Try Not to Sound Like an Idiot: Learn the Language!

I'm fluent in Spanish. I started learning the language when I was in elementary school. I continued it through high school, sneaking in a Latin class here and there, and then I went on to minor in Spanish Language and Literature in college. Since I had so many credits from high school, I was able to skip some of the lower level classes and focus on the extra, more specialized one like literature and business related classes. 

I have a natural talent for foreign language. While I was in college, I traveled to Monterrey, Mexico on several occasions to do projects with students at Monterrey Tech University. We communicated with them all semester via satellite and then my class hopped in a coach bus and drove on down to Mexico to meet them and do the presentations we had collaborated on. Working with those students and taking the trips to Monterrey was one of the highlights of my undergraduate career. After that experience, I returned to San Antonio and taught financial literacy classes in Spanish to members of the community. This was during my senior year and part of a business class I took, that was taught in Spanish, which contributed to both my minor and major in business. I was also reading classic Spanish literature (think the Spanish version of Shakespeare) which is hard to understand in English, let alone Spanish and sometime Catalan. So basically, I spoke, wrote and read Spanish like I was Hispanic but I'm not.

Over the years, I've lost my ability to speak the language as fluently as I did in college. I haven't really had anyone to practice with so when I'm called on to speak it, I can never recall the words and I get a little embarrassed at first...but if I take a minute to get my life together, I can communicate with relative ease. 

When you know a language like Spanish, it's easy for you to pick up other languages as well. I can understand some Italian and French (romance languages). Even better, after I've been in a place for just a short amount of time, hearing the language and attempting to communicate with the locals, I'm able to understand and even speak back enough to get by.

 So when we went to Brazil, my friends looked to me to translate Portuguese so we could communicate with the Brazilians. Unfortunately Portuguese is a very difficult language to understand with lots of unfamiliar sounds. I was able to pick up on a few things and by the end of the trip I could understand some basics. But I prepared myself prior to the trip by using language learning apps. Before I left, I had a basic understanding of the essentials. (While I was there, I found myself slipping into Spanish...which isn't as weird as it sounds. Some Brazilians can understand and speak Spanish as well). It didn't help that the Brazilians thought that I was a native, would walk up to me and start having a full blown conversation in Portuguese....while I stood there with a confused look on my face. 

Nevertheless, I generally make it a point to try and memorize important phrases like please and thank you before a trip. I try to figure out how to ask for directions or whether or not a person speaks English, where's the bathroom, the numbers so I can accurately count money. I think it makes the locals feel like you're putting in some effort and they're more willing to help you and be nice if you need directions or struggling to order lunch in their native tongue. Most people need a while to learn these things...but like I said, I have a gift so I can do it the week before, or at a bare minimum, on the plane ride over. 

Seeing as how I'm headed to Istanbul, Turkey on Friday (and even though I'll be there barely over 24 hours) I thought I would look into learning a few phrases today. Don't get me wrong, I know that Turkish is wholly different from Spanish or Portuguese, but I just wanted to look into it. So I Googled, "Important Turkish Phrases" and selected a Trip Advisor article called, Turkey: Important Phrases. Excellent....that's just want I wanted!

I clicked the link and started reading. Then this overwhelming sense of despair came over me lol....um...there's no way I'm going to be able to learn any of this before I leave. I can't even understand the phonetic pronunciation of the phrases  on the page. Yikes!

I think, with Spanish, my brain is able to identify some rhythm in the words and phrases which makes it easy for me to pick up. I actually think in Spanish sometimes. 

Not so much with Turkish. For example, if I want to tell someone Thank you, for bringing me this fabulous glass of wine (or whatever spirit I've order in Istanbul...and there will be spirits) I have to attempt to say this:

Teşekkür ederim

(pronounced TE-SH-QU-ERR ED-ERR-IM) 

Now, the article tells me that Turkish is a very phonetic so I can sound this out and it'll come out right....um....or nah. That does not give me confidence. 

So I'm a little nervous about communicating in Turkish, needless to say. Elizabeth assured me that we'll be in a touristy part of town so I shouldn't worry. But I pride myself for my gift and natural tendency towards learning languages and I feel somewhat defeated because I know I won't be able to learn this before we leave.There's no chance of it. I don't want to be fumbling over words and sounding like an idiot when I'm asking for directions or ordering food and then the waiter brings me something unrecognizable. Then this will be my face lol...

