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Colorado Family Memories
  • Two to Travel
Nov 2019 – Feb 2020

Colorado Family Memories

A 108-day adventure by Two to Travel Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 11, 2019
  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Red rocks and blue skies ... beautiful. Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.Can you find the Kissing Camels? Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.Wonder Woman Aylin holding up balanced rock @ Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.Always nice to see Pikes Peak when we visit Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.Pikes Peak framed by the Julie Penrose Fountain. America the Beautiful Park — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Peek @ GotG

    November 17, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 50 °F

    A week ago today we disembarked Nieuw Statendam, changing states from Florida to Atlanta to Colorado that afternoon. It’s been a quiet week since then. Not by choice. Mom contracted an upper respiratory virus the day before we disembarked … as well as conjunctivitis. She’s slowly getting better but has been pretty miserable since we came home.

    Having been mostly stuck at home for a week, we were all ready for a change of pace ... a breath of fresh air. Even if it was a short one. So, this morning we took advantage of blue skies and sunshine to take a car ride. Though the high temp was only up to 53F, it felt much warmer in the sun … warm enough to go out and about without a heavy jacket.

    First, we went to the Garden of the Gods — the GotG in the title of this footprint. Of course, this place of red rocks is best enjoyed by hiking the trails, but that was not on the agenda today. We drove around a bit, made a few quick stops for photo ops, and moved on to another spot we wanted to show mom and Aylin.

    Mui and I found the America the Beautiful Park purely by chance when we were in Colorado Springs in 2018. A great big circle in a wide-open greenspace — visible from the highway — caught our eye and piqued our curiosity. Turns out the circle is part of a fountain installation and it frames Pikes Peak if you walk far enough away at the right angle. The park also has a memorial to the poet who wrote the song, "America the Beautiful.”

    We wrapped up our brief get-some-fresh-air outing at one of our favorite casual eateries in Colorado Springs — Il Vicino. Tasty Italian food.

    Not sure when we will go out again as it depends on how mom is feeling. In any event, I hope to have some fun things to report in the days and weeks ahead.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Entrance to Mountain Elevator (L) and 1858 (R) — Seven Falls, Colorado Springs, CO.
    Memory shot of Seven Falls (horrible light) — Colorado, Springs, CO.Making family memories at Seven Falls — Colorado, Springs, CO.Making family memories at Seven Falls — Colorado, Springs, CO.Aylin heading up to the Bridal Veil Falls overlook @ Seven Falls — Colorado, Springs, CO.Bridal Veil Falls @ Seven Falls — Colorado, Springs, CO.Looking down to the base of Seven Falls — Colorado, Springs, CO.Three Ladies at Seven Falls — Colorado, Springs, CO.Mom enjoying her Goldbrick Sundae @ 1858 ... Seven Falls — Colorado, Springs, CO.Aylin warming up with a cup of hot chocolate @ 1858 ... Seven Falls — Colorado, Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Seven Falls

    November 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    While we've not been sightseeing this past week, we have been out of the house quite a bit with mom and Aylin. Mostly shopping to decorate the house for the holidays. We also went to a performance by the Seven Falls Indian Dancers ... at one of our local libraries. These activities were bookended by snowstorms ... one not worth mentioning; the other one dropping over three inches earlier this week.

    With most of the snow gone by yesterday, we decided to take advantage of the better weather today to go to Seven Falls for a bit of sightseeing and lunch.

    The first time Mui and I went to Seven Falls was years ago. I recollect that we stopped to visit The Broadmoor and Seven Falls on our cross-country drive from Salt Lake City to DC in 1991. Back then we were able to drive right into the park. Not so this time. Not sure how recent the change is, but this time we had to park near the Penrose Event Center and take the shuttle (~10-minute drive) included in the admission to Seven Falls. Don’t recall paying admission back in 1991 either. But things change. Or it could just be my memory is faulty after so many years.

    Although it was quite comfortable in the sun, it was downright nippy otherwise. Since the tall cliffs on either side of the canyon left the .8-mile road up to the falls in the shade, we decided to forego walking "Colorado's grandest mile of scenery." Instead, we took the miniature-train up. The train is $2pp but is included in the senior admission … for which all but Aylin qualified.

    At the top, we had two options to get to Eagle’s Nest, the observation terrace … stairs or the mountain elevator. We opted for the latter since the stairs were in the shade and, of course, mom would not have been able to negotiate them.

    The observation terrace was in the sun, so we took our time, enjoying the views of the canyon and the falls. The downside was our timing … the falls were in the shade, with the sun behind them. Less than ideal for photography. It being winter, there wasn’t much water flowing over the different tiers of the falls … a lot of it frozen. It definitely would be better in the spring.

