A Denver Quickie !!!

I had planned this trip to Denver during mid October. Mainly this trip was also to celebrate the unofficial completion of my MS from Santa Clara University. The MS race was a quick sprint to finish and lasted a little less than 15 months.

I was excited about flying domestic for the first time in USA. The southwest airlines touched down a freezing snow covered Denver on the night of Dec 18 2008. I was warmly received by my friend Sridhar.

The trip was initially planned till January 1st 2009 but owing to the bad weather conditions, shutdown of the tourist places and other reasons I had to cut it short to Dec 22.

Day 1 - December 19 2008 (Friday)

This was my first view of the snow. The sun was shining bright even as the landscape was dominated with the white snow. As soon as I stepped outside my friends apartment, the chill air seemed to pierce the skin, ears and every exposed part of the body. To tackle the freezing temperatures layers of clothes, gloves, cap and a warm coat are very much essential.

In the evening after my friend was back from office we decided to go out for a drink to a Bar which was just next door - a five minute walk. We had to pack ourselves cosily to walk a few hundred meters to the Mile Nine Bar & Restaurant.

For the next 4 hours until half past midnight was fun and relaxed. We caught up over the happenings in our lives the past one year since we had met for the first time. When friends meet over drinks and good food with the right ambiance to go with it, there is no shortage of words to keep the meeting engaged.

Day 2 - December 20 2008 (Saturday)

After a good night out we started the day pretty late. Sridhar rented a Toyota Corolla and along with his roommates we headed out for the night to Black Hawk which was supposed to be the Las Vegas of Denver city, of course not to that extent.

Sridhar cruised the Corolla through the Denver freeways to the Black Hawk for which he had caught a fancy after making some decent gains during his previous visits.



The Ameristar Casino in Black Hawk was our destination.

I explored the casino a bit and also played Black Jack for a few dollars just to soak into the atmosphere. After losing a few dollars which I was bound to I decided to say quits and settle down in the lounge bar in the same casino.

There was live music which was being rendered by some talented band of musicians.

The warmth exuding from the fireplace, good music and classy drinks kept me engaged for the next 3 hours as my friends tested their fortunes playing Black Jack and Poker. My very good friend Harsha happened to call me from India and we reminisced over the good old times back home. It was a perfect evening which I had asked for.

We left the casino at 1-30 AM and the Ameristar had proved again why it was Sridhars hunting ground. He had made a good win and was jubilant even on that dark eerie cold night far away from home. By the time we reached home it was about 3 AM.

Day 3 - December 21 2008 (Sunday)

Yet again it was a late start and we set out for the Royal Gorge Bridge. Somehow I missed experiencing driving on the Denver roads. The theme of the season in Denver was white. Snow everywhere and a chill in the air. By the time we reached the spot it was 4 in the evening.

The Royal Gorge is called the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River. More details here.

The Royal Gorge Bridge is one of the worlds highest bridge. It was built in 1929.

This bridge is motorable and the speed is limited to 5 mph. We walked the entire length of the bridge. The temperature when we reached was unbelievably the lowest which I had heard or experienced in my life. It was - 16 degree Celsius. The cold was literally biting the hands, ears and cheeks. It was as though the organs inside were burning, in spite of the cold. It is a feeling for which no words will do justice. It has to be experienced ! All the shops were closed for the season owing to the unbearable cold.

These Bighorn Mountain Sheep seemed to be at ease with the environment. Classic creations of Nature ! I was curious about the white area which seemed to be frozen snow near the mouth and the back of the sheep. Probably it is some sort of adaptation.

We were walking endlessly in the cold.

Thankfully we reached the other end of the bridge and we walked a little more to a point which presented a lovely view of the Royal Gorge Bridge.

This is the deep gorge with the frozen Arkansas river flowing in between.

The Royal Gorge swing where you can swing free air to and fro over the gorge. It was closed for the winter. I am sure it would be an experience which only brave hearts would dare to try.

We walked back to where we had parked the car and almost experienced rebirth after the heater was turned on to the maximum. We had dinner on our way back in a Nepalese restaurant which served Indian food. It was about 10 PM by the time we were back home.

Day 4 - December 22 2008 (Monday)

All through the Sunday and the freezing Royal Gorge visit in Denver, I was in continuous touch with a friend in Bay Area, California and making plans for yet another trip to the worlds sizzling nightspot Las Vegas. I had decided to return back to Bay Area and spend the final days of the 2008 with the base at home away from home. I rescheduled my air tickets from Jan 1 2009 to 4 PM of Dec 22 2008. Sridhar dropped me to the Denver International Airport at 3 PM and it was a hurried curb side check in to the San Jose Flight. I reached San Jose at about 6 PM and that night and the next day was spent in my friend Rudresh's antique German style house in San Jose Downtown.

Six of us (Santa Clara University Boys) left to the Vegas, Arizona and LA Triple Trip on the evening of December 24 2008 (Wednesday). The Denver Quickie had a bit of memories to cherish even if it was not the best.