Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 6 - Wednesday, September 30th
I slept in a little as I only had to drive about 2 hours to Chama today. I got all packed and loaded the car, went and got a late breakfast, filled up the car, and then headed about 4 miles south to a local church that was recommended to visit. It's called San Francisco de Asis and was built in 1772. That's 4 years before we were our own country! Another reminder of how old everything is in this area.
As I was headed out of town I crossed the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, which is about 1000 feet above the river. I took a bunch of pictures and then continued on my way. It was a lovely drive up through the mountains until I reached Chama about 1pm. All my friends I am meeting here were out chasing trains, so I did some laundry, took a nap, then headed to Subway for a late lunch.
The inn we always stay at is owned by a wonderful couple named Starla and Chester. They live here on the premises, and we all met in their attached home about 6:30pm. Starla cooked a delicious dinner of Indonesian egg rolls called Lumpia, Cole slaw, white rice, cantaloupe, and for dessert, lemon bars. Some people reading this will be familiar with the term Lumpia, as this is what they call their same rolled delights in Guam. Starla told me the name originates from the Dutch that occupied Borneo for 500 years. Starla lived and worked in Borneo many years ago.
After dinner we all just sat around and told war stories, caught up on each other's lives, dove into politics a bit, and then called it a night. Tomorrow we don't have any special plans and we'll just see what happens as the day progresses. We might go chase the steam train a bit...always fun.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 5 - Tuesday, September 29th
I am not a morning person, but I had no problem getting up at 7am to start my day as I was meeting a new friend who was going to tell me all about Taos, New Mexico.
It all started when I drove through this town last year driving up from Albuquerque to Chama for our annual train ride. It was amazing and beautiful and different from any place I had seen before. I knew right then I would come back for an extended stay, and today was that day.
Through my sister and a couple of different groups I am a part of on Facebook, I ran across this gentleman named John Hoyt. I found out he was from Houston, now lived in Taos, and we have a lot of mutual interests. We met for breakfast this morning at the same place I ate dinner at last night. I had no idea what he looked like except for a couple of pictures on Facebook, but somehow I knew it was him when he walked in the front door. We shook hands, said hello, and the whirlwind day started from that moment. I was thinking he would give me a few suggestions on places to visit, trails to hike, etc. then be on his way. He didn't give me any suggestions...we jumped into his Honda CR-V and he drove me all over town to see all the beautiful homes owned by famous artists, novelists and movie stars. He showed me art galleries, old hotels and shops, and everything this town had to offer. We then headed up into the mountains to places he likes to hike, river gorges that are vast and amazing, and wide-open expanses where you can see for miles. I was snapping pictures all day!
Taos is very old, and dates back thousands of years to the original Indian settlers nestled at the base of the mountains. There are no cookie-cutter homes in straight-line neighborhoods here. No building is over two stories high, and all buildings, be it a home or business, has to be fashioned in an original Adobe style. The city is very strict as to what materials you can use, and what colors can be painted. The homes here give no indication as to what economic level the residents are at. Rich people can live next to not-so-rich people, and you can't tell the difference driving by. The size may be a bit larger or smaller, but the look is all the same for the most part. Coming from a big city, and seeing big cities all over the world with their big gated communities with every house in a straight line and looking so different, this town has none of that, and that's why I have quickly become attracted to this beautiful place.
We stopped at John's residence for a quick break and I met his lovely wife, and his best friend, Buddy the dog. Buddy is 13 years old and was moving a little slow with arthritis, but he's very sweet and took to me right away. He was laying in the yard and I was scratching his chest and around his ears, and massaging his joints where he had arthritis. His eyes closed with relaxation, then he lifted his head and gave me a big kiss right on my hand. I was hooked, and I am proud to say I'm now a F.O.B. - Friend of Buddy.
After our whirlwind tour of the area, John brought me back to town and I took a nap and got a shower. We did a lot of walking so I was tired, and I wore a big sweatshirt all day since it was about 50 degrees when I left this morning, and it got pretty warm later in the day, so I definitely needed that shower.
John and I coordinated again to meet for dinner at a great local Italian restaurant. The service was good and the food was excellent, and we talked about his living in Houston and elsewhere throughout his life. He's quite the storyteller, and is a wealth of knowledge on the history of Taos. He loves this town, and it shows. He just beams when he speaks of this place.