    Next, we made our way to the base of the falls. Leaving mom to rest in the pavilion, Aylin, Mui and I hiked partway up the 224-step staircase to the overlook from which we could look down on tiers four through seven ... and look up at Bridal Veil Falls … the third tier.

    When we rejoined mom, we walked the short distance to 1858 … the restaurant at the base of the falls. The place is named for the year in which gold was discovered in the Colorado Territory. The menu had a limited selection of items … but we all enjoyed the food we ordered. Because the portions were small we were comfortably sated … with enough room in our tummies for dessert. Aylin and I opted for the gourmet hot chocolate … a little too watery. Mom ordered the goldbrick sundae … made with vanilla ice cream and a mix of chocolate and caramel sauces. Yummmy!

    It was downright freezing on the shuttle train back down to the park gate. Luckily, once we arrived, we did not have to wait long for the shuttle bus back to the parking lot. A good thing we have remote access to our thermostat. It felt good to walk into a warm house.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Scenes from the Great Russian Nutcracker — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Program for the Great Russian Nutcracker — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Great Russian Nutcracker

    November 27, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    This footprint doesn't really qualify as a day trip. However, it is one of the things we did here in Colorado Springs with mom and Aylin, so I think it is apropos.

    Following a snowstorm that left the roads icy — but navigable — we went to the Ent Center for the Arts at the UCCS campus tonight. The performance was staged by the Moscow Ballet and included young dancers from the local area ... part of the Moscow Ballet's Community Engagement Programs Across the Country.

    We enjoyed the performance very much ... but could have done without the cold air blowing on us from the ventilation system above us. Good thing we had cold weather gear with us or we would not have lasted through the performance.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    The cook says the turkey's done — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Let's eat — Colorado, CO.The table is set and awaiting our Thanksgiving guests — Colorado, CO.Beautiful floral arrangement from Helen and Greg — Colorado, CO.

    CoSprings: First Thanksgiving

    November 28, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 30 °F

    We were lucky enough today to celebrate our first Thanksgiving in our new home with mom and Aylin; old friends Sonia and Boris; and new friends Greg and Helen. Alas, except for a few photos I took before our guests arrived, I have nothing to show for our evening. Not that photos really matter ... it's the memories that count. We sure made some great ones tonight.Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Sangria in the glasses ... starting off with the Caprese skewers — TAPAteria, Old Colorado City, CO.
    Yummy tapas dinner @ TAPAteria — Old Colorado City, CO.

    Old Colorado City: Stroll & Dinner

    November 30, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 34 °F

    A news piece on one of the local TV channels encouraged us to visit Old Colorado City this evening … to see the Christmas lights, listen to carolers strolling around town, and check-out the small businesses that line the main drag on either side.

    We did all that … but it was darned cold with a light breeze adding to the chill factor. I guess that’s the downside of Christmas in December. The lights are best enjoyed after nightfall … and by that time the temps dip considerably. With no sun to mitigate the chill, it gets very cold ... very quickly. Popping into shops — we didn’t buy anything — afforded us brief respites from the cold … enough to keep us going until dinner time.

    (I can hear friends who live in warm climates saying that we could enjoy Christmas cheer in their states and not be cold. But that would mean dealing with hot temps — and sometimes humidity — other times during the year. I think we’ll stick with Colorado.)

    Mui had called ahead to our favorite tapas place in OCC — TAPAteria — for 7:30p dinner reservations, requesting one of the two tables in the nooks by the front-facing windows. Noting the limited holiday lights and the cold temps, however, we changed that reservation to 6:30p. And actually ended up going to the restaurant even earlier. The manager was able to accommodate us … as long as we were willing to give up the window table. We were … and, as it turns out, that was good as the nooks near the windows were quite chilly.

    We've been to TAPAteria several times. Since we were familiar with the menu, we took it upon ourselves to order tapas dishes for the four of us to share … consulting with mom and Aylin as to their preferences. A carafe of blood orange sangria was at the top of our order. For tapas, we opted for the white bean hummus, jamon-wrapped dates, pan con tomate, grilled gambas, Caprese skewers, verduras tower, and albondigas. Comfortably sated, we split two desserts to wrap up our meal — crema Catalana and cedar plank smore … really liked the first one, and while the smore was good, I would not order it again.