Don't even get me started on Greek. Gyro? Souvlaki? Spanakopita? Tzatziki? That's about all I got. I just know I'm gonna get to Greece and be so shackled when its time to eat lol. Here's to hoping we get menus with pictures.

Less than 3 days left! 

**There's no where to go but everywhere...so get going! ~GEV

GEV's next Journey - Countdown to Turkey/Greece!

Countdown Clocks

It's almost time!!! I'm no where NEAR being ready! So much for that organization thing (::side-eyeing myself::). 

The only thing standing between me and my next excursion is a few work days and I have no motivation for productivity...I'm way too excited. 

Thanks Krystal....I was about to skip today's post. I want to go to sleep and wake up on Friday! I really can't believe that the trip is so close...I've been waiting for months. I feel like I'm gonna be visiting my own page and watching this countdown for a while....driving myself crazy.

Unfortunately, I have a million things to do at work before I go, just to make sure the place doesn't fall to pieces while I'm gone. But I'm having a really hard time focusing...if you can believe that (if you know me, you can).

I will say that I feel slightly accomplished b/c I purchased a swimsuit and a new pair of shoes and I kinda have a plan for everything else but we'll see how it works out. 

Elizabeth just mentioned to me that the exchange rate for the Euro is about $1 to 1.32 euros. That's not a horrible rate. If I plan to exchange $500 before I go, I'll get about 378 euros (when I see those numbers in writing it kinda hurts my soul a little).

I also plan to try and get in a workout everyday leading up to Friday. Keeping my body active the week before a long flight helps reduce the bad side effects of being confined on a plane that long, like swelling and stiffness. It'll also help me to get better rest. I need to watch my salt intake and keep my diet pretty healthy so no heavy meals the day before and day of.....that helps too. I like to be really hydrated so I'll drink up to half my body weight in water daily. I'll stay up late Thursday night so that way I'll be good and tuckered out come Friday night.

So...while I'm gone, I'll be posting videos and pics of all the awesomeness. I'm particularly excited to recreate all the incredible pics I've seen of Santorini at sunset, like the one below...look out for those.

Where and when your next vacation destination? Are you already excited? Tell me about in the comments? If you don't already have anything planned, September is a good month to get in one final summer getaway so tell me where you'd like to go! I wanna hear from you. 

**There's no where to go but everywhere...so get going! ~GEV

My Fav Travel Deals!

Each week, I receive tons of emails with travel deals but I especially look forward to Wednesdays. On Wednesdays I receive This Week's Top 25 from Sherman's Travel and TravelZoo's VIP Edition: This Week's Top 20.

TravelZoo has just added pictures to their weekly Top 20 newsletter and I gotta tell you, I liked receiving these emails before but I love getting them now. I think that seeing a picture of a destination is one thing that can really entice you into clicking the purchase button. If a picture makes me drool, then I want to go. Unfortunately, I'm a sucker for a pretty pictures so most of them make me drool and therein lies my problem. I genuinely get frustrated that I have to work and can't just jump on the next plane to Bora Bora. 

Forgive my rant, I wanted to share the travel deals I saw this week that really stood out to me. I have a friend who lives in DC. Recently he mentioned that he needed a quick getaway. When people tell me stuff like that, I get all tingly inside...then I am constantly searching for ideas. When they forget about it....I'm still researching...so aside from window shopping (because I like to spend my free time planning trips that I'm not actually going on..lame, I know), I'm always looking for deals that I think will inspire someone else. 

I also think that Sherman's Travel and TravelZoo can read my mind. Whenever I've got a destination in mind, one of these two sites always has a deal. For instance, I'm trying to talk my friends into an Australia/Fiji trip for May 2015. The deal is not exactly what I'm looking for...but it gives me an idea of what to expect as far as pricing is concerned. I particularly appreciate the deals with airfare included, especially the ones with airfare from Houston. Unfortunately, the deals I find rarely depart from Houston so I have to fly somewhere else to get the deal. For example, I flew to Chicago to meet my best friend then we flew to San Jose, Costa Rica. I'm from Houston so you can see how that doesn't really make sense. At the time though, I was able to fly to Chicago for pennies. I'm doing the same thing for a trip to China. Flying to SFO first to meet my cousin and then heading to Bejing. 

I love the New Orleans and Las Vegas deals too. It's easy to get to New Orleans and its like going to a whole different country. Vegas is Vegas...you can truly just let your hair down and lose your mind there and then come back like nothing ever happened.

