If you're not careful, however, this vibrant mentality begins to fade with time. Routine and habit replace the excitement that once was. As a result, I've made it my mission to record and remember my first impression of Denver. Though I will never be a "Colorado Native," I won't always be the newest kid on the block. So now is my chance to experience the city through the eyes of a tourist.
Each week, I've promised to set aside time--between work and studying--to explore a new area of town or participate in a different activity or event. I've fashioned a "wish list" based on these guidelines, and have begun to cross things off the list one at a time.
After a bit of research, I quickly learned that Denver is full of free tours. Naturally, I made the intention of taking full advantage--starting with a tour of the Capitol Building. Located in Civic Center Park, I very often walk past this building in the heart of downtown. Nevertheless, my first time inside was to participate in a group tour. I was joined by tourists from all over the country, as well as a few internationals! Our guide was a sweet, old, lady that educated us about the history of the building and the state.
It was a busy day at the Capitol, with meetings being held in the Senate and the House, which, to my surprise, were open to the public.
The building itself is quite impressive. Several stories high, it is ornately decorated with marble floors.
One room in particular has portraits of all of the U.S. presidents to date. In a few months, the empty space next to President Obama will surely be filled with the nation's next commander in chief.
Towards the end of the tour, we climbed the steps to the top of the dome, which is adorned in gold on the outside.
The view from the top of the dome was well worth the climb.
My next journey was to Sloan Park, home to a beautiful lake. Just a short bike ride away, the quiet park is located near the Highlands part of town--not far from Anna and Alex.
The park has stellar views of both mountains and Denver skyline.
Next up: my first Rockies game with Anna and friends. Due to the unexpectedly chilly night, we watched most of the game with fresh Blue Moons from the brewery attached to the stadium. Normally not a strong team, it seemed that we brought the Rockies luck against the NY Mets!
Despite my mission to seek out new experiences in Denver, I am perfectly okay to make repeat visits to some of my favorite "old" spots. This goes for my beloved Cheesman Park. Recently confirmed by the Natives, this Spring season has been abnormally cold and rainy. I was slightly relieved at receipt of this news, as I occasionally recalled asking myself why I had chosen to move here (mainly on the days that I biked home from work in the middle of a rainstorm). Nonetheless, the sun finally returned, and it seems that--fingers crossed--Spring and Summer are knocking at the from door. It has been beautiful to watch the landscape come into full bloom, each day becoming more lush and green.
Last but not least, I spent a rare Sunday off (Sundays are the busiest day of the week at WFM) with Anna and Alex. We left in the morning for Red Rocks, an outdoor area located just behind the city limits. Best known for its concert venue, the amphitheater is also a common destination for exercise enthusiasts. At the high elevation, the endless stairs present a challenge in themselves. Still, you'll find people running back and forth along the platforms, and doing long lines of squats, lunges, and push-ups. To our best effort, we joined the madness. It turned out to be rather enjoyable, amid the fresh air, idillic weather, and awesome views.
That afternoon, we stopped at the Great Divide Brewery and ordered beer and sunshine. Everyone agreed that the weather could not have been more perfect. Afterwards, it was back to my neck of the woods to finally introduce Anna and Alex to my neighborhood!
All in all, I've enjoyed taking on the challenge to balance work and study with free time exploration. I'm eager to continue my mission in the weeks to come!