    All in all, a fun outing ... despite the cold evening temperature.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Welcome to ICE! @ Gaylord — Aurora, CO.
    This year's ICE! theme features Rudolph and his friends — Gaylord ... Aurora, CO.Aylin does the best job coming down the ice slide — Gaylord ... Aurora, CO.Mom's all set to give out gifts with Santa — Gaylord ... Aurora, CO.Nativity ... yes, it's all sculpted from ice — Gaylord ... Aurora, CO.Festive decor inside the resort — Gaylord ... Aurora, CO.Love the reflection ... double the pleasure — Gaylord ... Aurora, CO.The festive atmosphere continues outside — Gaylord ... Aurora, CO.Holiday cheer — Gaylord ... Aurora, CO.Bronze horses running through a field of lights — Gaylord ... Aurora, CO.

    Aurora: Holiday Cheer @ Gaylord

    December 2, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F

    The Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center offers quite a few activities during the holidays. There was a Cirque de Soleil style show that I thought might be interesting, but the timing didn’t work out. So I pre-purchased tickets for ICE! ... featuring the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This ice-sculpture exhibit consists of characters carved by Chinese artisans … from millions of pounds of colored ice. As well, there was an elaborate nativity scene carved using clear ice.

    We really enjoyed wandering around the sculptures, and some of us braved the ice slide. I had read that the attraction was kept at a chilly 9F, so we bundled up so as not to have to use the heavy parkas they hand out at Gaylord. Turns out that the parkas were not optional. That actually was a good thing as we definitely needed the extra warmth the parkas provided ... over our own heavy layers.

    After leaving Rudolph and his friends, we went for a wander around the resort — first inside … and then outside. I loved the holiday decorations at the indoor-pond … especially since the water reflected the Christmas tree. I think the photo I took of that scene will make for a nice e-card for Christmas.

    Nightfall brought out the beauty of the lights outdoors. While it was chilly, it wasn’t unbearably cold and we enjoyed strolling the path that wound through the lit up trees. Perfect holiday cheer. And even better ... there were few people out and about so it was rather peaceful with Christmas carols as background music.

    We debated eating at the resort, but decided to go to one of the restaurants in Centennial. More choices … and it would serve to break up the drive from Aurora back to Colorado Springs. We ended up at Seasons 52 and had a nice meal to wrap up our evening out.

    For more holiday cheer, click this link to visit my online gallery — https://eenusa.smugmug.com/North-America-US-Can…    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    The landscape reminds me of Kapadokya's fairy chimneys — Paint Mines in Calhan, CO.
    A bit of orange is evident in some of the clay formations — Paint Mines in Calhan, CO.Paint Mines — Calhan, CO.Collage of photos showing what we missed today @ the Paint Mines — Calhan, CO.

    Calhan: Paint Mines Interpretive Park

    December 3, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    Another beautiful blue-sky and sunshine day in Colorado Springs. Of course, we had to take advantage of it. I had a destination in mind — the Paint Mines Interpretive Park in Calhan … about 30 miles from the house. The area is so named for the colorful clays that American Indians at one time collected to make paint.

    I was concerned that this outing might require more hiking than mom is capable of doing, but we decided to at least check it out. Unfortunately, I was right. The most colorful sites at this unique open space in El Paso County require getting deeper into the park.

    We got a short ways up the trail where, finding a bench, Mui and mom sat down to wait while Aylin and I continued on. We didn’t get far either. It quickly became apparent that we’d have to leave mom and Mui waiting too long. Add to that the fact that the melting snow had left much of the dirt trail muddy. We decided it was smarter to just call it quits today. Mui and I will visit the park another time ... after we return from Europe next year.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    9News Parade of Lights — Denver, CO.
    Major Waddles makes an appearance ... 9News Parade of Lights — Denver, CO9News Parade of Lights — Denver, CO.9News Parade of Lights — Denver, CO.9News Parade of Lights — Denver, CO.1Bouncing cars are a crowd favorite ... 9News Parade of Lights — Denver, CO.1City & County Building light show — Denver, CO.The 16th Street Mall holiday cheer — Denver, CO.1Everyone vying for a bite of someone else's dessert — Denver, CO.Snowfall art installation on the Clock Tower — Denver, CO.

    Denver: Parade of Lights

    December 7, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    Another evening outing to enjoy holiday cheer ... this time in downtown Denver.

    Having driven up from Colorado Springs early enough to have dinner first, we found a parking spot not far from the stands where I had purchased seating for the 9News Parade of Lights. That done, we walked to The Pavilions ... a good place to get a bite to eat. Or so we thought. Alas, we were out of luck … long waiting lines at every restaurant. So, we continued on to the pedestrian-friendly 16th Street Mall. Here we easily found a table at Earl’s Kitchen & Bar. Good timing as the place filled up soon after we were seated.

