Denver : National Parks and Canyons: Bus Trip

Welcome to Denver, the "Mile High City," capital of Colorado and gateway to the Rocky Mountains. An attractive city with broad streets, a tree-lined pedestrian mall leads to the gold-domed State Capitol and Larimer Square in the city’s historic heart. Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring.
______________________________________________

Today [Wednesday, 27 August] our National Parks & Canyon Country Bus Trip commences.   This is a 14 day Tour.
 
Our Tour Director is Bruce Fritzges



Bruce Fritzges
 

Travel Documents

This morning we met a couple from Auckland who are going on our Trip.   They are originally from Levin knew Bills relatives.    There is apparently 3 couples from New Zealand on our trip, will meet them tonight between 4.30 and 6 p.m

We went for a walk this morning and went through the State Building.    Had too go through Security to get into the Building.

Bill did walk to the top of the tower but it was closed for renovations, so was not able to take any photos from there.

Margaret outside State Building

Dome State Building

From one of the lower Floors
 

We continued to walk around the square they were setting up tents as it is Labour Weekend here this weekend.    Getting extremely hot here today not a cloud in the sky.    Caught the free Bus up the Strand again, lovely way of getting around without costing any money.

This afternoon spent time just sitting on concrete seats on the 16th Mall watching people playing pianos and playing music, using empty plastic buckets and sticks (don't need drums).   Even watching people put money in their buckets and clapping.

Lot of portable Food Carts here as well.

Playing the Piano on the Mall

Playing drums using plastic buckets

Lots of people asking for money, sitting on the footpaths with signs advertising homeless and needing money, they just come up and ask you.

I also will remember Denver for their flower pots around the streets outside shops and on the Mall.    The flowers in these pots would certainly not last cold weather, so would be interesting to know what they put in them in the Winter.

The Mall

The Streets in Denver are very clean.    Even yesterday saw a lady with only one arm sweeping and putting the rubbish in a shovel and then moving on to the next rubbish on the street.

Many policeman in the Mall on bikes, motor bikes, and sedgways, all with guns.    There is also some on push bikes.

Policeman in the Mall

Met Tour Director Bruce Fritzges tonight in foyer, has a trainee with him, gaves us our options to look at and decide before tomorrow nights meeting in Keystone.  

 

 

Denver : Bus Trip to Red Rock Park and Museum

Today [Tuesday, 26 August] we went by bus to Red Rock Park and Amphitheatre.    Very interesting drive in the Bus.



Our Bus Trip at Denver



Red Rocks

World famous 9,450 seat amphitheatre is flanked by 300 foot red sandstone rock formations and offers summer concert series.    The Visitors Centre has a Performers Hall of Fame.  It is an official Colorado Welcome Centre - very impressive.  They also have hiking trails throughout the park with views of the rock formations.    We had an hour there.

 
Map

Red Rocks

This the sound system area where concerts are held - People were doing exercises
up and down the steps

On the way we went passed a Lake which is used for boating, fishing in the Summer and in the winter it is used as a Ice Skating

Driving past Lake in the Bus

We also went to Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave.     The final resting spot of the West's most famous Scout and Showman is located on top of a Lookout Mountain.   An adjacent museum tells his life story.

Bill outside Museum

Margaret outside Museum

Guns

Painting
 

"Buffalo Bill"

Emil W. Lenders 1908

Emil Lenders was born in Germany, where he studied art.   Attracted to the American West he emigrated to the United States where he got to know Buffalo Bill.   He painted this portrait when he was four-four.   Buffalo Bill called him "The Best painter of Buffaloes in the World"




William F. Cody got his nickname "Bufffalo Bill" because of his buffalo hunting ability while supplying meat to Union Paciific railroad workers and the U.S. Army.   After 1870, he hunted buffalo only occasionally.  He continued hunting for the rest of his life but also advocated the creation of parks and preservation to protect wildlife.


Grave of Buffalo Bill and his Wife

Buffalo Bill (William Frederick Cody} and his Wife
Louisa Maud Cody

Denver : Arrival

Arriving [Monday, 25 August] in Denver.   We are here for 2 days before commencing our National Parks and Canyons Bus Trip.