Afterwards, we walked to the original town square and got some ice cream, then continued to walk around looking into some of the shops and galleries, and ended up at the Adobe Inn, which had a live band playing in the front lobby and bar area, and the locals come and have drinks and listen. There is never a cover charge, so it's very popular. It started to rain slightly during our walk and it turned chilly, but that just added to the incredible ending of an amazing day.
I couldn't thank John enough for everything he did for me, and we had a wonderful day together. I consider him a new and valued friend, and I look forward to coming back next year for another visit.
Day 5 - Tuesday, September 29th
I am not a morning person, but I had no problem getting up at 7am to start my day as I was meeting a new friend who was going to tell me all about Taos, New Mexico.
It all started when I drove through this town last year driving up from Albuquerque to Chama for our annual train ride. It was amazing and beautiful and different from any place I had seen before. I knew right then I would come back for an extended stay, and today was that day.
Through my sister and a couple of different groups I am a part of on Facebook, I ran across this gentleman named John Hoyt. I found out he was from Houston, now lived in Taos, and we have a lot of mutual interests. We met for breakfast this morning at the same place I ate dinner at last night. I had no idea what he looked like except for a couple of pictures on Facebook, but somehow I knew it was him when he walked in the front door. We shook hands, said hello, and the whirlwind day started from that moment. I was thinking he would give me a few suggestions on places to visit, trails to hike, etc. then be on his way. He didn't give me any suggestions...we jumped into his Honda CR-V and he drove me all over town to see all the beautiful homes owned by famous artists, novelists and movie stars. He showed me art galleries, old hotels and shops, and everything this town had to offer. We then headed up into the mountains to places he likes to hike, river gorges that are vast and amazing, and wide-open expanses where you can see for miles. I was snapping pictures all day!
Taos is very old, and dates back thousands of years to the original Indian settlers nestled at the base of the mountains. There are no cookie-cutter homes in straight-line neighborhoods here. No building is over two stories high, and all buildings, be it a home or business, has to be fashioned in an original Adobe style. The city is very strict as to what materials you can use, and what colors can be painted. The homes here give no indication as to what economic level the residents are at. Rich people can live next to not-so-rich people, and you can't tell the difference driving by. The size may be a bit larger or smaller, but the look is all the same for the most part. Coming from a big city, and seeing big cities all over the world with their big gated communities with every house in a straight line and looking so different, this town has none of that, and that's why I have quickly become attracted to this beautiful place.
We stopped at John's residence for a quick break and I met his lovely wife, and his best friend, Buddy the dog. Buddy is 13 years old and was moving a little slow with arthritis, but he's very sweet and took to me right away. He was laying in the yard and I was scratching his chest and around his ears, and massaging his joints where he had arthritis. His eyes closed with relaxation, then he lifted his head and gave me a big kiss right on my hand. I was hooked, and I am proud to say I'm now a F.O.B. - Friend of Buddy.
After our whirlwind tour of the area, John brought me back to town and I took a nap and got a shower. We did a lot of walking so I was tired, and I wore a big sweatshirt all day since it was about 50 degrees when I left this morning, and it got pretty warm later in the day, so I definitely needed that shower.
John and I coordinated again to meet for dinner at a great local Italian restaurant. The service was good and the food was excellent, and we talked about his living in Houston and elsewhere throughout his life. He's quite the storyteller, and is a wealth of knowledge on the history of Taos. He loves this town, and it shows. He just beams when he speaks of this place.
Afterwards, we walked to the original town square and got some ice cream, then continued to walk around looking into some of the shops and galleries, and ended up at the Adobe Inn, which had a live band playing in the front lobby and bar area, and the locals come and have drinks and listen. There is never a cover charge, so it's very popular. It started to rain slightly during our walk and it turned chilly, but that just added to the incredible ending of an amazing day.
I couldn't thank John enough for everything he did for me, and we had a wonderful day together. I consider him a new and valued friend, and I look forward to coming back next year for another visit.
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 4 - Monday, September 28th
Unlike the past few days of sleeping in, that's not the case today. I had a train to catch!
After cleaning up, packing and loading the car, and grabbing a bit of breakfast at the hotel, I was off to ride the Royal Gorge Train, which by namesake rolls through the Royal Gorge Canyon along the Arkansas River out of Canon City, Colorado. It only goes about 12 miles, then reverses and heads back. It takes two hours for the entire journey.
I always ride in the open-air car so I can take good pictures and enjoy the view. Other passengers sit the entire journey in their coach seat, while others pay a lot more and ride in the full length dome dining cars and have a full gourmet meal served to them at their table, all freshly prepared onboard in each car's own kitchen. The frustrating part of that is while in the open-air car, we can smell the delicious food being cooked from the car in front of us!