The Travelzoo Top20 newsletter doesn't doesn't get sent to my email until the afternoon but you can go directly to the website to find the deals. This one to Punta Cana with Air is amazing....and like I said, the pics get you every time. They've also got one for New Zealand....this is a pretty sweet deal for 9 nights. 3 cities w/ air as well......goodness. I need more time and more money.

At any rate, I suggest you sign up for these newsletter and any other travel deal newsletters out there. If nothing else...these deals can temporarily quench your daily wanderlust :) 

**There's no where to go but everywhere....so get going! ~GEV

15 Things You Need to Remember for your Next International Trip!

Since I will be embarking on another international journey in less than two weeks, I decided it was time for me to start getting my life together. Usually, I would just do things as they came to my mind which never proves to be the best route for me. This time I wanted to have some method to my madness...perhaps this will be the start of a new tradition...organization...(yeah right, it wont last long). 

To begin this new tradition, I will create a list. The purpose of the list is twofold, 1. So I can prepare myself and pack efficiently and 2. To make sure I don't forget anything.....which I inevitably will. Hopefully this time it wont be my toothbrush....I should really start a collection called, Toothbrushes from Around the World. Once, when I was on a business trip in Delaware, I left my hairbrush at home....who does that? A hairbrush is essential grooming tool...and I was there for a conference...one for which I needed to be presentable since I would be networking with big wigs from large corporations..... well arranged hair is definitely necessary in those situations...trust me on that. SMH...that's why I need a list.

At any rate, I figured that since I began travel blogging, readers may be looking for advice on things like this. I'm not an authority, believe me....but this can be a road map for your own preparation and you should make your own list too. I'm not saying this is the best or an exhaustive list of things to do, but this is my list. 

I didn't realize I had a list until I sat down to think about it and then put it on paper. But, I definitely have a systematic way of doing things. 

So here it is...in no particular order, the list of things I typically do to prepare for an international journey.

1. Create a shopping list - I find myself buying things for trips, mostly things I don't need, and  in turn, spending unnecessary money. So instead of wasting money like I do, go thru the stuff you already have and only buy things that you absolutely need. You'll thank me for this. Money saved before your trip is money you can spend during your trip! I'm trying to implement this tip in my own travel life as well.

2. Get a visa if you need it - Dont be like me and wait until the last minute to start the visa process. If there isn't an emabssy in your area for the country you're visiting, you may have to send in the paperwork and payment via snailmail. The processing, etc. could take a couple months. You might also have to spend money to get it expedited or shipped. There are services that you can use too. Personally, I've used a service called US Visa Connection. They come to my office, pick up whatever documents they need for the visa, the fee, their fee and then they bring it back to me in a couple days. I'm lazy like that but it is awesome they they can get it done so quickly and I don't mind spending the extra money to avoid having to go thru the process myself. If you're traveling with friends, your friend can act as a proxy on your behalf to obtain a visa too. That's what I did for Brazil. Al went down to the embassy and they actually handed him the visa on the spot which was surprising bc the site said it would take a couple weeks. So just...make sure to get this handled. I actually keep forgetting to bring my passport to work with me so I can obtain my Turkish visa. Fortunately, I am able to purchase and print it from their site so there's no rush.

3. Make sure your passport is current - Your passport can't be within 6 months of expiring if you're traveling to certain places. Make sure it won't expire before you get back either. You dont want to get stuck in another country. Or maybe you do....

4. Make copies of your passport to take with you and leave one behind - While we're talking about passports, you should make copies of it to take with you. Keep a copy in your suitcase and on your person. I usually leave a copy at home with my itinerary too.

5. Leave a copy of your itinerary where a friend/family member can find it in case of an emergency - Right. Copies of the itinerary with your passport with a friend/family member and a copy for you to take with you. Sometimes you will need the itinerary for addresses to the hotel when you get to your destination. Also, if you have any tours planned, you might need to show the tour guide the docs included in your itinerary. Finally, in the event some ish goes down while you're gone, your family will be able to tell someone where you were staying etc....you get it. 

6. Register on STEP - The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is a service that allows US citizens traveling abroad to enroll in the local US Embassy or Consulate. There's also an iPhone app. This site updates you on any travel advisories/warnings. I supposed this also helps with instances where you've lost your passport or something and need to go to the Embassy for assistance. I update my account for every international trip I take.

