Christmas in Waybridge

Welcome to Waybridge, Colorado. In summer, this idyllic little town is a magnet for people who want to live the outdoor lifestyle. In winter, it's a ski resort with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and has, quite rightly, earned the nickname “The Christmas Village”.

This tiny town is nestled in the valley between two soaring mountain ridges. A river neatly cuts Waybridge in two, which is a clue to how the town got its name. Bridges transverse the foaming white rapids before taking you on your way to Denver.

Main Street winds beside the river in order to give you stunning views of the tree-lined and snow-capped mountains. Buildings based on Swiss chalets with white-washed walls and wooden details line the wide cobbled street. Traditional Christmas music – carols and classical pieces – can be heard drifting from a few of the shops while the smell of hot chocolate and coffee hangs over the snow-covered town.

The cobbled street is surprisingly clear and you amble along in order to take in the views and the crisp winter air. The skies are blue and the sun beams down, far stronger than you've known it in winter. If it hadn't been for the chill in the air and the promise of more snow later, you could have sworn that you were walking through an early Spring day.

You find yourself walking into the town's square and, for a moment, your breath is taken away. The Ridges – Waybridge's mall – runs along one side while at the heart of the square, and with a stunning view of the mountains, is a circular ice rink. In the centre of the rink stands a Christmas tree so tall that you have to stretch back to see it all. Lights twist around the tree and oversized silver and gold decorations hang from the limbs.

Skaters slide around the rink, their blades cutting into the ice with a sound that brings back childhood memories of frozen lakes and rivers. You pause for a moment to watch and debate whether you brave taking to the ice later on.

Beside the rink is a small wooden hut selling hot chocolate and snacks. Buying yourself a takeout cup of the thick, rich liquid, you sit yourself on an empty bench and just soak up the atmosphere. Waybridge is as perfect as towns get when it comes to Christmas and taking a moment to appreciate all that it's been offering seems like a fair exchange. You sit and watch as people walk by with arms loaded with wrapped gifts. Their faces are lit with smiles and you can hear the gentle music even above their soft chatter. Children call to one another while several line up to join those already on the ice rink.

There's something special about sitting in the shadow of a Christmas tree. Maybe it's memories of Christmases past. Or the magic that this particular times holds. Over the years you've noticed how quickly Christmas comes and goes. From the middle of Fall until Christmas Eve, life is a whirlwind of activity. Of gift buying, and card writing. Of wrapping, and cooking. Of more buying, and parties. The spirit of Christmas, at least to you, seems to have been forgotten. Gone are the short days and long evenings of hot chocolate and Christmas movies and just being together. Instead, life has been bundled up into packages of photographable moments that you're supposed to look back on with fondness. Instead, you feel as though you look at them with exhaustion and the vague memory of what happened.

Sitting and watching the world drift by is, for you, a good way to recapture those lost moments and memories. You smile to yourself as you sip the rich hot chocolate. Steam momentarily clouds the sunglasses that you've found yourself wearing. For just a pause in time everything is perfect. There's no running around. No buying. No wrapping. No writing. No trying to make everything perfect. It's just you, the cool air, the bright winter sun, and the perfect little town of Waybridge.

Once you've finished your drink, you begin to make your way along Main Street. The Ridges, and the ice rink, melt away behind you as you find yourself walking beside little local businesses. A tourist shop. One of the many ski shops. A book shop. A music shop.

Block wooden letters spell out the shop's name - Between the Sheets – and, as you step up to the window, you can see several people browsing shelves of sheet music. The window is dressed for Christmas with a small lit tree and a cat sleeping in a velvet-lined violin case. The shop looks cosy and you dare to step inside. A bell tinkles above the door and the shop's owner, a gentleman with long dark hair and a bright smile, waves to you. You may only have been visiting Waybride but every local person has greeted you as though you're a long lost friend.

Lamps with ornate glass shades dangle from the beams that criss-cross the vaulted wooden ceiling. Specks of dust dance in the warm light and, from the large window, is a breathtaking view of the mountains. Mariah Carey warbles softly from a hidden speaker and notes of vanilla and ageing paper hang in the air.

You wander among the shelves and flick through the music on offer. You have friends who play various instruments and feel that such works would make wonderful gifts. Selecting a few, you make your way to the long counter and place them on the smooth surface. The counter shows its age through marks and scratches and you wonder how long it has been a part of the little shop.

The long-haired owner greets you and you both exchange pleasantries before falling into a deeper conversation about the books that you're purchasing. He's warm and affable and filled with knowledge. You can see why his shop receives a steady stream of customers.

You thank the owner and make one last trip past the window to pet the sleeping grey cat before stepping back out into the sunny, yet cool, streets of Waybridge. The town where Christmas really did come home.

~~~

Waybridge looks forward to welcoming you in the Christmas Cottage series. Grab a coffee, put your feet up, and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the little town in the mountains. ~~~

You can find more of Rachael's work at www.roswellpublishing.co.uk