The weather was beautiful with temps in the low 70's and blue skies, and it's always windy in the gorge. We encountered a number of white water rafters plying their skills along the way, and some decided to "moon" the train. Everyone got a kick out of it.
After we got back to the depot, I immediately headed out of town and began driving to Taos, New Mexico, which is about 300 miles and almost 5 hours away. I was winding through the mountains cutting through tight canyons on winding roads and stopped in Salida, CO to grab a burger at Sonic. The girl at the drive-thru speaker was absolutely clueless of what she was supposed to do. She would take an order at the speaker, the car would move up, they would pay and drive off, and THEN she would take the next car's order. There's room for four cars to stack up, but nooooo....one at a time. She's an idiot.
In this town, I also ran across one of the many marijuana retail stores along my route. Looks like any other business...big sign out front, everyone welcome, come on in, etc. With me working in law enforcement, it's just really strange to see that.
After my mountain driving, I eventually ended up in a huge open plain of very flat land as I headed south. There was a mountain range to my left (the one I just went through), and another to my right. The air was so clear and the ground so flat, I could see mountains 100 miles away in front of me. Really amazing. This is the third time I've driven this route, and I love it every time.
I passed through Alamosa and Antonito, Colorado, and soon crossed the border into New Mexico. 45 minutes later I pull into Taos and look for my hotel, another Super 8. Driving through Taos is interesting. It's very "artsy" and cool and hip. Lots of craft stores, art galleries, pottery stores, and of course the beautiful mountains in which this city lies at the base of. I checked into the hotel and immediately notice the hallways to the rooms are painted red on one side, yellow on the other, with a weird color of orange and brown carpet. I affectionately call the look "Early Mexican Brothel". Thankfully, the rooms are normal with white walls and decent decor.
I had dinner at a restaurant about a mile from the hotel called El Taoseno, as recommended by a friend. Although it sounds like a Mexican restaurant, and they indeed did have Mexican food, they also had chicken fried steak, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. I had the hamburger steak with onions and gravy, corn, mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Very delicious, and inexpensive. My kinda place! I'm meeting a new friend I met on Facebook at the same place tomorrow morning for breakfast, then we're going for a hike and doing some looking around. My new friend is from Houston, and he and his wife retired to Taos, and has the same outlook on politics as I do, so the conversation should be fun. We've never met in person, but I look forward to doing so, and meeting his dog Buddy of which he posts daily updates as to Buddy's daily hikes and romps in the river.
If I'm lucky, I'll become a FOB.....Friend of Buddy.
Day 4 - Monday, September 28th
Unlike the past few days of sleeping in, that's not the case today. I had a train to catch!
After cleaning up, packing and loading the car, and grabbing a bit of breakfast at the hotel, I was off to ride the Royal Gorge Train, which by namesake rolls through the Royal Gorge Canyon along the Arkansas River out of Canon City, Colorado. It only goes about 12 miles, then reverses and heads back. It takes two hours for the entire journey.
I always ride in the open-air car so I can take good pictures and enjoy the view. Other passengers sit the entire journey in their coach seat, while others pay a lot more and ride in the full length dome dining cars and have a full gourmet meal served to them at their table, all freshly prepared onboard in each car's own kitchen. The frustrating part of that is while in the open-air car, we can smell the delicious food being cooked from the car in front of us!
The weather was beautiful with temps in the low 70's and blue skies, and it's always windy in the gorge. We encountered a number of white water rafters plying their skills along the way, and some decided to "moon" the train. Everyone got a kick out of it.
After we got back to the depot, I immediately headed out of town and began driving to Taos, New Mexico, which is about 300 miles and almost 5 hours away. I was winding through the mountains cutting through tight canyons on winding roads and stopped in Salida, CO to grab a burger at Sonic. The girl at the drive-thru speaker was absolutely clueless of what she was supposed to do. She would take an order at the speaker, the car would move up, they would pay and drive off, and THEN she would take the next car's order. There's room for four cars to stack up, but nooooo....one at a time. She's an idiot.
In this town, I also ran across one of the many marijuana retail stores along my route. Looks like any other business...big sign out front, everyone welcome, come on in, etc. With me working in law enforcement, it's just really strange to see that.
