The hills can be a special challenge to walkers - particularly when ascending - which is why it is always advisable to hold the hand of someone you love while strolling along the streets of Eureka Springs - and I do!
I wish you all a lovely weekend - just like the one Patti and I are enjoying!
Besotted Goat
This weekend finds me in the quaint and hilly hamlet of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in the company of a lovely lady. It would be hard for life to get any better than this!
Eureka Springs is a picturesque community that bills itself as the "Switzerland of the Ozarks." It boasts several old Victorian homes with colorful exteriors and gingerbread trim, and a variety of charming shops and businesses along the main business district that build up the illusion of being in some German or Swiss village a hundred years ago.
Carrie Nation, the famous saloon-smasher of the pre-Prohibition era once called Eureka Springs her home, and in the 1960's the little town was taken over by young hippies, many of whom bought businesses and lived their lives here. Today those social outlaws - or their descendants - still control much of the commerce of the town and strive to maintain its unique charms. Some of those newcomers to Eureka Springs in the mid-twentieth century were same-sex couples. They went on to foster a climate of tolerance and acceptance that prevails throughout the town - but remains somewhat foreign to the surrounding Ozark region. There have been national news articles, in fact, that refer to Eureka Springs as the "gayest" community in Arkansas and across much of the American south.
At one time Eureka Springs had a very popular jazz festival each September. I haven't asked about it yet, but I hope that it has survived and is thriving. The ones that I attended in the past were wonderful, spreading the sweet sounds of jazz throughout the town's parks and many fine eateries.
The streets are narrow, up-and-down, and twisty, making walking the most efficient way to actually experience Eureka Springs. But the streets and sidewalks here are old, with stretches of pavement that are uneven, slick, or treacherous in other ways - so senior citizens, like me and my lady, have to be extra cautious walking from shop to shop. The hills can be a special challenge to walkers - particularly when ascending - which is why it is always advisable to hold the hand of someone you love while strolling along the streets of Eureka Springs - and I do!
I wish you all a lovely weekend - just like the one Patti and I are enjoying!
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