Robert and I spent Christmas in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It was just beautiful. It seems like we keep finding one wonderful place after another. We arrived on the 24th after spending the night in Branson Missouri.
Boy, what a disappointment that was. I don't know what I was expecting but that sure wasn't it. Maybe it looks better in the summer. Nothing was going on -- I mean absolutely nothing. We stayed at the Victoria Bed and Breakfast, which overlooks the Ozarks. It was lightly snowing and we left after a wonderful breakfast.
We arrived later in the day at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. From a distance, the little town was just beautiful. All the old houses are built into the side of the mountain and the town is all at the bottom.
Our hotel is located at the very top of the mountain. When I saw it, it took my breath away. It looked like a castle might look in Germany.
It is called the Crescent Hotel. It was built in 1886. It is five stories tall. Everything is the same as it was a hundred years ago -- old antique furniture, hardwood floors and claw -footed bathtubs.
We were the only people on the fourth floor. It was real spooky. At times, I could hear the old floors in the hall squeaking, even though nobody was up there but Robert and me. I told him, "I hear ghosts!"
He replied, "Don't think about it, and go to sleep." Next morning was Christmas Day. It was lightly snowing. I thought we would have a problem getting down the mountain, but we didn't.
Most of the town was closed, but a few shops and a cafe were open. We did a lot of sight seeing and walking. It was actually about 30-degrees, but it didn't seem that cold.
Eureka Springs is where they have the Passion Play, "The Shepherd of the Hills," but it was closed for the season.
This area is called the "Swiss Alps of Arkansas", and that is what it reminds me of.
It seems like all the homes are Bed and Breakfast. They are built on little pieces of land just big enough for a house and a car. They were all decorated for Christmas and at night they were beautiful.
We got back to the Crescent Hotel about four o'clock in the evening. We had reservations to eat Christmas Dinner in the Grand Ballroom. We didn't want to miss that.
This is the original ballroom. Everything was lit by candlelight. The tables were set with linen tablecloths, silver and chrystal.
We were served prime rib, creamed potatoes and asparagus. One of the chefs came out and cooked Banana Foster, flames and all. It couldn't have been nicer if we had been at the Worthington Hotel back home in Fort Worth. There was even an orchestra playing Christmas Carols and music for after dinner dancing. Robert and I just loved it.
We left the next morning after telling everyone good- bye. We really hated to leave. I would have loved to stay there a week.
We arrived in Fort Worth late that night. As always, we were glad to get back home.
As I was turning out all the lights in the house and checking the doors to make sure they were locked, I thought I heard the floors squeaking -- as if someone was walking down the hall.
I smiled and crawled into bed. You know how old houses are.
Gloria Sample and her husband Robert operate "The Colony," a bed and breakfast located in the Historic Stockyards District of Fort Worth.