Today felt like two different days. As Charlaine & Jonni flew out last night, today it was Carol, David, Tom and me. We had a half of the day to do whatever we wanted, and we decided on going out for lunch.
The sky was overcast when we got to the Central Park station.
The venue we chose was downtown and the guys decided the best way to get there was a ride on the light rail. Yay! I love trying out the light rail of different cities. They're always so much nicer than the one in Sacramento. Ask me why, I dare you!
Loved the wildlife motif on the station's glass shelters.
Tom bought our light rail passes from the Central Park station kiosk.
The station looked all fancy & up to date
David showed Carol & I our route
The ride was nice & comfy
Our destination in downtown Denver looked like it was planned by NASA and...
The station is right next to the Crawford Hotel, so no cab or Uber necessary.
The Crawford seemed like a Dr Who box - the inside bigger than the outside
Our lunchtime goal was the Ultriea, a Spanish Restaurant located at the hotel. We found it, got seated and went nuts with all the items on the packed menu - it all sounded so delish - and it was!
The menu was interesting - you could choose a fish (on the left) then you could decide how you would like it prepared & served.
Aw shucks, I'm just going to have to torture you here with a little food porn.
Yum... He Chowder
I started with a cup of 'He Chowder'. Have wanted to try 'He Chowder' ever since reading Chesapeake eons years ago.
For the main zinger, I had the wild caught shrimp served up fish & chips style. Chips are always a treat. Carol, across from me got the same.
Oh yeah bay-bay - shrimp!
Dave and Tom got their's Po' Boy style. Looked just as tasty as what Carol & I ordered.
Po' Boy, um... with fried oysters I think
And Po' Boy ala uh... cod?
Swedish Fishies
And I was intrigued by the Swedish fishies, as red at David's shirt, were freebees at our meal's end. Um.. they weren't really seafood, but then again...
Lovely meal for the four of us. David and Tom treated Carol and myself. Thanks D & T! You gentlemen are always the epitome of kindness.
When we were all nicely stuffed, we took a little tour of the hotel and its many little shops and such.
Had to check out the book store
Denver scene mural
There was an intriguing apothecary in the coffee shop of all places
Beautiful espresso machine
Don't bother looking for Waldo, just spot Carol and Tom
It was a wonderful afternoon for us all. It was sad saying goodbye to David, Tom and Carol and yet ironically joyfull to find myself enroute to Estes Park for a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. Weee!
Zipping past & through Boulder Colorado enroute to Estes Park
William of the Rockies
This is my forth visit to Rocky Mountain NP which surprises me as I had once thought I would never be lucky enough to see it. My last visit was only last November with William.
We stayed at a complex of condos through AirBnB. For this trip on my own, I also went AirBnB simply because it was the only place I could find that wasn't $200 plus/night. I was, as per usual, a bit nervous about where I'd find myself but I really lucked out yet again. I got a cute single building flat with a punch key entry by a tiny garden.
It even had a doggie bungaloo - in case I had a doggie
The inside was totally darling. There were 2 rooms, the main room was bedroom, dining room, kitchen ( the cubbie with microwave, fridge, utensils and such) and lying in bed you face a big ole TV with cable.
The bed needed that step ladder it was high up
The second room is the bathroom which is actually larger than the main room.
Settled into my Rocky Mountain Flat, I was off again for some shopping at the now, quite familiar to me, Safeway in downtown Estes Park I got all my breakfasts, snacks, ground coffee & such for the next few days. I'm glad I added this side trip to the wonderful Denver Pop-up Reunion. I am already missing my cousins.
It was wonderful waking up in the little house on a meadow. We were all a bit down knowing our Pop-up Reunion as nearing its end. For one thing, the gourmet meals Dave & Tom prepared for us were down to only one or two more luscious meals. Yet, being out in the sticks meant there was still time for a surprise or three. Early bird Charlaine saw something out the window, and you'll see it too at the end of this post.
The view from Berthoud Pass
Departure at hand, I think we all enjoyed getting into the departing ceremony that is stripping our beds, getting the sheets and stuff into the laundry and such. We did get to enjoy yet another gourmet breakfast (thanks D & T!) and I even managed some more time on the front porch getting in some last minute views of the local feathered folk.
Then we all headed out for Denver. Along the way we stopped at (you only get one guess) Berthoud Pass (you were right!) here we admired the view. Got a traveler to take our group photo for us (nice job, whoever you are!).
Headed Home!
Rocky Mountain Parnassian Butterfly
And took a little time to admire some of the tinier wildlife there.
Dave and Tom's former home
Back in Denver we went out to lunch as a v. nice local restaurant. I could show you photos of what we ate, but you'd get all hungry and would drool all over your keyboard. After eating we took another spin around Denver, during which we got to see D&T's former home - v. sweet!