    Our tummies thus sated, we picked up a few more clothing layers from the car and walked over to Bannock Street. We ended up sitting in the stands for an hour, waiting for the parade to start. But I’m glad we arrived early as we managed to find seats on the very back row of the stands set up in front of the Denver City Hall (aka the City & County Building). The back frame of the stands provided a backrest that made our seats more comfortable. Heavily bundled up, we weren’t overly cold. That said, I’m glad we thought to take blankets with us to spread on the seats as without them we would not have been very comfy.

    The idea to go to the parade was a last-minute one. I was researching something on the internet when I came across a link for this year’s parade, sponsored by 9News. I’m not much of a parade person, but I figured this would be a good holiday activity. None of us knew what to expect. We were all pleasantly surprised by the floats — some of which were quite elaborate. The oversized balloons, while not plentiful, were fun to see and reminiscent of the big parades seen on TV. The crowd favorite was the “bouncing cars.”

    The big surprise of the evening was the light and music show projected onto the façade of the City & County Building just after the parade ended. We enjoyed the spectacle from the stands. Visiting the City & County Building to see the lights was on my list of things to do, so we killed two birds with one “parade stone.”

    Since I had "encouraged" everyone to skip dessert at Earl's, following the parade we returned to the 16th Street Mall for a sweet treat. At the Rialto Café, we checked to see if they could seat us for dessert. The place was packed, but they managed to find us a booth. With each of us ordering a different dessert, we had a "sweet treat orgy."

    After our dessert splurge, we continued up 16th Street towards the Clock Tower. I had walked over there earlier to take a video clip of the “snowfall” art installation on its face and noted the ChristKindl Market nearby… another holiday attraction that was on my list. I thought that after seeing the Christmas markets on last year’s river cruise on the Rhine River, this would be particularly fun. Frankly, it was disappointing. For one thing, it was so packed that checking out the various craft stalls was impossible. For another, it was very small. I’m glad we got to see the ChristKindl Market without making a specific trip to visit it.

    All in all, we had a fun evening with plenty of holiday cheer.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    This is the third Antlers Hotel on this site — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Dazzling lobby ... Antlers Hotel — Colorado Springs, CO.I feel like I'm inside a kaleidoscope ... Antlers Hotel — Colorado Springs, CO.Holiday cheer @ the Antlers Hotel — Colorado Springs, CO.Holiday cheer @ the Antlers Hotel — Colorado Springs, CO.Holiday cheer @ the Antlers Hotel — Colorado Springs, CO.Acacia Park ... Downtown Colorado Springs, CO.Oh no ... no snow to rebuild me! Acacia Park ... Downtown Colorado Springs, CO.Downtown Colorado Springs, CO.Downtown Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Downtown Holiday Cheer

    December 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    Cold day, though the temp was not bad. It was the stiff breeze that made it uncomfortable to be outdoors during the day. Nonetheless, we bundled up and went out after nightfall to add to our "holiday cheer" memories. Luckily, by that time the wind had died down so that we could wander around in reasonable comfort.

    This time we drove into downtown Colorado Springs to check out the lights. We parked near Acacia Park where the Colorado Springs Christmas Tree is located. Strolling through the park, we found the ice skating rink ... which was doing brisk business. With the shops closed on this Sunday night, the streets were quiet.

    We don't make it a habit to go inside a hotel unless we are staying there ... or there is a pressing need to do so 😉 We made an exception in the case of The Antlers, a Wyndham property that is the third one to sit on the site ... the original hotel by that name was built first in 1883 and then again in 1901 after a fire destroyed the first building. The lobby was dazzling, to say the least.

    After leaving The Antlers, we looked for a place that might be open and serving hot chocolate. No luck. I guess Sunday night after dinner is not a good time to be out and about in Colorado Springs on a cold winter night. But we saw what we came to see, so a good outing from our perspective.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Indoor fireplace at the Steakhouse @ Flying Horse — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Outdoor fireplace at the Steakhouse @ Flying Horse — Colorado Springs, CO.Brrrr ... yes, it is a cold night out @ Flying Horse — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Dinner @ Flying Horse

    December 10, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F

    When we moved into our home in March, Classic (the builder) gave us a welcome basket of goodies. Tucked in amongst the goodies was a certificate for dinner at the Steakhouse at Flying Horse.

    Unfortunately, our plan to dine there last spring was derailed when we got hit by a bombogenesis. For those not familiar with the terminology, it's basically a bomb cyclone ... a meteorological term that refers to a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system with blizzard conditions. (Photos at https://eenusa.smugmug.com/COS-Life/BC03-19/.) We didn't have a chance to try for another reservation before we left Colorado in June for our annual overseas trip.

