Well i was pretty tired out while in Boulder as it took me 1 1/2 hrs of cycling to get into town- I took an old country road and then followed the Boulder river trail which led me to the University of Colorado campus. I then bike further into town to get some lunch at "the Laughing Goat"- as I walked in there were at least 5 ppl on their mac laptops on the left side of the cafe, with another 5 ppl on the right on their pc laptops. I took a lame pic of the mac side and sat in the middle. I saw so many university-type ppl with their books and computers and dressed in their eco-friendly emo-like decor. I felt like I wasn't the weird one anymore- maybe i fit in a little bit...(maybe it was like a transplant of ethical addictions abbotsford brought to colorado).
Next stop was Pearl st open air mall where you can walk down several blocks and there are no cars or buses allowed, just pedestrians. I walked and shopped a bit, picking up a few souvenirs. I got a short video clip of a guy playing on the piano in the center of it all with all the leaves falling around with the colors of autumn immersed everywhere. It was stunning. I met a guy named Jacob, a photographer and got him to take a pic of me with my camera in the square. We started chatting and walking and before I knew it he was snapping photos of me with his camera. I felt like a beautiful model/muse in the midst of a stunning atmosphere.
Next stop was the Dushanbee tea house- it was a sit down restaurant with good tea- I had the mint tea which I wish I had tried something different and new but hey I can't always be so adventurous I needed to taste something familiar.
Oh I forgot to mention the university student I met named Mike- when I told him I was from BC he promptly asked me if I wanted to "smoke up" with him and his roomate. I told him I didn't know what that meant, then when he told me I said I don't smoke marijuana- i don't need it I'm chill enough already- he seemed surprised. He thought everyone in BC smoked weed. I'm pretty sure our weed is better than his anyways....
I then got info and had a "self-guided" tour of Boulder Community hospital, a gorgeous facility I'd love to work in- it's independently-run- maybe the kind of hospital i hope to work at in the future after I moved to Colorado which I totally want to now!!
I took the bus back to Layfayette after I had a nap under a tree at Chautauqua- and area with hiking and grassy hills, lot of trees and some historic buildings. I'd spent most of the day on ingrid's bike so I was pretty tired, i went straight to meet her at the bank where she works and we went out for dinner with her co-workers. Another late night....
Monday, October 20, 2008
Colorado Springs- day 3
I was up at 530 am for this trek. Today I drove Joel's car so I was a little nervous but at the same time feeling free to go to some places I planned to see. After dropping Joel at work i headed south I-25 down to Colorado Springs - took me 1 hr and 45 mins to get to Garden of the gods.
GOTG- beautiful- tons of acres filled with the red-colored rock in huge mountains and small works of natural art- and it's not even man-made! There was lots of birds out, the parking lot had only 2 vehicles parked as it was 845 am when I arrived.
There were lots of pigeons that lives in these rock crevasses, they're the only bird of the recognized species that sticks around for the winter. Most ppl consider this a very common, nothing special kind of bird, however, it makes the most curious sounds that draws you to it. Ppl would stop in their tracks to find out where this sound was coming from, and when they discovered it was "just a pigeon" they were disappointed. One woman said "oh, that's too bad" on finding out it was a pigeon, not some exotic colorado bird....I am thinking this can apply to us as people how feel in God's presence, in His great expanse that we are simply a little pigeon that doesn't belong here (in God's presence), and we live like this rather than as sons and daughters of the Most High. Romans 8:14-17
Next stop was Mannitou springs, the visitor info guy loaded me up with pamphets and he wanted me to stay for a week- I told him I only had one day....Well I went to most of the springs and tasted the mountain mineral waters- they called "healing water" it's full of calcium, magnesium, lithium, ect and many other useful minerals. And drinking the water was free! I'd like to see a study of the people of Mannitou springs that daily consume this water to see if their healthier than most of us. I'd be curious to see if there was a difference. The water tasted like perrier water. I had some locally-made ice cream and then headed back to drive through old Colorado City.
From there I went to Cave of the winds, paid 19 dollars to have a tour of the underground caves, it was 45 mins, very entertaining and interested on the part of our tour guide. There was a couple of screaming toddlers (really who brings their little kids to caves- I'd have night mares for life!) I got my pic taken down there it's really cool.
Last stop was Focus on the Family headquarters- within 5 minutes I'd met Jim Daley, president of FOTF- and I had no clue who he was I was chatting with him cause he was doing a book signing and I had a lengthly conversation with him about chocolate and how I really feel about it...ahhhh I'm glad I had no idea who he was, it was better than way:) I had a tour of the facility and I was the only one on the tour but some ppl joined us later as Dr.James Dobson was in his studio broadcasting live- I took a pic and waved at him- just for you Mom and Dad...oh and the best part was seeing "Whit's end" full of these imagination rooms, one them was the lion, the witch and the wardrobe room complete with the wardrobe with a fur coat, leading into a little room representing Narnia- so magical as I sat and listened to the radio broadcast of the story by CS Lewis. Oh and I stopped by the soda shop too-
When I have kids I am bringing them here we could spend hours of fun here!
GOTG- beautiful- tons of acres filled with the red-colored rock in huge mountains and small works of natural art- and it's not even man-made! There was lots of birds out, the parking lot had only 2 vehicles parked as it was 845 am when I arrived.
