I am going to visit my friend Peggy in Boulder, Colorado. We were both on
the China trip last October and got on well. As well as liking her, I admire
her greatly for her energy, enthusiasm and attitude. I take a 2 and a half hour
flight from Calgary to Denver – the Mile High City - and Peggy meets me at the
airport. We drive for about an hour across a dry plain patterned with circular
green irrigated fields. The Rockies are visible in the distance and as we come
closer the city of Boulder appears in a circular hollow nestled close to the
foothills and surrounded by a protected belt of countryside. Peggy describes
Boulder now as ' 25 square miles surrounded by reality'.
The first people to live in the Boulder Valley were the Arapaho Indians. Propectors arrived in the mouth of the Boulder canyon in 1858 and the town
grew up at the bottom of the mountains as a supply base for miners and farmers.
The city is home to Colorado University, which has been here since 1877.
Peggy's lovely house is situated in a subdivision close to the edge of the
city and in the morning we take a walk around the neighborhood and within 5
minutes we are on the edge of suburban development right by the foothills
of the Rockies. Although it is relatively early in the morning it is already
hot - I guess about 30 degrees. We pass people taking exercise in a variety of
ways: cycling, race walking, running, and jumping off the foothills with
parachutes. The irrigated park land of the town contrasts with the dry scrubby
landscape of the foothills. Families of prairie dogs run around and then
disappear into their sandy burrows as we approach.
Park on the Edge of Boulder
Dry Rockies Foothills and Irrigated Park Land
Prairie Dog
On our way downtown for lunch we drive through an historic residential area
where the fine houses of the rich residents were first built.
1877 House
We relive our China experience by having lunch in small restaurant that
serves authentic Chinese food.
Chinese Lunch
We spend the afternoon wandering around the very pleasant dowtown area and
seeking shade where we can, as the temperature is now well into the 30s. The
main street is Pearl Street and for the most part is a shady walking street
lined with historic buildings which now contain interesting individual shops,
bars and restaurants.
Pearl Street
In the middle of town is the court house building. The original old
building burned down and was replaced with an art deco version. Inside the
building are old photographs of Boulder and the surrounding area, including
this one of the original building. In the plaza outside there are memorials to the War of Independence and the First World War.
Court House
Original Court House
Outside in the street there is a fun water feature where children play in
their swim suits as the water spurts up unexpectedly.
We go inside the 1909 Boulderado Hotel which is restored in its original
style and has a beautiful Italian glass ceiling. It has an original lift with a sliding
metal gate and in the entrance hall there is an original water fountain which
still supplies water straight from the Arapaho Glacier high up in the
mountains.
Boulderado Hotel
Water Fountain
Boulder Creek runs down off the Rocky Mountains via Boulder Canyon and
through the city. On this hot sunny day people sit on steps with their feet in
the water and children paddle and splash about
5521 Boulder Creek
In the evening Peggy and her son Adam prepare a delicious dinner of
watermelon and feta salad, wild salmon and asparagus. We sit outside to eat and
it is pleasantly warm all evening and there are no biting insects – heaven.
Cooking Dinner
1 comment:
Boulder looks and sounds like an awesome place (apart from the heat, i don't think i could handly that) I love the old architecture! and the prairie dogs!
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