    Fast forward to December. With the dinner certificate nearing its expiration date, we made reservations to go to Flying Horse tonight with mom and Aylin ... definitely more fun than going alone. We had a delightful meal ... with an ambiance that melds the casual with the elegant. Those who had the filet mignon deemed their meat cooked to perfection. Mom enjoyed her ½ lobster tail. And I was well satisfied with the Caprese salad and blue crab cake I cobbled together from the appetizer side of the menu.

    I had hoped to wander around after dinner to enjoy any holiday cheer that we might find on the grounds. But it was just too darn cold!    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Snow clearing in full swing — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Bundled up and ready for a walk in the snow — Colorado Springs, CO.Panorama of the arroyo and the plains beyond — Colorado Springs, CO.Winter wonderland — Colorado Springs, CO.In front (or is that behind) our house — Colorado Springs, CO.The antelope grazing near the house — Colorado Springs, CO.Snow-frosted arroyo — Colorado Springs, CO.Surviving with a snow blanket — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Snow Baby ... Snow

    December 16, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °F

    Since our arrival in Colorado Springs in mid-November, mom and Aylin have been hoping for snow. A lot of it. You see, where they live in İzmir, Turkey, it doesn't snow ... except perhaps for a light frosting on the tippy-top of the nearby mountains. And even that doesn't stay on the ground for long.

    Well, we've had a couple of snow events, but nothing of the magnitude they were hoping for. There was quite a bit of snow at the end of November, but the sidewalks were too icy for us to safely venture out and play in the white stuff. We got lucky the second time around.

    Our second snowstorm since returning home started yesterday afternoon. By this morning there was more than 3" accumulated ... I know because the snow clearing crew showed up before 7:00a. While there was definitely 3"+ in the driveway, no way to really know total accumulation from the storm since the wind blew the white stuff helter-skelter in every direction.

    At least this time the skies cleared quickly and with no ice on the ground, we were able to go out for a stroll to enjoy the wonder of winter.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Antelope from our deck — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Antelope grazing in the arroyo that fronts our house — Colorado Springs, CO.Antelope in the arroyo that fronts our house — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Where the Antelope Play

    December 17, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °F

    "Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roam
    Where the Deer and the Antelope play;
    Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
    And the sky is not cloudy all day."

    No buffalo where we live in Colorado Springs. But we do have antelope that come to visit several times a week ... as they did again today. Most of the time they are grazing ... though we've seen them gamboling on the plains, too.

    No matter how often we spy them, it's always exciting to have the antelope come calling. Especially for mom and Aylin for whom seeing wildlife is a unique experience ... just doesn’t happen in İzmir. Whoever sees the antelope first always alerts the rest of us and we usually step out on our deck to enjoy the sighting. We love seeing wildlife going about their lives.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Crystal Reservoir ... on the way up to Pikes Peak.
    2Aylin and Murat make a travel memory at Crystal Reservoir2Murat, Aylin, and mom make the acquaintance of Big Foot.2Looking back down whence we came up the winding Pikes Peak Highway.1Making family memories.Pikes Peak Highway on the way up to the summit.The photo says it all ... we have arrived at the Summit.1Red rocks add color to the scenery along the Pikes Peak Highway.2A late lunch at TAPAteria in Old Colorado City.

    CoSprings: Pikes Peak

    December 21, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F

    My brother-in-law, Murat, arrived yesterday. He'll be with us until 8 January when he and Aylin will fly back to Turkey. In other words ... a short time here and not a moment to waste.

    Taking advantage of a blue-sky day with plenty of sunshine and warm temps reaching 60F, we headed out to do a bit of sightseeing with my mom, Aylin, and Murat.

    Our initial plan was to visit the Garden of the Gods. But when we found out that the road to the tippy top of Pikes Peak was open, we jiggled our plans. Along the way, we lost the warm temperature forecasted for the lower elevations, but blue skies and sunshine accompanied us all the way up to 14,115 feet. It was well below freezing at the summit, but with no wind to add a chill factor, we were quite comfortable once we were bundled up in our layers.

    Our one disappointment — ongoing construction at the peak where a new Summit Complex is being built blocked certain areas. Unfortunately, that meant that some of the breathtaking views that inspired the writing of "America the Beautiful" were not available for us to enjoy.

    We wrapped up our outing with a delightful tapas lunch at our favorite place in Old Colorado City — TAPAteria.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Always fun to see wildlife roaming about the USAFA grounds — Colorado Springs, Colorado.
    Historic Arkansas Riverwalk — Pueblo, Colorado.Heading to the Brues Alehouse along the Riverwalk — Pueblo, Colorado.The Veteran's Bridge honors all members of the US Armed Forces — Pueblo, Colorado.Veteran's Bridge and the holiday lights at the Riverwalk — Pueblo, Colorado.Historic Arkansas Riverwalk holiday lights — Pueblo, Colorado.Historic Arkansas Riverwalk holiday lights — Pueblo, Colorado.Historic Arkansas Riverwalk holiday lights — Pueblo, Colorado.Holiday display at the Pueblo Union Depot — Pueblo, Colorado.Christmas cheer inside the Pueblo Union Depot — Pueblo, Colorado.

