Denver - City Living and the Cultural Experience

My Denver rental was only an hour away from Colorado Springs. I requested an early check in and had to wait about 40 minutes since the previous guests checked out late. The weather was not cooperating, and it rained pretty much the whole time since I left the Springs. I parked on the street as there was no other parking available with this rental, but street parking was reasonable. Kitty was a bit anxious, but waited patiently.

I met with the host and unloaded the car. The place was much smaller than the house, but had all I needed for my stay. It was a studio apartment above a garage with full kitchen and a convertible bed/couch. It also had a washer and dryer and an updated bathroom.

Kitchen

Couch that slides out to become a queen size bed

The bed rolls out, and you can lie against the wall watching TV

...and because there is no real fireplace there, I have a pretend video of a fireplace

After I unpacked a bit, I took a walk in the neighborhood to Trader Joe's which was only 25 minutes away. It was really nice to live in a walkable city, although every house in the area seemed to be crammed with tenants in very little space.

I also was very close to downtown, only 45 minutes away walking distance. 

Rooftop (somewhat) lounge in downtown Denver

Of course, I visited a local Honda dealership to address my brake booster issue, and they diagnosed another problem that according to their quote would cost me $900. This was getting out of control. I get it that my car is old (2006), but come on! I decided to think about it and see if I could get a better quote elsewhere. I loved the transparency of the dealership and specifically the detailed inspection with photos and a video from the technician!

Inner drive shaft boots were recommended to be replaced

I visited a local coffee/bookstore that seemed unique - just 15 minutes walking distance from my rental. I was starting to like this "walkability" concept.

One night I went to see a play in Vintage Theatre called Driving Miss Daisy. I have never seen the movie, so I was excited to see the play. I was not disappointed. It was spectacular. Low key, 3 actors, community theater - exactly how I like it. 

Since I could easily walk downtown, I decided to explore even further and stop by City Park. I walked around there a bit a stopped by the farmer's market (total ripoff, by the way! Why on earth would I want to pay $8 for a bunch of kale if I can get a smaller bunch for $2 in a grocery store!). 

City Park

A ridiculously expensive and super sweet (when requested no sweetener) cup of coffee at Plant Magic Café

On the way home, I stumbled upon another festival (something about chalk and the streets), but I was too tired to stop by.

Colorado Springs - Restaurants, Hiking and Car Troubles

I didn't realize how happy I was living without a roommate. I no longer felt confined to the upstairs and could clean the kitchen and keep it clean. If I felt like wearing no pants, not pants it was! The freedom of living solo.

I continued going out to Meetups, hiking and occasional dates, but my home-base remained stable. I visited Castle Rock and Denver, and hiked Spruce Mountain Trail on the way from a Denver Meetup event. "Green Colorado" is what the locals call the state this year with all the rain. Indeed, it reminded me of spring in California after a good rain season.

I revisited The Garden of the Gods, a very popular park with spectacular views that I visited back in 2016, by hiking the 6 and a half mile outer loop that was not as crowded as the rest of the park yet just as impressive.

Another trail that I found to be challenging yet rewarding in the end was Catamount Falls Trail. The 2,000 ft elevation gain was the challenging part, but the flowing water, the views along the way and the view of Pikes Peak at the end were worth it.

No new destination happens without a car trouble. As I was backing out of the driveway, my brake pedal felt stiff allowing the car to roll further than I felt comfortable with. After taking the car to Brakes Plus (big mistake!) and two replaced brake boosters, the car braking system still does not feel the same. Sadly, it is another negative experience with a mechanic that I can live without. Living "on the road" is pretty challenging from that perspective, you always have to find a new one who may or may not be reliable.

I also explored a few restaurants with some company. One of my favorites was Vine & Wheel, a wine bar with an enormous variety of wines, great food and, most importantly, chill yet classy atmosphere. Jazz was playing until almost closing time, but was not too loud allowing for conversation to happen in a light and easy way. Another place specializing in tea, Yellow Mountain Tea House, had an almost authentic Asian-style atmosphere where the server made tea right at the table while trying to convince us that it cures cancer. These billions of dollars spent on research is a total waste of resources... 

Manitou Springs was the last stop on my Colorado Springs adventures. I finally explored the crowded downtown and had a wonderful dinner at a Mexican place followed by a karaoke night back in the Springs. It was time to move on to my next destination. Denver.