Denver

Early morning rise, good Plane trip, arrived Denver about 12.30 p.m. (not to hot).    Quite complicated getting through Airports even got on a train at Denver Airport but I am sure things will improve.



Denver Airport

Denver Airport

The first thing I noticed on leaving Denver Airport bare land no trees, just dried up fields, till we got further into Denver and then a few trees but no big ones only small.



Main Street (The Mall)

Been for a walk this afternoon free Buses down their main street (The Mall) which is very nice. 

Free Buses in the Mall

Going on a bus trip tomorrow for half a day up in the Mountains but will explain more later, didn't have a pamphlet to give away, so another early rise 7.45 a.m. pick up. 

State Building

Denver Police

When walking through the Parks to the State Building we met this little fellow lots of them around.

Squirell

Gardens very colourful in Civic Centre Park.


Denver's Gardens in Civic Centre Park

Train in the centre of Denver

San Francisco : Cable Car Ride and Shopping

Today [Sunday, 24 August] there was an Earthquake in America, I didn't feel it but Bill did most damage at Napa Valley.    Met a Levin couple at Breakfast they knew the Barton's, and Bonners.

Waiting on our Cable Car

Been on cable car this morning to the Fisherman's Wharf and then back to Westfield shopping centre including Nordstrom and Bloomingdale.    These shops sell very high end products.


Margaret and Bill on Cable Car

Shopping Centre Shops

Dome above Restaurant at Westfield Shopping Centre



Nordstrom

Then walked back to Macey's menswear where Bill did some shopping, back to hotel for a cuppa.

This afternoon went to Macey's near our hotel and looked at the Restaurant on Top called The Cheese Cake Factory.

From the Balcony to Union Square

The Cheese Cake Restaurant

Restaurant

Went through Macey's brilliant shop, and then brought tea from there and took back to our room.    

We leave tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. to go to the Airport to fly to Denver.

We have enjoyed our stay at San Francisco reminded us very much of Wellington with steep streets.   Our Hotel was very central and pleasant to stop at.

Lot of entertainment on the Streets at night, Bands and people dancing.   

San Francisco: Golden Gate Park Tour and Boat Cruise

Today [Saturday 23rd August] we went on Golden Gate Park Tour this morning, very pleasant.     Went past houses that have been done up and extremely expensive to buy.

(Click on the photos to see a larger version.)



Lovely Homes on Way to Golden Gate Park

Then on to Golden Gate Park, drove through the park, lovely gardens and Glass Houses and the Academy of Sciences are here.

Gardens in Golden Gate Park

We continued on to the Beach.      The name of the Beach is Ocean Beach (Windmill)

Windmill at the Beach

There is only one Windmill at the Beach.

Beach

A Group of Harley Davidson Motor Bikes at the Look Out.

Motor Bikes at look-out

At the Beach there is many lovely Holiday Apartments.

Apartments

We continued on to Golden Gate Park again where Bill and myself decided to get out and have a look at the Academy of Sciences.



 

Academy of Sciences

Bill and myself had a lovely hour and half here, and then caught the bus 2 hours later.    Beautiful inside with an area where you walk amongst birds and butterflies (Rainforest high humid) Big Tropical Dome, Aquarium, earthquake simulation, penquins, albino alligator, and animals.  Lots of people there.

Bill in front of the Dome

Opposite the Academy of Sciences is an Public Sound Shell, and large public area where people could put up tents and sell products, perform their dance and music.   Mainly very way out type of Entertainment.

Tents and area where people play their musical instruments

  

Went on a Cruise this afternoon under the Golden Gate Bridge a short distance out towards the sea, and then back twice around the Alcatraz Island and Buildings.

Bill with Alcatraz Island

Quite rough out on the water, and had to hold most of the time but still very pleasant.   Lots of boats out on the water with the Cruise Boats as well.

Cruise Boat

This is a map of our Cruise.

 

Map of our Cruise in Red

Golden Gate Bridge

There were a lot of Sea Lions at the Wharf and was a main attraction as well.



Sea Lions on the Wharf





Alcatraz

 

Then off to tea at Pier 39, Seafood Chowder and a Seafood Basket, very nice and only $21. US Dollars.    Large crowd down on the Wharf as it is Saturday here.