After my mountain driving, I eventually ended up in a huge open plain of very flat land as I headed south. There was a mountain range to my left (the one I just went through), and another to my right. The air was so clear and the ground so flat, I could see mountains 100 miles away in front of me. Really amazing. This is the third time I've driven this route, and I love it every time.
I passed through Alamosa and Antonito, Colorado, and soon crossed the border into New Mexico. 45 minutes later I pull into Taos and look for my hotel, another Super 8. Driving through Taos is interesting. It's very "artsy" and cool and hip. Lots of craft stores, art galleries, pottery stores, and of course the beautiful mountains in which this city lies at the base of. I checked into the hotel and immediately notice the hallways to the rooms are painted red on one side, yellow on the other, with a weird color of orange and brown carpet. I affectionately call the look "Early Mexican Brothel". Thankfully, the rooms are normal with white walls and decent decor.
I had dinner at a restaurant about a mile from the hotel called El Taoseno, as recommended by a friend. Although it sounds like a Mexican restaurant, and they indeed did have Mexican food, they also had chicken fried steak, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. I had the hamburger steak with onions and gravy, corn, mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Very delicious, and inexpensive. My kinda place! I'm meeting a new friend I met on Facebook at the same place tomorrow morning for breakfast, then we're going for a hike and doing some looking around. My new friend is from Houston, and he and his wife retired to Taos, and has the same outlook on politics as I do, so the conversation should be fun. We've never met in person, but I look forward to doing so, and meeting his dog Buddy of which he posts daily updates as to Buddy's daily hikes and romps in the river.
If I'm lucky, I'll become a FOB.....Friend of Buddy.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 4 - Monday, September 28th
Unlike the past few days of sleeping in, that's not the case today. I had a train to catch!
After cleaning up, packing and loading the car, and grabbing a bit of breakfast at the hotel, I was off to ride the Royal Gorge Train, which by namesake rolls through the Royal Gorge Canyon along the Arkansas River out of Canon City, Colorado. It only goes about 12 miles, then reverses and heads back. It takes two hours for the entire journey.
I always ride in the open-air car so I can take good pictures and enjoy the view. Other passengers sit the entire journey in their coach seat, while others pay a lot more and ride in the full length dome dining cars and have a full gourmet meal served to them at their table, all freshly prepared onboard in each car's own kitchen. The frustrating part of that is while in the open-air car, we can smell the delicious food being cooked from the car in front of us!
The weather was beautiful with temps in the low 70's and blue skies, and it's always windy in the gorge. We encountered a number of white water rafters plying their skills along the way, and some decided to "moon" the train. Everyone got a kick out of it.
After we got back to the depot, I immediately headed out of town and began driving to Taos, New Mexico, which is about 300 miles and almost 5 hours away. I was winding through the mountains cutting through tight canyons on winding roads and stopped in Salida, CO to grab a burger at Sonic. The girl at the drive-thru speaker was absolutely clueless of what she was supposed to do. She would take an order at the speaker, the car would move up, they would pay and drive off, and THEN she would take the next car's order. There's room for four cars to stack up, but nooooo....one at a time. She's an idiot.
In this town, I also ran across one of the many marijuana retail stores along my route. Looks like any other business...big sign out front, everyone welcome, come on in, etc. With me working in law enforcement, it's just really strange to see that.
After my mountain driving, I eventually ended up in a huge open plain of very flat land as I headed south. There was a mountain range to my left (the one I just went through), and another to my right. The air was so clear and the ground so flat, I could see mountains 100 miles away in front of me. Really amazing. This is the third time I've driven this route, and I love it every time.
I passed through Alamosa and Antonito, Colorado, and soon crossed the border into New Mexico. 45 minutes later I pull into Taos and look for my hotel, another Super 8. Driving through Taos is interesting. It's very "artsy" and cool and hip. Lots of craft stores, art galleries, pottery stores, and of course the beautiful mountains in which this city lies at the base of. I checked into the hotel and immediately notice the hallways to the rooms are painted red on one side, yellow on the other, with a weird color of orange and brown carpet. I affectionately call the look "Early Mexican Brothel". Thankfully, the rooms are normal with white walls and decent decor.
I had dinner at a restaurant about a mile from the hotel called El Taoseno, as recommended by a friend. Although it sounds like a Mexican restaurant, and they indeed did have Mexican food, they also had chicken fried steak, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. I had the hamburger steak with onions and gravy, corn, mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Very delicious, and inexpensive. My kinda place! I'm meeting a new friend I met on Facebook at the same place tomorrow morning for breakfast, then we're going for a hike and doing some looking around. My new friend is from Houston, and he and his wife retired to Taos, and has the same outlook on politics as I do, so the conversation should be fun. We've never met in person, but I look forward to doing so, and meeting his dog Buddy of which he posts daily updates as to Buddy's daily hikes and romps in the river.
