Canada and Colorado, Eh?

A slightly delayed blog, but chock full of travel experiences, so welcome back!

July ended with a work trip to Manitoba (with Raving President Dennis), culminating in a solo, whirlwind weekend in Denver and Colorado Springs.

The highlights in Canada:

An evening with the Manitoba Blue Bombers and BC Lions. That’s right, all you sports fans, I finally made it to a professional football game (albeit CFL, not NFL). Thanks Dave Z., from Manitoba Lotteries Corp, for the tickets. Two incredibly exciting Bomber plays (first a 200-yard, touchdown run, tightly along the sidelines, that had the crowd on their feet and banging on the metal bleachers; followed by a game-winning long pass, caught dramatically in the end zone) made up for the nosebleed climb up the circular, cement walkway to the top of the stadium. (Didn’t think the air was so thin in flat Manitoba.) A Smirnoff Ice and a hot dog (real football fare) clinched the deal, along with the touching chivalry displayed by Dennis when he made the guy behind me quit kicking me through the bleachers. Not so great was the TRAFFIC! Took almost 2 hours to get out of the nearby parking lot and complete the less than 20 mile drive through the city and back to the hotel.

A thousand steps. While we’re waxing athletic, thanks also to Dave Z. for his Jack Lalanne/Richard Simmons stair-climbing commitment. Our 3-day visit included two corporate buildings and two casinos around the city with offices on second and third floors. No elevators for Dave and his visitors … oh no. I haven’t climbed that many steps since I hiked up the Washington Monument about a million years ago (or maybe it was the ruins in Guatemala). Appreciate the workout. (?)

Toby’s Best Bets: When in Manitoba, plan lunch at Julia’s. It’s a Ukranian breakfast/lunch joint that Dennis and I ate at during our last Manitoba visit in 2004. (Being half Ukranian, Dennis wanted to eat there again, but it was closed for renovations when we arrived.) Luckily, it opened the morning of our departure, so we popped in for a quick pre-flight lunch – delicious cheddar cheese and potato pierogies with sour cream. Mmmmm.

The highlights in Colorado (what a fun-packed weekend!):

Friday night out: A visit with the boys in Denver. Michael and Jeremy took me for drinks with some friends at Kona Grill and then we had a tapas-style dinner (and more drinks) at a funky place called Root Down. Check out the room filled with old rotary phones (in every color imaginable) and the wall entirely made from the tops of cans.

Seein’ the baby: On Saturday morning, I got to hold a 3-week old baby (gotta love that baby smell)! Congratulations Nicole, Dave and big sister Aly and thanks for sharing baby Ben! He’s beautiful.

A birthday party: Saturday afternoon, I surprised my Rotary buddy (Rotary the organization, not the phone) Scott at his 60^th Birthday Celebration in Monument, Colorado. Saw and met lots of family and friends (thanks for the hospitality and laughter Darlene, Brooke, Brady and all), plus a group from my old North Colorado Springs Rotary Club where I was President in 1996-1997. Haven’t seen them in 10 years and even Sherm Connolly was there (she’s 93!). Dinner with Scott’s family followed a side-trip to my old homestead in Colorado Springs (the first house I ever owned – 1992 to 1998). The “new” owners have done wonders with the property and I met their son, who wasn’t even born when they bought the house from us 13 years ago. A whole lifetime since then!

Toby’s Best Bets: Never miss a chance to start your morning (Sunday) with a visit to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The crisp, cool air was a welcome change from the stifling heat of Las Vegas in the summer. I think the photos tell the story. It is a magnificent city park – free – with glorious scenery. 

My absolute favorite view.

Kissing Camels (although from this view, looks more like Kissing Sheep - top, just right of center).

Me!

Another of Toby’s Best Bets: Eat at La Baguette in Old Colorado City! They make the most delicious rolls, baked on-site in brick ovens – crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. Breakfast was a roll with butter and a hot chocolate – sitting outside on a sidewalk bench, reading my Kindle. When my friends Lori and Tina arrived, I had to join them for lunch – yummy French onion soup and another roll (thank goodness I climbed all those stairs a few days earlier!). Marg is still thanking me for the half-dozen rolls I brought home to Las Vegas.

La Baguette, Old Colorado City

 Afternoon with Linda and Deb: Long-time Colorado Springs friends treated me to dinner after a visit with them and their dogs. Check out their beautifully landscaped backyard (take some tips, you do-it-yourselfers). I even got to bring home a garden-fresh zucchini!

Waterfall!

The crazy week ended with a traffic-less drive to the Denver airport (hooray!) and then, a 3-hour delayed flight (boo, hiss!) You just gotta love the airlines.

Tune in next week for my vacation blog: There’s No Place Like Home When It’s Colorful Utah!

Here's a preview photo ... and Thanks for Reading!

Toby

Scenic Backway near Brian Head