First kick off to my new adventure - Colorado

Before I start my new journey to Portugal, I decided to go to Colorado to visit family and friends. Many thanks to my friends Rollie and Kathleen for allowing me to take over their guest and family room. 

Their townhome sits on the 7th tee of the Country Club of Colorado Springs and has a lovely view from their deck. The wildfife was incredible. Everyday deer, rabbits, birds and squirrels graced their outdoor area. 

And, what would a deck be but the best place to have a dry martini?

Although I spent many days relaxing and visiting with my brother and sister, I did have time to do some touristy activities and enjoy the outdoors of Colorado's finest.

Kathleen and I hiked the 7 bridges of North Cheyenne Creek Park. Up North Cheyenne Canon road the moderately difficult hike is 5.78 miles out and back. The trail starts at over 6,000 ft and follows a mountain stream in a 1.597 ft gain.

It was a beautiful day and wonderful exercise for getting your heart rate going. So clean, and the sweet smell of fall was in the air.  

Seven Bridges

View half-way up the trail

Changing leaves

The bridges are sturdy and wooden and run criss-cross across the creek.

Finally the last bridge

The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey

The working abbey produces their own wine and the tasting room is open for standing room, or you can register a table. Kathleen, her daughter Joanna and I did register for 10 tastings, and a picnic lunch of crackers, cheese and shrimp. 

We started with white, then reds (along with the reserves) and finally sweets (not for me)!

Wine haul

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The zoo in Colorado Springs is an attraction, not just outside visitors but all Coloradans and we do love our zoo. 

Kathleen and I stuck to the African area; hippos, giraffes, penguins, and elephants.

Now my time in Colorado has come to an end. I'm so glad I took the time to come visit family and friends before I start my trek abroad. 

Keep checking back to robinsgreatadventure for more posts.

Colorado…first stop on new adventure

It's been a week since I "made it" from Europe to Colorado Springs.  I say "made it" because it was a miserable travel experience. Two day lay over in Dallas costing about $250 I hadn't expected. 

Now I'm here and the last week has been filled with re-connecting with friends and family. One of my friends told me that coming back to the States would be difficult because I have changed but nothing else here has and she was right.  

View of Pikes Peak

Colorado Springs is nestled below Pikes Peak and it is really beautiful with its snow packet peak, but the city itself is just one big strip mall surrounded by sub-divisions of all the same house. There's no place to walk and without a car you can't get to the market or decent restaurant. I really miss the architecture and small villages of Europe. But, can't dwell on that now.

To break up the monotonous online resume applications that I'm sure go into the black ether, I try and get out to one of the many strip malls dotting the large roadways.  

Only in American would you see a place called Bunz Bakery and Burger Bar!

I wonder if I can ask for any size???

Or Cafe Velo coffee and bikes…

Buy a $5 latte or a $3,000 bike

The weather has either been double digits below freezing or about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. 

I'm pulling out all the stops to find a job and hope to be able to move out of my sister's place soon. I may bite the bullet and just go to Boston even though it will be costly. I think I might have a better chance for a job. 

Stay tuned and watch this space!