If I'm lucky, I'll become a FOB.....Friend of Buddy.
Day 4 - Monday, September 28th
Unlike the past few days of sleeping in, that's not the case today. I had a train to catch!
After cleaning up, packing and loading the car, and grabbing a bit of breakfast at the hotel, I was off to ride the Royal Gorge Train, which by namesake rolls through the Royal Gorge Canyon along the Arkansas River out of Canon City, Colorado. It only goes about 12 miles, then reverses and heads back. It takes two hours for the entire journey.
I always ride in the open-air car so I can take good pictures and enjoy the view. Other passengers sit the entire journey in their coach seat, while others pay a lot more and ride in the full length dome dining cars and have a full gourmet meal served to them at their table, all freshly prepared onboard in each car's own kitchen. The frustrating part of that is while in the open-air car, we can smell the delicious food being cooked from the car in front of us!
The weather was beautiful with temps in the low 70's and blue skies, and it's always windy in the gorge. We encountered a number of white water rafters plying their skills along the way, and some decided to "moon" the train. Everyone got a kick out of it.
After we got back to the depot, I immediately headed out of town and began driving to Taos, New Mexico, which is about 300 miles and almost 5 hours away. I was winding through the mountains cutting through tight canyons on winding roads and stopped in Salida, CO to grab a burger at Sonic. The girl at the drive-thru speaker was absolutely clueless of what she was supposed to do. She would take an order at the speaker, the car would move up, they would pay and drive off, and THEN she would take the next car's order. There's room for four cars to stack up, but nooooo....one at a time. She's an idiot.
In this town, I also ran across one of the many marijuana retail stores along my route. Looks like any other business...big sign out front, everyone welcome, come on in, etc. With me working in law enforcement, it's just really strange to see that.
After my mountain driving, I eventually ended up in a huge open plain of very flat land as I headed south. There was a mountain range to my left (the one I just went through), and another to my right. The air was so clear and the ground so flat, I could see mountains 100 miles away in front of me. Really amazing. This is the third time I've driven this route, and I love it every time.
I passed through Alamosa and Antonito, Colorado, and soon crossed the border into New Mexico. 45 minutes later I pull into Taos and look for my hotel, another Super 8. Driving through Taos is interesting. It's very "artsy" and cool and hip. Lots of craft stores, art galleries, pottery stores, and of course the beautiful mountains in which this city lies at the base of. I checked into the hotel and immediately notice the hallways to the rooms are painted red on one side, yellow on the other, with a weird color of orange and brown carpet. I affectionately call the look "Early Mexican Brothel". Thankfully, the rooms are normal with white walls and decent decor.
I had dinner at a restaurant about a mile from the hotel called El Taoseno, as recommended by a friend. Although it sounds like a Mexican restaurant, and they indeed did have Mexican food, they also had chicken fried steak, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. I had the hamburger steak with onions and gravy, corn, mashed potatoes, and a side salad. Very delicious, and inexpensive. My kinda place! I'm meeting a new friend I met on Facebook at the same place tomorrow morning for breakfast, then we're going for a hike and doing some looking around. My new friend is from Houston, and he and his wife retired to Taos, and has the same outlook on politics as I do, so the conversation should be fun. We've never met in person, but I look forward to doing so, and meeting his dog Buddy of which he posts daily updates as to Buddy's daily hikes and romps in the river.
If I'm lucky, I'll become a FOB.....Friend of Buddy.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
Day 2 - Saturday, September 26
These are the kinds of days I really enjoy while on vacation. We slept in and didn't have to get up for anything. No schedule, no destination, just relaxing. You don't realize how busy, crazy and hectic your everyday life is until you can take a step back and wind down like we did this morning.
We gathered in the living room and chatted for over an hour catching up on friends, family, and generally solved the world's problems until we got hungry. Time for a late breakfast/lunch! After showering we headed to a neat bistro called Sassafras in Downtown Denver. It must be good as we had to wait about 45 minutes to get a table. We sat in the upstairs waiting area playing Scrabble until called. This place specializes in southern cooking, and found out the owner/chef was from Morgan City, Louisiana. We were served fresh made biscuits with homemade mixed berry jam to start with, and I ordered the fried catfish lunch. The fish was a bit greasy but good, and the cole slaw was delicious and had a nice kick to it. A little later I realized eating fried food as the first meal of the day isn't a good idea, especially since I rarely eat fried anything. My tummy was a bit upset but it soon passed and I was fine. This establishment is near the state Capitol and it made for interesting people watching. Lots of street people walking around mixed in with young hipsters and old hippies, and about everything in between.