    From USAFA to Pueblo

    December 22, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 39 °F

    Poor Garden of the Gods. Once again we planned to take our visitors there. Once again we changed our minds. This time because the skies were mostly cloudy and the light was dull. You really do need blue skies to enhance the beauty of the red rocks of this amazing natural area.

    Instead, we headed out after lunch to give mom, Aylin, and Murat a tour of the US Air Force Academy grounds. We spent some time at the Visitor Center from where we were going to take the trail to see the Academy Chapel. We knew the building itself was closed due to ongoing restoration work, but did not anticipate that the trail would be off limits as well. Oh well! At least the deer that we always see around the USAFA grounds made an appearance before we left.

    The second part of our day’s plans went as anticipated — a drive down to Pueblo to stroll along the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk. It was after 3:00p when we arrived to find the city all but deserted ... quite surprising, I thought. But then again, perhaps there was a football game that kept people indoors on this unseasonably warm winter day.

    Since we wanted to see the holiday lights along the Riverwalk, we decided to have dinner first. Mui had already done his research, so we headed to the Brues Alehouse. The brewpub is housed in the city’s revitalized old police building/jail. We had a nice meal — and enjoyed some of the beer brewed on the premises — but I was disappointed that more of the ambiance of the original building was not retained.

    After dinner, we bundled up in a few extra layers and went for a stroll towards the far end of the Riverwalk before slowly making our way back to the parking lot where we had left the car. The holiday lights were indeed a-twinkle by this time and the calm water provided a mirror to reflect the lights. We wrapped up our evening with a quick detour to the Pueblo Union Depot where a synchronized light show was on display.

    While we enjoyed our evening, I’m not sure I can say that the drive to see the holiday lights — 60 miles each way — was worth it. That said, I did spy some lovely murals in Pueblo, so a return trip is not unlikely.    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    The artist himself at one of the lily ponds he so liked to paint.
    2Boulevard des Capucines (1873-74)2The Beach at Trouville (1870)The Artist's House at Argenteuil (1873) showing his wife, Camilla, and son, Jean.The Meadow at Vétheuil (1879)The Break-up of the Ice (1880)Path in the Wheat Fields at Pourville (1882)The Canoe on the Epte (~1890)Water-Lilies (1914-15)Water-lilies and Japanese Bridge (1899)

    Denver: Monet's Water Lillies and More

    December 23, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    "The richness I achieve comes from NATURE, the source of my INSPIRATION." ~~ Claude Monet ~~

    Today's adventure germinated back in October. We were still in İzmir, Turkey at the time. Not sure if Mui got a message from Sonia and Boris or if it was vice versa. In any event, we ended up purchasing tickets for the "Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature" exhibit for 10:00a on December 23.

    Fast forward to today. A quick breakfast this morning and at 8:30a we set out to drive from Colorado Springs to Denver. Google gave the drive time as one hour and nine minutes. With no mishaps along the way, we pulled into a parking lot near the Denver Art Museum at the appointed time. A few minutes later, we were hanging up our jackets and heading to the queue to enter the exhibit. Perfect timing ... no waiting in line.

    When Monet's name is mentioned, most will immediately think of his famous water-lily paintings. As we were reminded at this exhibit, however, he painted a wide variety of subjects ... most, if not all, focused on landscapes in one way or another.

    Audioguides in hand (included in the admission), we slowly wandered through the various galleries, stopping frequently to gaze at paintings that made a particular impression on us. I thought it was interesting that we often found ourselves studying different paintings ... our interests as varied as the paintings themselves.

    After exiting the last Monet gallery, we went on to check out some of the other exhibits at the museum. But I'll leave that for another footprint and end by quoting the artist himself ...

    "Above all I wanted to be truthful and exact. For me a landscape hardly exists at all as a landscape, because its appearance is constantly changing... You have to know how to seize just the right moment in a landscape instantaneously, because that particular moment will never come again, and you're always wondering if the impression you got was truthful."
    ~~ Claude Monet ~~

    That flash-free photography was allowed came as a pleasant surprise. I've attached a few photos, but if you would like to see more, click the link below to visit my online gallery.

    https://eenusa.smugmug.com/North-America-US-Can…    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Lucas Samaras Corridor #2 — Denver Art Museum, Colorado.
    Lucas Samaras Corridor #2 — Denver Art Museum, Colorado.Lucas Samaras Corridor #2 — Denver Art Museum, Colorado.Here comes Aylin ... Lucas Samaras Corridor #2 — Denver Art Museum, Colorado.

