Finally...I was able to take another trip! Okay, so it wasn't an international trip, but I still enjoyed it!!!! 

Tuesday and Wednesday

I flew from PA to Newark, then boarded the flight to Denver. Colorado was the first stop on my week long continental American adventure. I spent some time with my sister there. We checked out the mall, then went downtown. I must say that downtown was pretty cool, and it was a really nice day so it felt nice to be outside walking around. 

Apparently, there are multiple cities (2 that I know of) that have piano's randomly placed throughout the downtown area. My city in Pennsylvania does that, but so does city in Colorado where my sister lives...wonder where else that happens...  

After we finished walking downtown, we headed back to her apartment, picked up Howdy and took him to the dog park. I thought it was a really nice place, but then again maybe the view of the mountains...

Later that evening we played DDR, well I guess if you want to get technical, it was 'In the Groove,' either way, I forgot how much I liked the songs and how much fun it is to play. 

The next day she had to be at work by 7:30 in the morning...and I didn't have to be at the airport until 11:30-12ish to check in for my flight to New Mexico. We spent some time figuring out how I could get to the airport...the 'Super Shuttle' has specific pick-up locations, or will pick you up at your house for an added cost and then take you to the airport. Well, we figured out that I could walk to either one of two bus stops, catch the number 7 bus and ride it all the way to the mall which is in walking distance of one of the super shuttle stops. 

Thursday

That's what I did...I figured out what the bus fare was $1.25 one-way (which floored me because it is so cheap compared to what I use to pay for public transport in Baltimore). I walked to bus stop (another reason I love my backpack, I didn't have to drag around a suitcase) and waited for the bus. Shock #2 - the bus was on time. As I'm climbing on the bus the driver makes a rather obvious statement, he says something like 'You look like you're on the road.' To which I reply that I was visiting my sister and now I'm headed to the airport. 

While I was sitting on the bus, I could help but remember taking the bus when I lived in Baltimore. There were some other regular passengers that I got to know. As always, there are a few crazy stories I could tell about my Baltimore public bus experiences, but I won't get into that. 

The flight from Denver to Farmington

I made it to airport without any problems, checked in got something to eat, went through security, found my gate and then boarded my flight and left on time...I knew that I was thinking this was to easy! Really, lets be honest...when I travel things don't usually operate that smoothly...if it did what would I have to write about? I make it to New Mexico where I was meeting up with a friend for the weekend. Well, when I got off the plane I went to baggage claim and guess what...my backpack wasn't there! But there was another flight from Denver that came in later that night so I went back to the airport and got my backpack about 5 hours later. The funny part is that the lady who was sitting in my row on the flight also didn't get her luggage and I saw her again at the airport when I went back for the evening flight. 

I had some time to check out Farmington, that afternoon so I went to visitor center for a little while, then I spent some time walking by the river. 

Along the river there is a war memorial, listing each war that America has been involved in. The center of the memorial is pictured here. 

Part of the war memorial

Water + Sunlight = what you see 

Friday

The next day I got to do something that I've always wanted to do...I know this may seem strange to some, because it's not overly exciting like skydiving (which I think I'd like to try someday...) In New Mexico I was close to the Four Corners (New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.  

I'm standing on the Four Corners Monument...one more dream accomplished 

After leaving the Four Corners Monument we drove to Monument Valley...it's a valley with huge rock formations. 

It's a tree!! 

Overlooking the valley

The ruins we walked to/got to see up close

Saturday

The next day we drove to Mesa Verde which has some really cool cliff dwelling ruins. Some of the ruins were closed due to ice and mud that made the trails dangerous,  but one of them was open. Some of the others we were able to see from a distance which was also really cool. 

more ruins 

Looking at these ruins made me wonder what community life was like. Was each dwelling an home for a single family, including extended family members? What was life really like? 

Another dwelling seen from a distance

The views were amazing!

Sunday

Mountains in Colorado

Sunday morning we went to church before heading to Durango, Colorado. The mountains in Durango still had snow...so we decided to rent snowmobiles for a couple hours. That was amazingly fun!!!! There were some sections that were flat and open so you could punch the gas and speed!!!!!!!!!! Speed, snow, and mountains...need I say more, I absolutely loved it!

After the relinquishment of the snowmobiles, we headed back down the mountain and stopped to do a little hiking as slightly lower altitudes...but still high enough for me to do a little gasping for air at times... 

The trail

There was some gorgeous scenery during the short hike...

Parts of the trail were muddy and slightly slippery, other areas were full of loose rocks...but when it was all said and done, I didn't sprain my ankle (even if I didn't have the best hiking shoes). 

Even if I was a little dyspneic earlier in the hike, it couldn't have been that bad because I'm smiling here

Monday

It was time to leave New Mexico and return home to Pennsylvania. After a full day of travel, a couple flight delays, and no missing luggage (this time) I arrived home.