After lunch we again headed back to Christopher and Rob's new house under construction to check the progress, and everything was on track. Afterwards we went back to the apartment and ended up napping a while, as one does while on vacation.
We got up and decided to go ride the new light rail line out to Golden, Colorado. It was a long trip, and honestly I got a little bored, but I thanked the guys for indulging me in getting my rail fix for the day. On the way out to Golden we stopped at the newly revamped Union Station in Downtown Denver, and it is spectacular! When I last saw it two years ago they were just starting the reconstruction of the area and all the tracks were gone and it was just a big hole and dirt everywhere in back off the depot. Also, if you went inside the station it was barren and mostly unused except for the Amtrak ticket counter. Not now! There are new canopies over new tracks, a new hotel and bar inside, gift shops, and even a live jazz band playing inside. The place was bustling with lots of people looking around, enjoying beverages at the bar while listening to music, shopping in the little boutiques lining the inside walls, and it was just a real hip hang out for everyone, and it was satisfying to see people coming here and taking advantage of this beautiful place. Well done, Denver!
We got back to the car after the long Golden trip and decided to get Vietnamese food for dinner, so we headed to an area called Centennial, Colorado and stopped at Pho95. The service was excellent, and so was the food. We had an appetizer of spring rolls, and I enjoyed a big bowl of Pho. Christopher and Rob had rice bowls which looked yummy. The restaurant is located in an open concept shopping area that seems to be the trend across the country. Lots of bars, restaurants, shops, and apartments, all in the same area. We walked into the Whole Foods Market to look around and soon discovered what I had heard for years...this place is expensive! If you don't mind paying $6 for a loaf of bread and $12 for mini-desserts, this is the place for you. It's definitely not MY kind of place, but it was nice to finally see the store.
Afterwards, we headed back to the apartment and watched some TV and talked a bit.
Not an overly exciting day, but like I said earlier, it's nice to just relax and do next to nothing. I head south to Canon City, Colorado tomorrow, which is only about two and a half hours from Denver, so I have no plans to leave early. I'll be riding the Royal Gorge train Monday morning and then heading into New Mexico for the remainder of my vacation. Details on those plans will be forthcoming.
See ya tomorrow!
Day 2 - Saturday, September 26
These are the kinds of days I really enjoy while on vacation. We slept in and didn't have to get up for anything. No schedule, no destination, just relaxing. You don't realize how busy, crazy and hectic your everyday life is until you can take a step back and wind down like we did this morning.
We gathered in the living room and chatted for over an hour catching up on friends, family, and generally solved the world's problems until we got hungry. Time for a late breakfast/lunch! After showering we headed to a neat bistro called Sassafras in Downtown Denver. It must be good as we had to wait about 45 minutes to get a table. We sat in the upstairs waiting area playing Scrabble until called. This place specializes in southern cooking, and found out the owner/chef was from Morgan City, Louisiana. We were served fresh made biscuits with homemade mixed berry jam to start with, and I ordered the fried catfish lunch. The fish was a bit greasy but good, and the cole slaw was delicious and had a nice kick to it. A little later I realized eating fried food as the first meal of the day isn't a good idea, especially since I rarely eat fried anything. My tummy was a bit upset but it soon passed and I was fine. This establishment is near the state Capitol and it made for interesting people watching. Lots of street people walking around mixed in with young hipsters and old hippies, and about everything in between.
After lunch we again headed back to Christopher and Rob's new house under construction to check the progress, and everything was on track. Afterwards we went back to the apartment and ended up napping a while, as one does while on vacation.
We got up and decided to go ride the new light rail line out to Golden, Colorado. It was a long trip, and honestly I got a little bored, but I thanked the guys for indulging me in getting my rail fix for the day. On the way out to Golden we stopped at the newly revamped Union Station in Downtown Denver, and it is spectacular! When I last saw it two years ago they were just starting the reconstruction of the area and all the tracks were gone and it was just a big hole and dirt everywhere in back off the depot. Also, if you went inside the station it was barren and mostly unused except for the Amtrak ticket counter. Not now! There are new canopies over new tracks, a new hotel and bar inside, gift shops, and even a live jazz band playing inside. The place was bustling with lots of people looking around, enjoying beverages at the bar while listening to music, shopping in the little boutiques lining the inside walls, and it was just a real hip hang out for everyone, and it was satisfying to see people coming here and taking advantage of this beautiful place. Well done, Denver!