    Denver: Art Museum Wrap Up

    December 23, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Our friends, Sonia and Boris, must have been just steps ahead of us as we wandered through the Monet exhibit at the Denver Art Museum (see the previous footprint for the words and photos associated with that part of our day). It wasn't until the "lily gallery" that we spied them listening intently to their audioguide.

    Once we all exited the exhibit, we met up with them to finalize the details for our lunch date. Then, this being our first visit to the Denver Art Museum, off we went to check out the remaining exhibits. We had about ½-hour before we had to leave the museum for our lunch reservation, so I can't say that we did justice to what we saw.

    That said, I'm glad we took the time to check out the top two floors of the museum as it was on the fourth floor that we found the "Lucas Samaras Corridor #2" installation. Think of this as a mirror tunnel ... the floor, walls, and the ceiling are all clad with mirrors. Visitors don booties to protect the glass from scratches before they enter to walk through the box-like structure. It was almost like being inside a kaleidoscope. The changing images as one walks through the tunnel make for a fascinating experience.

    Leaving the museum shortly after noon, we drove to Yahya's Mediterranean Grill on Colfax Avenue to meet up with Sonia and Boris. As they will be on an extended trip beginning January 4, I'm glad we had this chance for a short reunion. We all enjoyed the camaraderie and the delicious, made-to-order food ... so much so that we forgot to take a photo of the group. The surprise of the day? Turns out that Yahya is not only of Turkish descent, he's from my hometown of İzmir. It's a small world indeed!    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Happy Birthday — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Chef Mui's birthday creation ... blueberry swirl cheesecake — Colorado Springs, CO.Blowing out the candles — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Happy Birthday!

    December 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 37 °F

    One Christmas Eve — I won't say which year — mom gave herself a birthday gift ... in the form of a bundle of joy named Aylin. Thus today we had two birthdays to celebrate. Here's to many many more returns ... shared with loved ones wherever they might be.Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Christmas Eve in the neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Ho Ho Ho! Christmas Eve in the neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.Christmas Eve in the neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.Christmas Eve in the neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.Christmas Eve in the neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.Christmas Eve in the neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.Christmas Eve in the neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.Christmas Eve in the neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.Christmas Eve in the neighborhood — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Neighborhood Xmas Cheer

    December 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 36 °F

    After celebrating mom and Aylin's birthday (previous footprint), we headed out to enjoy the Christmas decorations in our neighborhood. Birthday cheer and Christmas cheer all in one night.

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    1Holiday cheer for our first Christmas in our Colorado home — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Christmas morning stroll around the neighborhood pond — Colorado Springs, CO.Yummy blueberry muffins from Chef Mui — Colorado Springs, CO.Chocolate Rice Krispy treats from Chef Aylin — Colorado Springs, CO.Merry Christmas — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Christmas Memories

    December 25, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 50 °F

    We didn't do well documenting our family Christmas with photos. But that doesn't mean that we didn't record the memories in our minds.

    Blueberry muffins for breakfast; a stroll around the neighborhood pond; choco Rice Krispy treats; and a delicious Christmas dinner that was partly traditional ... partly not. The traditional part was scalloped potatoes and ham ... the non-traditional part was artichokes cooked Turkish style.Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Blue-sky day at Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Exploring the nooks and crannies of Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.White Rock is one of the few Garden of the Gods formations that is not red — Colorado Springs, CO.Aylin and Murat at Balanced Rock ... Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.From the Visitor Center terrace at the Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.Aylin and mom at the Garden of the Gods visitor center — Colorado Springs, CO.Theiophytalia kerri was discovered at the Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs, CO.Garden of the Gods Visitor Center — Colorado Springs, CO.Oh so yummy food at Basil & Barley — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Garden of the Gods

    December 26, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 39 °F

    After a two-day break from sightseeing with the family, we went out and about again today. And this time we actually made it to the Garden of the Gods. I had hoped for a warmer day for our GotG outing, but with a forecast for overcast or mostly cloudy skies for the rest of the week, snow over the weekend, and colder temps for the foreseeable future, we decided to visit this amazing bit of nature today. Turns out that we had a good day after all ... blue skies, with the sun keeping us plenty warm even though the high temp was only 39F (4C).

