Colorado. Known for the Denver Broncos, the Rocky Mountains,
Pikes Peak, Mesa Verde National Park, Gold mining and ghost towns, rejecting
the Olympics and of course the wide array of outdoor activities, including;
skiing, snow-mobiling, trout fishing and elk hunting.
Before heading back to dreary London for the Christmas
holidays I was kindly invited to stay in Denver, Colorado, with a friend who
was on my Swim team back in Kent last year. Sarah, hospitable and lovely as
ever, ensured that my stay in Colorado was one I wouldn’t forget with a
jam-packed, fun-filled timetable, bursting with activities ranging from
spinning down a tubing hill on the side of a mountain to kicking back and
slurping frozen strawberry margaritas.
As I flew into Denver International Airport the sun was
setting and the sky lit up in the most beautiful blood orange colour outlining
the mountains. Talk about picturesque! This glimpse of landscape was only a
peek at what was to come.
Known as the ‘mile high city’ (as Denver really is a mile
above sea level!) I was pretty much forced by Sarah to down large quantities of
water in order to help my body adjust to the higher altitude. After I
acclimatised to the somewhat colder weather than sunny South Carolina, the
adventures began with trips to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Coors Brewery and the
Denver Zoo lights. With my body
adjusting to the thinner and dryer air, we decided to take a weekend trip up to
the mountains – the White River National Forest. Staying in a cosy ‘condo’ ski
chalet, it was the perfect get away from hectic finals week and exam stress.
The mountains were covered in snow and we woke to fresh fallen powder – a
perfect ‘white Christmas’ scene. Tubing, a sleigh ride, peppermint schnapps hot
chocolate and Rocky Mountain oysters (aka bull testicles) made for a memorable
trip filled with laughter and good company.
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