Change

September proved to be a month of change. First and foremost, the seasons. The nights and mornings quickly cooled off to a point where I had to finally close my windows at night to avoid waking up with goosebumps.  The leaves also changed color, both in the city and in the mountains.

With regards to physical activities, I joined a gym--or rather, a network of gyms. Denver has a number of recreation centers that offer memberships at a reasonable price. My membership allows me to visit any of the centers, but my favorite one is only a mile and a half away in an old building on Twentieth Street with a lot of natural light. I'm hoping that this new routine will motivate me to get back into running... and maybe even swimming!

In addition, after a summer of attending free yoga classes throughout the city, I discovered my favorite one--a Sunday morning class at Prana in Cherry Creek. The instructor is fabulous.

In terms of employment, that changed too. After my pharmacy "hiatus," an interesting opportunity presented itself that encouraged me to finally enter the profession. Omnicare is a large pharmaceutical company owned by CVS that dispenses medication to patients in nursing homes. Longterm care is one pharmacy niche that I received minimal exposure to during school, but I was intrigued by the job description. After a positive interview with the pharmacist in charge, I accepted an offer for a part-time pharmacist position.

To my surprise, Whole Foods Market poses a "conflict of interest" with my new employer, so I left the company with a heavy heart. As the newest member of the Whole Body Team, I had just begun to grasp the realm of herbal and homeopathic remedies. I told my boss that I was optimistic to return someday.

My new job with Omnicare is located in their hub in Golden, CO. Although only 10 miles west of where I live, the commute is over an hour by public transport. So I decided, at 24 years old, that it was finally time to invest in my first car. The second one that I looked at seemed like a good match for what I needed--a 2014 Kia Rio. "Rojitas," or "Little Red," is a basic, small car that will (hopefully) ensure a reliable and safe commute. In my ideal world, my new job would still be within biking distance, but I suppose that there is some benefit in learning the responsibilities that accompany car ownership.

At any rate, I grew up a lot in the matter of weeks--real job, real car. Nevertheless, I will always look back fondly on those six months after graduation when I moved to Denver and spent the long summer days biking to Whole Foods and hiking the Rocky Mountains. A simple and happy time. It was exactly the lifestyle that I sought while I stepped back to catch my breath between the end of school and the start of my career.

Deer Creek Canyon

The week following my trip to Santa Fe, I hiked the trails in Deer Creek Canyon Park. Located in Jefferson County, the 1,647-acre park is only half an hour from downtown Denver.






















The 13-mile trail network is accessible by hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrian riders.

The unusually overcast morning cast a mysterious tone amid the scenery.







Also adding to this theme were the deep colors of the late September foliage.









As I climbed higher, I could just make out the tiny Denver skyline in the distance.

I reached 7,057' at the top of Bill Couch Mountain...







... and 7,274' at the summit of Plymouth Mountain.

After eight miles in four hours, I felt content in the discovery of this quick escape from town. I look forward to returning here, as well as to exploring its neighboring parks in the future!

Santa Fe

Santa Fe, capital of New Mexico, had been calling for awhile. The hispanic history and culture, spicy cuisine, and tasteful art scene had my name written all over. Needless to say, I was quick to take advantage of its close proximity to Denver. Similar to my long weekend in San Francisco, a four-day break from work seemed the perfect time for my next adventure.

Santa Fe is about five hours south of Denver by car, and just under seven hours by bus. I arrived early afternoon on a Monday in mid-September. My first impressions included the beautiful adobe-style architecture...









...the rustic doors...





































...colorful tiles...























...unique art...

...and "ristras"--strings of famed New Mexican red chili peppers. Fresh green peppers during the summer harvest gradually ripen to a deep red color by early fall. These dried peppers are then used for cooking and decoration, serving as symbols of welcome, luck, and health. Both stages of the fruit are used to prepare delicious chili sauces.

Santa Fe translates to "holy faith" in Spanish. Naturally, the historic town has several religious structures.

San Miguel Church, the oldest church in the country, was built by the Tiaxcalan Indians from Mexico in 1610.



Beside the mission lies the oldest house.

Loretto Chapel, completed in 1878, is famous for its "Miraculous Staircase," a spiral wonder with no means of visible support. Eloquent legends depict its history.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, completed in 1887, is dedicated to the patron saint of Santa Fe--coincidentally my confirmation saint.

Beside the cathedral lies a quaint park.

Around the corner, the Plaza marks the heart of downtown. I spent a lot of time here, enjoying the early fall weather. The climate in Santa Fe is familiar to that of Denver (arid and hot), though more consistent year-round. Different from Denver, however, is the layout of downtown. While many cities are designed similar to a grid, historic Santa Fe consists of winding and crooked streets, which reminded me of a small European town.

Along the edge of the Plaza sits the Palace of the Governors. This structure was built by the Spanish government in the early 17th century, and now houses the state's history museum. It is a Registered National Historic Landmark.

My first evening in Santa Fe was spent on the rooftop restaurant of the hotel, La Fonda. The picturesque sunset formed the perfect backdrop to a classic margarita.













As I left my rooftop oasis, I caught a glimpse of the moon counter the magnificent sunset.



















I woke up early on Tuesday for a day hike in the Santa Fe foothills. Starting at St. John's College, I followed the Atalaya Trail to the peak at 9,121'.

From there, I hiked over to the summit of Picacho Peak at 8,577'.







I gradually descended via the Dale Ball Trail system, including the Dorothy Stewart and Cruz Blanca Trails.



As I drew closer to the city, I came upon beautiful adobe homes that I bookmarked for my retirement years. The median age of Santa Feans is 43--10 years higher than in Denver.

I finally returned to the college around noon, clocking in at 10 miles in five hours.





After some much needed down time, I set out later that afternoon for a stroll through downtown. I stopped by the visitor center and Travel Bug--a boutique selling maps, guidebooks, and other travel-related goods.

Then I went to the Railyard--a hub of entertainment, shopping food, and events--where I treated myself to a victory meal at the Second Street Brewery.

On my way out, I visited the evening farmer's market...

...and Railyard Park.

Out of kindness to my sore feet, I scrapped my plans to hike again on Wednesday and decided to lay low. I started with a green chili breakfast burrito at Tia Sophia's.

I also explored more of downtown...







...as well as the art district. Canyon Road houses over 100 art galleries and studios. Though out of my price range, I enjoyed window shopping along the charming half-mile radius.

Afterwards, I visited the art galleries and government houses in the State Capitol.







Here I learned the meaning of the state flag. The Zia sun symbolizes the Native American heritage of New Mexico and the circle of life, while the four groups of four rays stands for the cardinal directions, seasons of the year, stages of life, and times of day. Red and yellow commemorate the state's Spanish heritage.

I spent the remainder of the afternoon reading my latest library book. During my stay, I lodged at a cozy home downtown, found through Airbnb. Rob's small "casita" was a comfortable place to come home to.




















My last morning in Santa Fe began with a cup of tea on the porch in the company of the neighbor's cat.



I made my way to the Plaza...






...and spent the rest of my time at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. It was an interesting and enjoyable visit.

 

When it was time to hit the road, I checked out the local Whole Foods on my way to the bus stop. I always appreciate identifying the subtle yet unique differences in the various market locations when traveling.

For the entirety of the bus ride back to Denver, I was absorbed in my book.







Santa Fe is a great town with much to offer. On my next visit, I would be eager to visit its neighboring towns of Taos and Albuquerque!

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