On a crystal clear day last Fall a friend and I decided to go for a drive. Having never seem the famous and now shuttered Balsams Hotel we chose that as our destination. 

  The further north we went the brighter and more colorful were the leaves . Stunning deep reds , oranges and yellows of the Maple trees were in sharp contrast to the cerulian blue skys . We rounded a corner of Dixville Notch and there stood the vacant and ghostly Balsams . White buildings with red roofs , graying towers all refected in the still lake below it. How strange to see it unoccupied . It looked like a hotel one would see in Switzerland , elegant and stately . Twas full of memories and the day it's self was a day of romantic memories for myself ; hands held , kisses and strong arms surrounding me .