We got back to the car after the long Golden trip and decided to get Vietnamese food for dinner, so we headed to an area called Centennial, Colorado and stopped at Pho95. The service was excellent, and so was the food. We had an appetizer of spring rolls, and I enjoyed a big bowl of Pho. Christopher and Rob had rice bowls which looked yummy. The restaurant is located in an open concept shopping area that seems to be the trend across the country. Lots of bars, restaurants, shops, and apartments, all in the same area. We walked into the Whole Foods Market to look around and soon discovered what I had heard for years...this place is expensive! If you don't mind paying $6 for a loaf of bread and $12 for mini-desserts, this is the place for you. It's definitely not MY kind of place, but it was nice to finally see the store.
Afterwards, we headed back to the apartment and watched some TV and talked a bit.
Not an overly exciting day, but like I said earlier, it's nice to just relax and do next to nothing. I head south to Canon City, Colorado tomorrow, which is only about two and a half hours from Denver, so I have no plans to leave early. I'll be riding the Royal Gorge train Monday morning and then heading into New Mexico for the remainder of my vacation. Details on those plans will be forthcoming.
See ya tomorrow!
Friday, September 25, 2015
Colorado/New Mexico Vacation - 2015
This latest adventure is my somewhat-annual trip to Colorado and New Mexico to catch up with old friends, with the possibility of meeting new ones. I start in Denver and work my way south to various destinations. Some are for sightseeing, others are for riding trains, which is no surprise to anyone that knows me. Although I love Houston and my job, it's becoming more and more necessary for me to escape to remote destinations...ones I've been to before, as well as news ones I hope to encounter. It's been a tough year with the passing of my mom, but it's also been a wonderful year for many reasons. Life, with it's changes, adventures and unknowns, continue to excite me and maintain my positive outlook on the world around me.
With that being said, and my already missing Lawrence and our dog Desiree, let the adventure begin:
Day 1 - Friday, September 25th
11:45 am - Here I sit at the terminal at Hobby Airport waiting for my flight to board for Denver. I got up early and packed some warm clothes as it's getting into the 30's where I'm heading, and got all my camera gear packed as well. Thanks to my friends and co-workers at the police department's helicopter division here at the airport, I was able to park my car there and get a ride to the terminal. In a police car. Why not arrive in style! At least I didn't have to ride in the backseat, but my luggage did.
I got through security in no time and then stopped for some lunch. Eating at the airport is like eating at a ballpark...two tacos with rice and a drink...$20. Being a captive audience is definitely to their advantage.
I was number 39 to board the plane, which is wonderful for seat selection. It costs a few bucks more, but it's worth it. I got my aisle seat, and pretty soon a nice young lady arrives with her 2-year-old to sit next to me. This will possibly turn into the 2-hour Screaming Baby Express pretty quickly. I might slip the child a Dramamine in her sippy cup.
If I have any sanity left when I arrive in Denver in two hours, it will be a good thing. Doors are closing...gotta go.
1:45pm (Mountain Time) - A smooth flight, and right on time into Denver. Surprisingly, the 2-year-old was very quiet, other than the usual banter with her mother concerning a banana and Mickey Mouse, and some cute singing. No screaming, at least not from her. A few rows up it was a different story. Although they were a few rows up, it's still ear shattering whilst inside a metal tube. I should have just started chunking Dramamine up there. Anonymously, of course.
The weather in Denver is amazing as always. Sunny and mid-70's with low humidity. It's a little hazy making it difficult to see the Rocky Mountains, but I know they're there. It's supposed to be around 50 degrees tonight. Awesome!
I'm on the shuttle to the rental car lot. Let's see if the Bentley (Toyota or equivalent) is ready for me.
3:45pm - It took over an hour to get through the line at the rental car place. Their computers were messed up and there were a lot of irritated customers, understandably. I wasn't one of them. I understand these things happen, and I felt sorry for the employees. Besides, I do the same thing at my job, and now I'm on vacation and not in any hurry, so I'm chillin'. As for the car, I got a bright red Hyundai Elantra. It has 4800 miles on it, rides like a rock, is ergonomically uncomfortable, and has the pickup of a turtle. I now remember why I have driven Hondas for 30+ years, and I miss mine already.
