Advertisement
Published: August 19th 2008
Edit Blog Post
I arrived in Denver with chronic toothache. After getting myself to an emergency dentist who gave me a prescription for a whole load of painkillers, I could finally take in my surroundings.
The drugs prescribed were expensive and strong. Tylenol - that famous US painkiller. Even though I welcomed the pain relief, it still seemed frighteningly easy to load myself up with pharmaceuticals.
After a pill popping night, and waking up in probably the largest bed I have ever slept in , I marvelled at the perfectly clear blue skies, and set off to explore the city a little before heading out. Before we had driven 10 blocks the skies opened up and the rain came down hard. A reminder of how changeable mountain weather can be.
Cars were brought to a standstill and abandoned on the roads. Rich turned on the radio and we couldn't believe the severe weather warning that was being issued and then, bizzarely, we were instructed to stay at home, or get to higher ground and above all "
do not drown."
At 5,280 feet (1 mile) above sea level, Dever is a very clean, pleasant (but somewhat efficient and characterless) city to
be in. I stayed in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood which is a short walk into down town. Like most US cities, it follows a grid system with the main shops on 16th and the financial buildings on 17th. There isn't really a centre - a plaza or park - but along 16th there are benches for people to hang out on.
Obviously, as a European, you will notice how everything (and everyone) is huge.
Huge wide streets, huge air con SUV's, huge American flags everywhere and huge shops and resaurants but also the people are huge in their attitude to be helpful and welcoming.
After walking around the city for a bit and grabbing a drink and some ceviche, I visited Corrs Field to check out what this game baseball was all about. Unfortunately, due to the floods I didn't get to go to a game but the stadium is an easy walk from downtown, with the rockies as a beautiful backdrop.
Paonia & Carbondale
The drive to Paonia from Denver is a stunning 4hr drive. The drive takes you through mining towns, past wineries and skirts the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, and State Parks. The
Jamming in the mountains
Matt going at it on the guitar scenery is gorgeous all along the way.
We stopped off in Carbondale for coffee and a bagel and I was impressed at how this small town (pop circa 6,000) has managed to maintain its own identity. No Walmarts or Starbucks here. The town hosts a broad range of community events and supports a strong artistic, hippy community.
Finally, in Paonia, we headed up into a mountain to watch the sun set and experience a "sweat". This is a Mexican tradition where a hut is built, rocks are heated up on the fire and then piled into a hut, similar to a sauna. My tooth was still hurting so I passed on the experience. But all the boys went for it.
I couldn't help thinking that this would not happen in England. There is no way, a bunch of male friends in the UK would sit around a campfire singing songs, playing music and then strip off and sit in a self made hut.
The next day, whilst Rich was sorting things out in his house, I wandered around the town. It is tiny and a little oppressive for me. It's one of those places where everyone
Hippies
Matt, Dave & Rich knows everyone elses movements. I decided to get some sun in the public park and almost as soon as I sat down some young girls started playing near me. I ended up talking to them and they were fascinated by my accent and where I came from, asking me basic things like: "Are there bicycles in England?"
Astoundingly, they asked me if I went to church. I said no. They gasped in disbelief. They told me I was a sinner. I said I was. They gasped again. Silence. I said it was human to sin and asked them what a sin was. They said, lying and being bad. I told them I lied and was bad sometimes. They stared at me. I then thought better than to lecture and offered to teach them some games and perhaps they might decide that people like me weren't so bad. We played "off ground touch" and kick the can. They wanted to play and play but the light was going and I had to get back to Rich. They begged me to meet them tomorrow in the park and I said I might be able to but only if they were happy
Paonia
We went on a bike ride, where I fell off onto a bunch of cactus thorns. I was still picking them out of my hands after 10 days! to play with someone who sinned. They all nodded eagerly. Small victories in a very conservative community.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.092s; Tpl: 0.021s; cc: 11; qc: 29; dbt: 0.0299s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
Stephen Paul
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Mailboxes!
Are you making fun of the American Mailbox?! ha ha. Its so funny to see something that you've seen all your life with no concern, then have someone from another country say something unexpected like "They really do have mail in these things"!!! Lovely post, I can imagine you had a great time in one of the USA's most beautiful states!