    One of the most popular places to visit in Colorado, GotG was quite crowded on this day after Christmas. Lots of extended family groups out exploring. Mui lucked out with a spot in parking lot #2, which is closest to the paved trails that meander amongst the beautiful red rock formations that visitors enjoy clambering about.

    After we finished walking the trail, we hopped in the car to drive the one-way road that loops through the park and then headed to the Visitor Center. It's a small VC but well done with informative exhibits that don't overwhelm the senses.

    We wrapped up our day with a delicious late lunch at Basil & Barley, a pizzeria founded by a young Ligurian trained in the art of pizza-making in Naples, Italy. He learned well. We all enjoyed our selections ... those of us opting for pizza ordering the "charcoal dough" version, which is intended to neutralize heartburn. I don't know about that claim, but we all agreed that the dough seemed lighter somehow. And the desserts ... delish!    Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Happy Hour @ PF Chang's — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: Happy Hour @ PFC

    December 30, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °F

    Enjoying happy hour at PF Chang's ... not for the drinks so much as for the small dishes on the menu available from 3-6p. Chinese tapas, if you will. Two orders of the chicken lettuce wraps ensured that we all had our fill of this favorite dish 🤪Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    Murat and Mui prepping for NYE dinner — Colorado Springs, CO.
    All set to dine ... but first a memory selfie— Colorado Springs, CO.1Murat's "Meze Tabağı: (aka tapas plate) — Colorado Springs, CO.Selection of dishes from our NYE dinner— Colorado Springs, CO.Selection of dishes from our NYE dinner — Colorado Springs, CO.Selection of dishes from our NYE dinner + beer and rakı to wet our whistle— Colorado Springs, CO.2NYE gift exchange— Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: NYE 2019

    December 31, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 41 °F

    Transitioning from one year to another with a fun celebration. May it be a happy, healthy, and prosperous one for one and all.

    I wish I could say that Mui and I stayed up to ring in the new year. We never seem to be able to do that and this year was no exception. At least mom, Aylin, and Murat actually saw 2020 come in.Read more

  • Two to TravelTwo to TravelColorado Family Memories
    The Broadmoor — Colorado Springs, CO.
    Making family memories at The Broadmoor — Colorado Springs, CO.Ceiling detail above the staircase to the second floor — Colorado Springs, CO.More family memories at The Broadmoor — Colorado Springs, CO.1A cheerful first day of 2020 — Colorado Springs, CO.There's a nice pedestrian path around the lake at The Broadmoor — Colorado Springs, CO.No plans to go ice skating today — Colorado Springs, CO.Skate Bench: in memory of the US World Figure Skating Team ... died in a plane crash in Belgium.Waiting for our lunch to be served at On the Border — Colorado Springs, CO.Yummy, yummy, yummy caramel swirl cheesecake — Colorado Springs, CO.

    CoSprings: The Broadmoor

    January 1, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F

    Happy 2020 Everyone! May it be a happy, healthy, and prosperous year for one and all.

    It's been a habit of ours to start the new year off doing something. Anything. As long as it involves a bit of activity. The idea being that if we are active on the first day of the year, that will set the tone for the rest of the year. It seems to have been working. Certainly, no one can accuse us of letting the grass grow under our feet 🤣 So we continued the tradition for 2020.

    After a new year's day breakfast at home — French toast made with baguettes left over from last night was on the menu — we headed off to visit one of the Grand Dames of the 20th century — The Broadmoor. The hotel was opened to guests in 1918 with three buildings and 350 rooms. The property has since been renovated multiple times and grown considerably. But I don't think it has lost its charm ... hard for that to happen considering the beautiful setting in which it is located. My only disappointment ... blue skies and sunshine were mostly missing while we were out exploring. At least, the temp was a reasonable 53F!

    The last time we were at The Broadmoor was in the fall of 1991. Mui had just left active duty in the US Air Force and we were driving to Washington DC where he had accepted an intern position at the IRS. We had a limited time to make the cross-country drive ... but we just could not pass through Colorado Springs without visiting the resort and walking around the grounds.

    Much as we enjoyed that first visit, today's wander around The Broadmoor was even more enjoyable. For one thing, we were making family memories with my mom, sister, and brother-in-law. And with the holiday decorations still in full evidence, the ambiance and charm of this Grand Dame were multiplied tenfold.

    After wandering inside and out, we left to return home. Along the way, a detour to do a bit of shopping led to lunch at a Mexican restaurant — On the Border. A tapas-style lunch left us all with plenty of room to share a delicious caramel swirl cheesecake. A sweet ending to wrap up our new year's day sojourn.

    If anyone cares to see more photos, they are in my online gallery at this link: https://eenusa.smugmug.com/North-America-US-Can….    Read more

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