I'm staying the next two nights with my newly-married friends Christopher and Rob here in Denver. I'm waiting for Christopher at the subdivision where they are building a new house, then we'll head to their apartment and settle in. I have no idea what plans we have for dinner tonight, but I know a good German restaurant close by in Aurora. There are no good German restaurants in Houston, so I've been craving it! I'll try and convince them.
8:30pm - We actually did try to go to Helga's for German food, but it was Octoberfest, and the wait was long. We decided to go to a close-by Greek restaurant instead and it was quite good. We'll try Helga's for lunch tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow....I have no idea what the plans are, but since I'm on vacation, I don't really care. I just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful, low humidity weather and the view of the mountains.
This latest adventure is my somewhat-annual trip to Colorado and New Mexico to catch up with old friends, with the possibility of meeting new ones. I start in Denver and work my way south to various destinations. Some are for sightseeing, others are for riding trains, which is no surprise to anyone that knows me. Although I love Houston and my job, it's becoming more and more necessary for me to escape to remote destinations...ones I've been to before, as well as news ones I hope to encounter. It's been a tough year with the passing of my mom, but it's also been a wonderful year for many reasons. Life, with it's changes, adventures and unknowns, continue to excite me and maintain my positive outlook on the world around me.
With that being said, and my already missing Lawrence and our dog Desiree, let the adventure begin:
Day 1 - Friday, September 25th
11:45 am - Here I sit at the terminal at Hobby Airport waiting for my flight to board for Denver. I got up early and packed some warm clothes as it's getting into the 30's where I'm heading, and got all my camera gear packed as well. Thanks to my friends and co-workers at the police department's helicopter division here at the airport, I was able to park my car there and get a ride to the terminal. In a police car. Why not arrive in style! At least I didn't have to ride in the backseat, but my luggage did.
I got through security in no time and then stopped for some lunch. Eating at the airport is like eating at a ballpark...two tacos with rice and a drink...$20. Being a captive audience is definitely to their advantage.
I was number 39 to board the plane, which is wonderful for seat selection. It costs a few bucks more, but it's worth it. I got my aisle seat, and pretty soon a nice young lady arrives with her 2-year-old to sit next to me. This will possibly turn into the 2-hour Screaming Baby Express pretty quickly. I might slip the child a Dramamine in her sippy cup.
If I have any sanity left when I arrive in Denver in two hours, it will be a good thing. Doors are closing...gotta go.
1:45pm (Mountain Time) - A smooth flight, and right on time into Denver. Surprisingly, the 2-year-old was very quiet, other than the usual banter with her mother concerning a banana and Mickey Mouse, and some cute singing. No screaming, at least not from her. A few rows up it was a different story. Although they were a few rows up, it's still ear shattering whilst inside a metal tube. I should have just started chunking Dramamine up there. Anonymously, of course.
The weather in Denver is amazing as always. Sunny and mid-70's with low humidity. It's a little hazy making it difficult to see the Rocky Mountains, but I know they're there. It's supposed to be around 50 degrees tonight. Awesome!
I'm on the shuttle to the rental car lot. Let's see if the Bentley (Toyota or equivalent) is ready for me.
3:45pm - It took over an hour to get through the line at the rental car place. Their computers were messed up and there were a lot of irritated customers, understandably. I wasn't one of them. I understand these things happen, and I felt sorry for the employees. Besides, I do the same thing at my job, and now I'm on vacation and not in any hurry, so I'm chillin'. As for the car, I got a bright red Hyundai Elantra. It has 4800 miles on it, rides like a rock, is ergonomically uncomfortable, and has the pickup of a turtle. I now remember why I have driven Hondas for 30+ years, and I miss mine already.
I'm staying the next two nights with my newly-married friends Christopher and Rob here in Denver. I'm waiting for Christopher at the subdivision where they are building a new house, then we'll head to their apartment and settle in. I have no idea what plans we have for dinner tonight, but I know a good German restaurant close by in Aurora. There are no good German restaurants in Houston, so I've been craving it! I'll try and convince them.
8:30pm - We actually did try to go to Helga's for German food, but it was Octoberfest, and the wait was long. We decided to go to a close-by Greek restaurant instead and it was quite good. We'll try Helga's for lunch tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow....I have no idea what the plans are, but since I'm on vacation, I don't really care. I just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful, low humidity weather and the view of the mountains.
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