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Published: October 29th 2011
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DAY 1 Estatic to know that it's only an hour and a half drive to the Rockies from Denver! This is my first time visiting Colorado and re-acquainting with my extended family. In a jammed packed SUV, the 8 of us drove up to Vail...passing many other ski resorts such as Copper Mountain, Brekenridge, and more. Already I know this will be an annual trip to Colorado from now on. No wonder Colorado is voted as the #1 state to be the most fittest! There's just
SO MUCH to do all year round!
We arrived just in time for our 5pm check-in at Manor Vail lodge. Just like all the other lodges, its just a perfect set up and excellent access to the lifts. My uncle told me that I don't have to worry on paying anything for the lodge and on top of that, I was so lucky to have gotten a free lift ticket from the "secret" place we went to buy our tickets...all because the person had given it back even though there are no refunds. I was so stoked!
After settling in to our full equipped rooms (kitchen and all), my uncles, my cousin,
and I started walking around the village to see what's out there. Knowing me, I just
had to buy my postcards and shot glasses to add to my growing collection. As I was buying my souvenirs, my luck just keeps on going! The cashier didn't realize he didn't charge half my stuff because he was too busy talking to us.
As soon as we got back to our lodge, my cousins and I hit the heated pool and jacuzzi. I forget that we are in higher elevation, I was winded easily while swimming so just ended the night in the jacuzzi relaxing under a clear sky and full moon.
DAY 2 The next morning, up and early... time to SNOWBOARD!!! Good thing we could just walk over to the slopes pass a few blocks of shops, popped some delicious Power Bar gel shots of raspberry flavor yummies and off I go! My 2 cousins and I went up on the bunny slope for some practice runs but I could not stand the flatness of it - if only I had a pole to push me. I felt bad, but at the same time my uncle encouraged me to
just do whatever I want. So, for most of the day I went off on my own to the Intermediate & a couple moguls and Black Diamond runs. Never had I ever felt so high from anything... the beauty all around and the softest powder of snow I had ever been on...
The day was winding down and the last run that I wanted to do was the longest route (4 miles) they had that consisted of both the Blue Circle and Black Diamond. As I was about to take off, I realized that I never fell once and thought it was too good to be true - one right bindings had broke and I lost the screw and one of the straps! It was depressing that I had to take the "lift of shame" back down to the resort to meet up with the rest of my family.
We walked back to our lodge, dropped off our gear and back out to the slopes for some full on family fun atop for some tubing! I must admit that I never had done that before. It's not like anything thrilling than snowboarding but it was quite fun especially
spending time with the family. After about an hour or two, we headed back down to get some grub at The Blue Moose. By around 9pm it was time for bed as it had been a long day and we had to leave the next morning back to Denver.
DAY 3 Last minute shopping and photo taking, it was time to head back. On the way home, we got to stop a few places. First, photo taking of 180 degree views of the mountains and the frozen lakes along the highway. Then drove close to one of the lakes and walked on the ice. The cracks in the ice made me real nervous especially when there were people driving and racing over it. It's funny how the least exerted energy could still make you nervous and scared. At least that's what I felt at the time. Ha! Lastly, we came across some guys chillin', having a beer, and ice fishing. Chatted with them and even learned a little bit of how different it is to ice fish than the normal way.
Home at last and rather still early! I didn't want to waste my time sitting at home
so I found some people from couchsurfing who would love to show me around town so I met them up at the train/bus station. Ingrid was the Denver Ambassador and Sammie was her good friend who brought her doggie (at work). Turns out I'm not the only one who they were showing around. I met a very nice person named Marcelo who is visiting from Santiago, Chile. They all took us to Boulder and though it was pretty late in the day we were not able to do or see as much as I wanted to but had tried some of the local gastronomy Boulder has to offer. Not sure if it really was but the food was still delicious - The Rib House. One I must point out is I never had fried mac and cheese before! Yum! It became night so quickly there was not much to do since we didn't all feel like drinking so we walked around and checking out the shops and the funniest thing of the night was Marcelo thought he had found the most unique place that we should all check out - Dairy Queen. It was obviously the cutest thing as he
never heard of it.
At around 8pm I came back home to my relatives to only go back out in downtown Denver for a bar that another couchsurfer had invited me to. I didn't get to talk to him much as it was very loud and crowded area with a live band and dancing. I didn't know this bar was more on the outskirts, and a bit more cougar town, I still had a lot of fun and a nice buzz.
DAY My last day was very quaint and relaxing. As my family lived in a an apartment just in walking distance to the small main st of shops and cafes. We walked over to get some coffee and breakfast at Udi's Bread Cafe then back home to play some dance game on the Wii. I never had so much fun with my family before - I will never forget this feeling of a family with no drama and no negativeness. I think it was the highlight of my trip.
After a few hours of playing, my uncles took me to see downtown Denver in the day. We saw the state house (and the ghetto areas
not to mention) as well as 16th Street Mall. Nothing much really caught my attention as it reminded me just like all other downtowns I've been in except for graphic colored cow sculptures along side the streets. Last stop of the day was at the biggest REI store I've ever seen! It was in a huge warehouse with multiple stories at different levels/different stairways and a bike/hike course right outside to test out the equipment! Oh, and a rock climbing wall! It was my toys 'r us. 😊
How time flies when you are having fun... but it was time for me to go home. Until next time... I will miss Colorado! I think it is the state I would love to move to one day...
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