There were lots of pigeons that lives in these rock crevasses, they're the only bird of the recognized species that sticks around for the winter. Most ppl consider this a very common, nothing special kind of bird, however, it makes the most curious sounds that draws you to it. Ppl would stop in their tracks to find out where this sound was coming from, and when they discovered it was "just a pigeon" they were disappointed. One woman said "oh, that's too bad" on finding out it was a pigeon, not some exotic colorado bird....I am thinking this can apply to us as people how feel in God's presence, in His great expanse that we are simply a little pigeon that doesn't belong here (in God's presence), and we live like this rather than as sons and daughters of the Most High. Romans 8:14-17
Next stop was Mannitou springs, the visitor info guy loaded me up with pamphets and he wanted me to stay for a week- I told him I only had one day....Well I went to most of the springs and tasted the mountain mineral waters- they called "healing water" it's full of calcium, magnesium, lithium, ect and many other useful minerals. And drinking the water was free! I'd like to see a study of the people of Mannitou springs that daily consume this water to see if their healthier than most of us. I'd be curious to see if there was a difference. The water tasted like perrier water. I had some locally-made ice cream and then headed back to drive through old Colorado City.
From there I went to Cave of the winds, paid 19 dollars to have a tour of the underground caves, it was 45 mins, very entertaining and interested on the part of our tour guide. There was a couple of screaming toddlers (really who brings their little kids to caves- I'd have night mares for life!) I got my pic taken down there it's really cool.
Last stop was Focus on the Family headquarters- within 5 minutes I'd met Jim Daley, president of FOTF- and I had no clue who he was I was chatting with him cause he was doing a book signing and I had a lengthly conversation with him about chocolate and how I really feel about it...ahhhh I'm glad I had no idea who he was, it was better than way:) I had a tour of the facility and I was the only one on the tour but some ppl joined us later as Dr.James Dobson was in his studio broadcasting live- I took a pic and waved at him- just for you Mom and Dad...oh and the best part was seeing "Whit's end" full of these imagination rooms, one them was the lion, the witch and the wardrobe room complete with the wardrobe with a fur coat, leading into a little room representing Narnia- so magical as I sat and listened to the radio broadcast of the story by CS Lewis. Oh and I stopped by the soda shop too-
When I have kids I am bringing them here we could spend hours of fun here!
Denver- day 1
Parts of of it reminded me of Europe, like cherry creek that leads into the Plett river on my way to REI. I thought it was a fake creek though it was beautiful I could've sworn I smelt a hint of chlorine. My tour of the US mint was mostly lame/non-interesting other than the beautiful architecture and meeting a cool couple from Alberta while I was in line. I don't really care how pennies are made and I'm not a mad coin collector.
I met lots of wonderful, friendly people. Including the owner of "Triage" not a medical supply store as i thought- it sold high end men's suits and ties, ect. The owner, David was really nice and helpful. I bought a copy of the Denver Voice- a newspaper helping the homeless get off the stress by contributing stories and selling the paper themselves. I contributed $5 I had found earlier on the back of a toilet I used at the bus station. I called it my "toilet money" I didn't realize/know if that was the actual bill I gave the guy but it went to a good cause.
I loved the Denver Art Museum from the architecture to the modern sculpures and artwork, the paintings of Colorado were beautiful. Of course there was some shocking pieces, but isn't there always something shockworthy in art museums? sometimes I feel I am too numbed to the the truth of art.
i had a "cob" salad, really just a chef salad at quizno's - yum.
So many bicycles, runners and people who love nature- especially at REI as I sit writing this. i hear Colorado has 300 days of sunshine in a year- what am I doing in the west coast- I need to move here the weather is AMAZING! Maybe, I'll see what's in the future for me.
one more random story is the security guy at the us mint who told me I couldn't bring in my bag with me for the tour but that they couldn't store it for me and I had no options as I had no where to put it- then he winks as me and tells me "you know there are some REALLY good books on the 5th floor or the library, you should check it out......and I'm thinking why is this guy winking at me and talking about books when that doesn't solve my problem here!? Then after he repeated this over and over- I finally got it -- I went there to solve this "mystery" and found free lockers right there by the study carolls! he couldn't say anything b/c he was on camera and apparently not supposed to tell ppl about this "secret spot"... well I should be detective now- I picked up on his code.....
nect entry to comoe: Boulder (where I sit in a coffee shop here writing this...
I met lots of wonderful, friendly people. Including the owner of "Triage" not a medical supply store as i thought- it sold high end men's suits and ties, ect. The owner, David was really nice and helpful. I bought a copy of the Denver Voice- a newspaper helping the homeless get off the stress by contributing stories and selling the paper themselves. I contributed $5 I had found earlier on the back of a toilet I used at the bus station. I called it my "toilet money" I didn't realize/know if that was the actual bill I gave the guy but it went to a good cause.
I loved the Denver Art Museum from the architecture to the modern sculpures and artwork, the paintings of Colorado were beautiful. Of course there was some shocking pieces, but isn't there always something shockworthy in art museums? sometimes I feel I am too numbed to the the truth of art.
i had a "cob" salad, really just a chef salad at quizno's - yum.
So many bicycles, runners and people who love nature- especially at REI as I sit writing this. i hear Colorado has 300 days of sunshine in a year- what am I doing in the west coast- I need to move here the weather is AMAZING! Maybe, I'll see what's in the future for me.
one more random story is the security guy at the us mint who told me I couldn't bring in my bag with me for the tour but that they couldn't store it for me and I had no options as I had no where to put it- then he winks as me and tells me "you know there are some REALLY good books on the 5th floor or the library, you should check it out......and I'm thinking why is this guy winking at me and talking about books when that doesn't solve my problem here!? Then after he repeated this over and over- I finally got it -- I went there to solve this "mystery" and found free lockers right there by the study carolls! he couldn't say anything b/c he was on camera and apparently not supposed to tell ppl about this "secret spot"... well I should be detective now- I picked up on his code.....
nect entry to comoe: Boulder (where I sit in a coffee shop here writing this...
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