7. Pick your nail color - I religiously get a mani/pedi before I go on any trip...I can't have my toes and hands looking a mess and neither should you, so set up an appointment for that. I should add another item number for getting your hair done but I think 7 and 8 get the point across. 

8. Make a wax appointment - Similar to #7, personal maintenance is very important especially if you're going to a beach destination. So schedule an appointment with your wax lady. Or, don't forget to shave and pack extra razors. You'll be grateful I reminded you of this lol.

9. Figure out your budget (maybe this should be first) - You need to make sure you have enough money to eat, for transportation, if necessary, and incidentals. Also, if you plan to take any tours or add extras, you'll need money for that. Keep in mind that if you're going to a country that utilizes the euro, the exchange rate kinda sucks. Make yourself a budget and have a little cushion just in case.

10. Exchange money at your bank before you leave - I have exchanged money at a bunch of different places including, IAH, destination airport, etc. I even had one of those special debit cards with the chip in it. However, I have found that your bank may have a better exchange rate. Be sure to call ahead bc most of the branch do not carry foreign currency. In Houston, the downtown location of Chase bank does carry it. Also, I was able to exchange my foreign currency for dollars when I got back.

11. Make sure you have a way to take pics - You're gonna want to remember this trip! You can use your the camera on your phone or a big fancy camera. Either way, you need a device to capture these memories. My phone usually dies quickly when I use it to take pics so I only use it as a back up.

12. Notify your credit card company that you're traveling - If you plan to use your credit or debit card at all, notify the card company so they don't think your card has been stolen when it's being used in Utah one day and Dubrovnik the next, especially if you rarely travel anywhere. They will put a hold on the card so you can't use it - another good reason to carry cash (in a safe place).

13. Add an international plan to your phone and tablet - Before an international vacay, I contact AT&T to add an international talk, text and data plan to my cell phone. Its important to contact them and tell them where you are going so they can add the appropriate plan. Obviously, there are other ways to communicate with those back home but this is the easiest thing for me. I think in total, this only adds about $50 to my plan for the month. Don't forget to cancel the service when you get back. I also have apps like What'sApp, Viber, Tango and Skype that can be used over wifi. I just like to add the international talk and text for my less technologically savvy parents and in case I need to use my phone...I don't want to me charge $10 per min. You can also purchase calling cards or get a cell phone when you arrive to your destination but I prefer to come prepared. Also, I know that my best friend doesn't bother to bring her phone with her when we travel internationally. So, I like for at least one of us to have a working cellular device. It also helps when your cab driver gets lost in Brazil and you need to pull up a map to give him directions O_o

3/7/16 Update: I no longer do this unless I think I'm going to a location that wouldn't have wifi options. While AT&T has reduced the price to $30 for a package that includes texts and calls, it just simply not necessary in most places. I keep my phone on airplane mode and just connect to wifi when I get the chance. If I don't get the chance until I'm back at the hotel or Airbnb, then it's all the better. I had less distractions and more time to take in the beauty of the surrounding area. 

14. Go on TripAdvisor - I like to know what to expect. So, before I even purchase a travel package, I look at reviews for the places recommended to me by my travel agent, Amy. But, my best friend, Elizabeth, always goes onto sites like TripAdvisor to read reviews before the trip and make a list of sights we need to see/things we need to do. So my suggestion is to review your accommodations in advance so you'll know what to expect. It's also good to read the reviews b/c you'll learn of restaurants you need to try or any other things you may not find in the commercial guidebooks. 

15. Take all charging apparati - Now that I'm a blogger I need to make sure I take my iPad, Keyboard, camera, phone and everything I'll need to make awesome blog posts....but just as importantly, I need all charging devices. Usually, all my cords are tangled together in my carry on. But I recently read an article that suggested wrapping cords around binder clips to keep them organized. In keeping with this new tradition of organization, I'm definitely going to try that!

There you have it....I'm actually gonna get started on this list now! Only 11 days until I'm airborne! Have a great Monday folks!

8/3/15 Update: TravelZoo just posted a link to their 20 TIps before Traveling Internationally. Our lists have some things in common, and theirs has some things I didn't think of! Make sure to check the TravelZoo list as well. 

**There's no where to go but everywhere...so get going! ~GEV

Rocky Mountains Majesty, Oh My!

I am a firm believer in resting while on vacation. It is, after all, the only time some of get to truly clear our minds and relax.

I am also a proponent of getting the most out of things while they're available to you. You never know when you might have another chance to see or do something great. So take advantage of the time you have, wear yourself out. Even if that means you return from your trip exhausted. At least you will know that you made the most of it.

