Boulder, Colorado

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.

Arapaho Chief Niwat

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