We did too much to mention here during our lovely, wonderful and mostly relaxing sojourn last week to Colorado Springs, Colo. We saw mountains, blue sky, large rocks, burbling brooks, whooshing waterfalls, some wildlife and a lot of Subarus. Maybe I noticed the cars because that's one of the brands I'm looking at in replacing the aging Family Truckster. Anyway, it was a relaxing trip. Our gracious hosts, my sister-in-law and her husband, tried to make us fall in love with the place so we'd move out there soon (like packing a real estate guide in our bags when we weren't looking). It didn't take much to make us like it a lot, and it is on our list of places to relocate when the time comes. Anyone out there with Colorado knowledge especially bad stuff let me know. Take me to school, I want to learn.
Below is but one of many photos I could share (maybe some other time; half of them are on film anyway) and a few observations about the trip:
The drive from Fort Worth to Colorado Springs is a reminder that vast nothingness still exists. Living in the sprawling, Crumbling Suburbs had made me forget.
Vast nothingness makes for a fairly boring and uneventful drive. Best part: not a lot of traffic. Worst parts: slowing down for nowhere towns and trying to find somewhere to a) eat lunch and b) get gas. Even worse: having to eat somewhere that you know will give you gas.
It's important not to be in such a hurry on vacation. On the way out, we stopped at the Capulin Volcano National Monument in New Mexico. It was a needed break, although the drive up the thing without a guardrail made me want to barf. Our first taste of altitude made me wheeze. I'm such a weenie flatlander! Also, we split the nearly 12-hour drive into two days, both ways. Was good for my well-being and that of our 2-year-old.
I love eggs benedict.
Homeless people like downtown Denver.
Taking the train to the summit of Pikes Peak was worth the expense and whiney kids across the aisle. As a weenie flatlander, I got off the train, felt the cool wind on my face, gawked at the view and remembered that I don't like heights so much. After that point, I really really enjoyed the view from the safety and security of the gift shop. The Petite Filet soon joined me, as the Cutlet being fearless in the face of death really just wanted to freefall off the boulders barely clinging to the side of the mountain.
I wish I lived somewhere where a real hike was right in my backyard.
The lack of ozone alert days! It almost made up for the thinner atmosphere.
How cool is it that some highways including the interstates have designated bicycle lanes and bright yellow signs to the effect? Oh, if only north Texas were half as bike-friendly.
Nothing says "I've been on vacation" quite like returning home with a stack of new T-shirts that all say "Colorado" somewhere on them.
Two-year-olds need regular naps, even on vacation. We made the mistake of overscheduling him and ourselves the first few days. What that meant was that mid-morning we were in for a meltdown. The first one occurred at Garden of the Gods park, a lovely setting marked by tall red rocks and abundant nature. We were on the walking trail when he decided to throw a royal fit, demanding to be carried and crying the whole way. That's also the point we forgot where the car was. I thought about posting a photo of the PF and Cutlet enjoying one of the beautiful waterfalls in the area, but really, his glaring face in the one below proves my point about the import of napping. Sorry it's so big Photoshop was acting up tonight and it's about time for me to hit the hay as well.
Sounds like an awesome time. My husband and I are fond of the road trip (much to the amazement of our friends and family, especially when we took our then 10-month-old Boogie across country from California to Tennessee to see my parents!) We took a road trip to Oregon last year, and really want to do something this year. Maybe Colorado will be the place.
OH OH OH you'd love Colorado ... the only thing missing for me is the coast.
Glaring or not... look at that face. He is adorable!
As for Colorado... I spent a lot of time out in Denver and really enjoyed it. They're the healthiest people in the country (that's a fact).
It took a while to get used to the higher altitudes. But the flat plains and the mountains kept me in awe. Esp. driving to Denver from the airport... these skyscrapers just pop up at the base of these foothills and out of arid brown earth.
I was also surprised to meet so many transplants - lots of people who used to live in Boston, used to live in NYC, used to live in DC.
A good friend of mine moved out to Colorado 5 years ago and swears she'll never leave, she loves it so much. Then again, she's an avid skier, biker, rollerblader, hiker, white water rafter.
If I had to choose another place to live other than Texas, it would probably be Colorado and that's coming from a Southern boy.
That look on the face says "this is probably something I shouldn't be doing but I'm gonna do it anyway, let me check and see if they're watching me". It's the same look whether they are 2 or 15.
Sounds wonderful. I've not been to Colorado but have heard that it is beautiful.
My parents went to Denver, Colorado many years ago to attend a convention. I wonder if I will ever make it there?
Isn't that where they have the Astrodome?
-eggs benedict: ditto YUM
-homeless people in downtown Denver: where do they go in the winter?
Tips: go to Colorado in the winter before you decide to move there. If you think the altitude will take some getting used to, so will the winters. I'm just sayin' ;)