#95 Fairy Tale

This says "Merlin" to me but there was no title to this mural

on a building in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

Even though it's considered by some to be a suburb of Colorado Springs,

Manitou Springs is the cultural and political opposite of her neighbor.

#94 Faces

On an underpass in Denver. Pretty cool, I think. 

Note that the reflection in each pair of glasses is different, 

emphasizing a different aspect of Denver/Colorado culture.

#92 Eyes

Rupert with his human, my daughter. They both have beautiful eyes!

#224 Pleasure

So many people, institutions, and businesses have contributed to my road trip pleasure. This marker on the outskirts of Estes Park, Colorado is just an example of what I mean. Thoughtful artwork with the Rocky Mountains in the  background - pleasure on so many levels.

#200 Nine

If you enlarge the photo you can see nine elk on this hillside leaving the Rocky Mountain National Park Visitor's Center at the top of the pass. One of the rules is "No Parking on the Highway." This rule is frequently broken when three or more cars are already parked and people are looking off into the meadow/forest. Someone has spotted wildlife so everyone else stops to see, too. Cameras click by the hundreds. Love it.

#79 Dusk

I saw this in my rear view mirror and slammed on the brakes. With all that gold from the setting sun, well, what else could I do besides capture it for my own? Kinda reminds me of Forrest Gump, too, don'tcha think?

Highway 40 between Craig and Dinosaur, Colorado.

#341 Under Water

Dinosaur National Monument is tucked into the northwest corner of Colorado and flows over into Utah. This area (like most of the Western U.S.) used to be under water a bazillion years ago. You'll have to google to learn exactly how many years it was. Anything over a couple thousand years and my eyes glaze over. Anyway, these stratified color layers have been lifted up so the paleontologists can explore and share their findings with us. We took a tour with a very knowledgable ranger who showed us some actual dinosaur fossils still in the rock.

#233 Reaching Up

The seventeen spires of Air Force Academy Chapel, Colorado Springs, Colorado reach up to the sky which is close since the Academy is above 6,500 feet altitude.

 Interior of the Protestant Chapel. You can almost see the tall aluminum cross in front of the window.

The building also houses Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim chapels. Magnificent. I could have spent a lot more time soaking up the art, beauty, and quietness of these worship spaces.

Google for a virtual tour - worth your time!

#271 Slowly

After one hour, twenty minutes of slowly ascending Pikes Peak on the cog railway we are above tree line and almost to the top of the mountain. This view looks down to another train on a siding. It was well worth the ticket price! We could have driven the road which is now almost all paved (at $1 million per mile) but I enjoyed the relaxing ride and humorous and informative tour guide. We also had friendly seat mates from Italy. Another beautiful day in Colorado!

#32 Burgundy

Checking out the D'Vine Winery in Manitou Springs.

#297 Tasty

Wheeler Spring, Manitou Springs, Colorado

My lovely daughter is filling her water bottle from the Wheeler Spring in front of the Wheeler Mansion, Windemere. There are seven public springs (according to the brochure) on the streets of Manitou Springs, all of which offer tasty, carbonated water. Each spring has a different, subtle taste. I'm not a connoisseur of waters but she really likes them.

#271 Slow

It's slow going up the rock. You can just barely see the rope he is on so no stress about free climbing.

Many signs are posted that indicate climbing the rocks is allowed but only by certified climbers. Sign in at the visitor's center.

#126 Garden

It was a glorious day at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

I'm so lucky to have such beautiful weather! 

Interesting sideline: The red rocks are bazillion-year-old sedimentary rock, which used to be covered with water or ice or both. Then there was an upheaval. The earth's crust "folded" and caused the horizontal to become vertical and we get to say "How pretty!" Because it IS pretty.

That is Pike's Peak in the background.

#204 Oddity

"I See What You Mean"-  a 30-foot steel sculpture, encased in a fiberglass 

and cement composite, by artist Lawrence Argent (2005). 

Bear is peeking into the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver - 

a touch of whimsey in an otherwise uninteresting/normal venue.

See http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/museum-art/lawrence-argent-blue-bear 

for more information or google for more (and clearer) photos.

#33 Busy

The 16th Street Mall is a busy place in downtown Denver. What a gorgeous day!

#8 Architecture

Downtown Denver is a contrast of the historical and the modern.

16th Street Mall is a must-see when you visit the Mile-High City.

#346 Vacation

I took a road trip to Colorado Springs to see my daughter. On the way I was treated to some of God's magnificent high altitude scenery.

Wait. There's more.