Just a couple of thoughts on names we’ve seen as we’ve been driving. HILARIOUS. The list thus far:
Virgin River
Beaver Dam
Poudre River (pronounced “pooter” by the locals!)
Arapahoe Ski Lodge (say that one out loud!)
Kickapoo Reservation
I love America, land o' funny and fabulous.
Ok, on to the NATURAL wonders of Colorado. It’s beautiful—the Rockies are just as majestic as one would imagine. The snow that fell consisted of snowflakes so large you could see the minute differences between each flake, and so light that you could shake your hair and see the snow float off like fairy dust.
We attempted snowboarding for the first time—and thankfully (and in contrast to our usual catastrophes) P and I came away in one piece—minus the initial venture on the chair lift in which we collapsed in a heap. Our instructor assured us that in all his time teaching that only 2 people had fallen on their first chair lift run. P and I DOUBLED his number in seconds! It was hilarious and we had a great time.
(the gang post adventure!)
We also went up to Rocky Mountain National Park, which was absolutely incredible. The mountains, streams, snow, forests…all so different than anything I’ve seen growing up in Hawaii or living in California. We also got to see several herds of wild elk (MUCH bigger than one would imagine!). Patrick encouraged me to get closer to take my pictures but Josh (future vet) and I determined that might end up catastrophically….though it may have made for a REALLY good story!
(Seriously. Look at how big these guys are compared to the house...HUGE!)
(This doesn't do it justice....it was so beautiful!)
(A halfway frozen river!)
And delightfully, Colorado seems to be full of animal sculptures, so I’ve been busy attacking each one with gusto!
(Taming the bear in the National Park)
(Covert pic in the resource center)
(small sculptures or big ones...I'm ON IT--with a little help from P)
(ok, honestly, do the sculptures HAVE to be so realistic?!?!?)
The breaking news is that I’m not a millionaire courtesy of the Las Vegas Strip. Unfortunately, neither is P. I know this must be shocking to all of you since he and I are clearly prolific and well practiced gamblers! (….or, maybe not!)
We headed out to win our fortune, spending the night in the desert in Barstow, CA along the way. I love that California is so vast. We drove for hours and hours and STILL didn’t get to the border!
Vegas brought all the fun and anxiety of gambling with REAL money at the blackjack tables. No surprise—I spent a lot of time gawking at the huge amount man-made marvels on the strip and the strange array of people it attracts. I tried not to stare (as this horrifies most of my friends and family) but everyone was just so…..interesting! On a classier note, we also went to see “O,” the Cirque du Soleil show at the Bellagio. If you ever stop by this little city of lights in the desert, “O” is a MUST see. It was a theatrical and engineering marvel!
(the salt flats where the the speed of sound was broken--this is for you Dad!)
(the Venetian all decked out for Chinese New Year)
(All dressed up and on our way to "O")
(Gung Hee Fat Choy at the Bellagio Gardens)
Ahh! I know, it's taken me forever to get the blog up and running, but finally I can announce....The blog is finally up and running!! There is so much to tell you all about!!!
To catch everyone up to speed, Patrick and I left Hawaii the 1st week of January to travel the world. What started out as fanciful dreaming a year and a half ago has become a reality! We're excited, scared, hopeful and determined all at the same time.
Before heading to the Caribbean and overseas, we went to San Francisco to pick up our beloved (and often broken) Explorer and travel cross country (and yes, we had car trouble in California--OF COURSE!!!-- but got the old girl patched up and rolling. And yes, for those of you keeping score, we’ve officially spent more fixing our old car than we bought her for!).
It was great seeing good friends after such a long time....
(Ali, Marc and I)
(Ali, Dana and I)
(the ALWAYS fabulous Joanne D)
(my favorite coworkers from Hawaii dropped by....)
(and a couple that look suspiciously like my beloved parents....I think they missed me!)
It was amazing to see a city I consider my second home through new eyes. We poked around Chinatown, hung out at the Presidio, kicked it at the Wharf, explored Golden Gate Park, and bebopped our way up and down the North and East bay.
(Sifu Jorgensen getting ready to regulate in Chinatown)
(Boat ride under the Golden Gate with P, me and 25 Taiwanese tourists. It was AWESOME!)
(I LOVE climbing atop animal sculptures. Riding that tortoise at the science museum all the way to the finish line!)
(P and I on our private tasting/tour at Niebaum Coppola winery in Napa...the best day in so many ways!)
(grapevines + this tree + a tent = happiness. I tried talking the powers that be into letting me pitch a tent but no dice!)
We headed down to Monterey to see the Aquarium (one word: AMAZING) and visit with my friend Claire, who continues to inspire me with her tales of world travel and good deeds.
(we brought the sunshine to California!)
(HUGE jellies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium)
(Claire working it!)
We’re off to Vegas to make our fortune (and hopefully not lose the shirts off our backs!)…..
