Eddie and Wifey go to Colorado

[notsofasteddie]

Day 4: A Trip to Estes Park


We are up early again and heading north from Boulder to Estes Park. My wife is very excited about today's visit to Estes Park. On the way we stop in to check this dispensary.


With flowers this nice on the outside, I can imagine how nice the flowers are inside. That's all I get to do is imagine. It's 9:00a.m. and they don't open until 10:00. Sometimes the early bird doesn't get the worm.

So it's on the road again. I soon discover why my wife is so excited about today's visit. I've been tricked Lyons Quilting is on the way to Estes Park and we have to stop. So, here's some more cool quilts and the reason for another trip to the Lyons Post Office.





That's all for quilts until the last post when I'll show some of wife's work with Jean Hanamoto fabric.

Back on the road and heading north to Estes Park, I leave the car to make sure we are heading in the right direction after all I'm both driver and navigator.



Using my acute powers of observation, I determine that we must be getting close to our goal!



Even with a GPS things can go wrong, this doesn't look like Estes Park to me. You make one little mistake a premature right turn and you get this.



At last Estes Park, a cool town and a tourist trap to be sure.


Cool Theatre!!


I think Estes Park must be the salt water taffy capital of Colorado, a.k.a. Coney Island West. I went for the homemade ice cream. Hmmm, coffee ice cream, good!

Then I saw this



I'm thinking this must be like Amsterdam. It's a coffeeshop. I've been to the Old Church in Amsterdam in both its old and new locations.

Here's the menu I'm looking for



Fantasy Over - Not here: Forgot the one bad thing about the cannabis scene in Colorado is NO COFFEESHOPS! This might be fixed in 2016.

Heading back to Boulder, it's almost time for bed. A nice diner at Turley's Kitchen. Another discrete knee bending session with the O.pen and then some Eric Clapton to lull me to sleep!




Tomorrow We are heading to Denver

[notsofasteddie]

Day 5: We've made it to Denver

Once again the view from the hotel demonstrates that Denver is a big city!


As with the June trip, there are interesting architectural contrasts to be found.

[
Settled into the hotel we head out to see the 14th Street Mall



The scene is nowhere near as alive as it was in June. Winter is coming and things are shutting down. There is no band at the Rock Bottom which is a disappointment as Soul School was a great listen when Egor and I were there. Still the weather is good and there are people "out and about" enjoying a beer or two and friendly conversation. Saw a couple of people discretely hitting a vape, but again discretely is the word of the day until they get coffeeshops in Colorado!

Things may be closing down for winter, but these guys are still working hard holding up the skyscrapers in Denver!




Don't find too many Peruvian restaurants in Florida so I don't have much to compare to. Still I thought the ceviche platter was outstanding and it reminded me of some Cuban ceviche I ate back in the 1970's when Ybor City still hummed with Cuban culture. The dessert,Suspiro a la limeña, was outstanding. It got its name, "Because it is soft and sweet, like the sigh of a woman." Aaah, so much romance; so much sugar!


Denver's equivalent to Casa Rosso. I'm with Wifey so I never got to make the comparison.


Thought it was funny finding a place a thousand miles from the ocean that featured shrimp. Not bad; not as good as I get in Florida. Liked the sign!


Interesting theatre with a interesting upcoming show. John Hiatt and Taj Mahal make for a nice blues show. There is a lot of good music that comes to Colorado. That's without even counting Red Rocks which is an awesome amphitheater!


Getting late; Have enough supplies for tonight; will need to hit Native Roots early in the morning to prepare for the trip home.

The time is dwindling down.



Day 6: More time in Denver and a visit to Native Roots

[Boat Drinks]

You definitely need a car in Colorado. Rates are cheap.

[notsofasteddie]

Day 6: More time in Denver and a visit to Native Roots


Correction: The mall in Denver is the 16th street mall not the 14th street mall



The door to one of the high quality dispensaries in downtown Denver, Native Roots. This one is located close to the 16th Street Mall, but they are all over the state including Boulder and Colorado Springs. I had pre-arranged my visit through Josh so I got a special tour, got to take pictures, and had interesting conversations with several of the budtenders on topics ranging from Sports to U.S. Legalization to Medical Marijuana. Thanks again Josh!!



Interesting Wallpaper


A display of edibles including Gaia's Garden (Drops and Sour Drops), Julie's Nutty Bites and Groovy Granola, BlueKudu assorted chocolates, and WANA Capsules (high THC, high CBD, and balanced THC/CBD) This is almost too much to contemplate. Where's the class that explains all this to a guy who started simply in the 1960's?


Another display of products including Tinctures, Dermal Patches, Sprays, Salves, and Flowers - I see Chemdog and Headband Kush among others almost hidden by the wealth on this shelf.


More candy for the sweet tooth


Old Standby - this trip - BlueKudu chocolates and assorted other candy bars to be tried.


A chart showing various Cannabinoids and their related medical benefits. This provided an interesting backdrop for our discussion of medical marijuana and migraines.


A diverse selection of Apothecanna Sprays and Cremes. There's Calming, Stimulating, Pain, Pain Extra Strength, and Every Day. Like I said, I think I need a class.

.

"Pre-Nighty-Night" Music:






and now some Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler music to set us up on a high for tomorrow!






Day 7 to follow: All Good Things must come to an end!

[notsofasteddie]

Day 7: All Good Things must come to an end!

We're heading out early tomorrow so this is a quiet day. Still have too many goodies; some things will have to be left behind so I scratched the trip to Dank which I regret as the dispensary is photo-friendly, if you ask in advance, but I don't like to visit without purchasing.

Spent time walking around downtown Denver mostly in or close to the 16th Street Mall. There's some interesting wall art to see:


They don't make cars like this any more, but they sure were cool back in the day


Teddy Roosevelt vs. Jack Dempsey. Two tough scrapers, but I'd pick Jack with a TKO in the ninth round. Teddy looks a little out of shape.


Cowboy Guitar Player

Even though its early Saturday, people are out and about on the 16th Street Mall doing all sorts of things


There's chess to be played and watched. Judging by the board position, it looks like Black is in trouble


There are people marching. This group is marching in support of the U.S. Military, especially those members that have been deployed into "harm's" way.


OMG, it's a stampede


For those planning on seeing Colorado by train! Amtrak connects here in Denver, by way of Chicago if you live where I do. You can also purchase multi-stop tickets. Still plane and rental car seems easier


Hmmm, could it be that I'm in Seattle? Don't think so, the sun is out!


Interesting restaurant - Still find it funny to see fish and shrimp offerings so far from the water. Still I'd rather be eating Gulf of Mexico oysters than Rocky Mountain oysters

Well, what's a visit to Colorado without some beer? The tavern is on the 16th Street Mall on the same side of the street as the Yardarm and Katie Mullen's which I visited with Egor back in June. Both of these places were a beer lover's delight! Henry's Tavern stands with them as an equal!!


Henry's Tavern


Beer and sunglasses


Something I had never seen before, an Ice Well, to keep your beer cold. Gee, maybe I need to get out more.

Here's some music to close the show for 2015!



Let's start getting ready for 2016!! Ed and Wifey plan on a return next June

[spidergawd]

Nice one Eddie thats a real good travelogue, enjoyed it. I bet the booze industry has taken a hit round Denver way.
Amtrak would suit my wife and me, we go on holiday mostly as much for the journey as the destination.