The afternoon back at David and Tom's Denver home, was chatty & busy as Charlaine and Jonni got their stuff ready for their flight back to San Diego. All of us accompanied them to the airport.
View down from walkway
Down the escalator
Candid shot of departing Charlaine & Jonni from afar
I totally love every opportunity to visit the Denver airport. Since it was built around 1995, it has been the focus of a zillion conspiracies, involving such things as world order underground bunkers complete with ET restrooms and illuminati art murals. Sadly for she-who-enjoys-checking-out-spooky-shite-for-fun, the airport is currently undergoing remodeling (to hide the aliens? To make things more comfortable for the illuminati whateverthehell that is?). Even without all the conspiracy theories surround the airport, it always fun visiting a world class airport.
Although there was nothing of note inside the airport, we did get to see the Blue Mustang - a fiberglass artwork on the road by the airport. The crook-legged, fiberglass beastie is locally known as Blu-cifer, not only for its blue color but for its glaring, fire red eyes.
Beware Blucifer! Bwah, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Also on the way home from the airport, we got to see the blue glowing wall that treads the route to the airport. It is supposed to be an artistic take on a snow fence. It has various advertisements on some segments so it welcomes visitors and sells stuff.
Are you spooked? No? Ok, how about a almost-spooky sunrise parade composed of fuzzy ghostly white four-legged creatures, accompanied by strange canid herders and their human overlords? OK, maybe these were actually floofy critters on the hoof, under supervision of hard working dogs, and a few gen-u-wine cowboys. They are what Charlaine saw out the window early this morning. The first segment of the video is filmed through a window, but hang on and it gets clearer shortly thereafter. Enjoy this short 3 min. vid.
Before to our arrival in Denver, cousin-in-law Tom told us that his Aunt Judy was throwing a Bridge Party in honor of the Carter Cousins. My cousins enthusiastically looked on YouTube for info on 'how-to-play bridge'. One bought bridge scoring cards and other Bridge paraphernalia.
Me? I just laughed because I knew! HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!
You see, here's the thing...
The cute little creek
Judy you see, has a cute little creek that runs through her ranch. There is an equally cute little wooden bridge that runs over the little river. And lastly, on said wooden bridge, parties are occasionally given, and they are all called... Bridge Parties! No playing cards necessary because when Aunt Judy throws a Bridge Party, she means a Party on her bridge!
When my cousins and I arrived at Judy's Ranch for the bridge party, things were just getting set up. David and Tom hauled chairs, tables and stuff onto the bridge, and they brought some food for the feast too.
Judy added the finishing touches to jazz up the place for all of her guests.
Lighting the lanterns
Guests arrived and milled about. There were people to introduce ourselves to, and doggies to pet.
Then, Judy told us there was to be lassoing lessons! She proceeded to demo how to swing a lasso and throw it. She really is a genuine Cowgirl!
Judy, on the left, swinging a lasso
The Faux Cow
The kids were up first, swinging lassos and having a go at roping our patient, motionless Faux Cow.
The cute thing was that Judy set up the lasso lessons for the kids. Uh, yeah, I can see that. What Judy did not suspect however is her adult guests were just as excited for a roping lesson as the kiddos. So everyone got a shot at ropin'. Carol and Tom got their Yippy Ki-yays on!
The video at the end of this post is chock full of everyone having a shot at catching that wayward hay bale moo-cow.
After the roping lessons it was time to put on the feed bags and enjoy the wonderful feast. Ummm...
When the chowing down was over, we actually lifted our heads and admired how the last sunlight of the day danced on the cliffs surrounding us.
So purdy...
Then everyone relaxed, chatting and enjoying the twilight. I was checking the sky for bats. As the sun waned, it was time for the bridge lights were lit - thoroughly enchanting.
Carol showing off her back scratcher
I almost forgot. Judy gave us Carter girls gifts. At the end of the table below you can see Carol holding up a white crescent - it is a back scratcher, made from the rib of a range cow! There is a cute story on the rib, which was a whimsy of an idea that occured to Judy and some friends of hers. They sell the unique back scratchers as a fund raiser for the Routt County Cattle Women.
Soon it was really dark on the enchanted bridge.
My best shot of the moon, and a few planets... which? Um...
We did a little sky watching. This was a special night, not only for the Bridge Party, but up in the heavens, the planets were aligning. Using a iPhone star map app, we could clearly see what was overhead: Mars was red, Saturn, Uranus and Jupiter was the largest of all. Only Venus was hiding from us below the horizon.
OK, you've been good so here below is a short video of the Bridge Party. It is fairly long for one of my videos, just over 9 minutes. But it shows the creek that has the pictographs above, some lively roping lessons, the dinner party was on. Listen at the end for Charlaine telling how she and the cousins prepared for the Bridge Party when all thought this gig involved playing cards.