So on the same day we hiked in Estes Park, we drove the Tahoe over to Rocky Mountain National Park! Its the reason why we came! Sidenote: The National Park Service website had us a little nervous. Especially the page about Safety. We basically imagined we'd be hiking thru a scene from the CBS series Survivor, fending for our lives against mountain lions and dramatically changing climate, like one minute it would be perfect weather and the next we'd be experiencing sub-arctic temperatures. Its really not the serious. We mostly drove thru the park, only stopping to get out and venerate the landscape...breathtaking...truly. Be sure to do some research on the entrance fees, things to do, camping if that's your thing, etc. There's also a trip planner on The National Park Service site that was really helpful resource (http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/upload/2014-Planning-Guide.pdf). It gives you virtually all the info you'll need.

I felt like I was going to see Yogi, Boo Boo and the Ranger (just kidding, I know that's Jellystone lol)

Remember how I said our rental was a Tahoe? An SUV is not the ideal vehicle for driving on two lane highways near the edge of high cliffs. Especially when you have zero experience mountain driving, are being trailed by lots of aggressive cars and trying to navigate roads that have 180 degree, hairpin turns! The anxiety associated with making sure that Kira and I didn't get carried by a stiff wind off the side of Trail Ridge Road was overwhelming. I don't recall what the actual speed limit was but I know I didn't break 20 mph the whole time...and even that was too fast. By the end of the drive I had stressed myself out so much that my shoulders were stuck clenched up around my neck lol. It was all bad folks.....all bad. I was so nervous the whole time! But...this was really the only bad part (which was later worked out at the spa). I think it was the fact that we were so high off the ground, in such a heavy vehicle, so close to the edge is what really had me worked up. This Tahoe was nothing like the 2-door sports car that I was used to driving on a daily basis. I wasn't ready...but I accepted this challenge and we made it through. Kira navigated for me and tried to keep me from coming unglued. 

There was actually one point when we approached one of the look out points and the front of the SUV was higher than the top of the ridge that was in place to keep you from toppling over. I thought I was going to drive clean over the edge! Obviously I was on one that day. But you can see for yourselves.

You know what? Even though this drive completely stressed me out, I managed to get myself together long to enjoy the time. At one of the stops, there was a man with a kite. Best. Idea. Ever.

The sites we saw there ranked in the top 5 best I've seen and most notable. I'm going to let you bask in the ambiance for a while. Take it aaaaalllll in.  

 

I swear these pics look like paintings. I do wish I had seen some snow...but it wasn't the right time of year and I'm less than interested in freezing my tail off on a mountain in Denver. Even with my amateur photo skills...completely un-enhanced or photo shopped....the images are unreal. The natural colors are so vibrant and vivid. The sky was such a crisp and stunning shade of blue. We were blessed with a really gorgeous day. As I look back at the pics to figure out which ones I'm going to include in this post, I am reminded of how strikingly beautiful it all was.

Like I said, I was so tense after we came down the mountain. Fortunately, we had spa appointments scheduled. We grabbed some food and headed on over to Indulgences Day Spa for massages. We had crammed so much in the day that we were in dire need of rejuvenation. It was our vacation, after all. Indulgences was exceptionally cute. The front area and waiting room was filled with accessories, handbags, jewelry as well as other spa products for sale. I think I recall some make up products too. The receptionist was really nice. But the best part was the massage. I know Kira said hers was great but after a long day of hiking and driving a tank up a mountain, this was the best massage I've ever had...no lie. I left feeling totally relaxed and tranquil. I don't remember my masseur's name because this was nearly a year ago, but she was very on point. Slept like a baby that night. 

Before bed (b/c I was thoroughly looking forward to bed after all our outdoor adventures) we went to Stueben's. We selected this place because it was on Diner's Drive-Ins and Dives! Guy Fieri is the man! I always want to try the places that appear on his show. This is  a really popular place in a cute area of town. There was a pretty long wait but we really wanted to try the food out so we had to suck it up. I had the brisket with a side of mac and cheese. Kira ordered their Sunday special which was chicken and waffles. First off, the portion size is HUGE....we could have eaten the leftovers for breakfast, lunch and dinner the next day. The brisket was really tender and delicious. Definitely a solid meal. And then it was bed time. Hallelujah. 

Next up...Red Rocks! I hope you all are enjoying reading about this trip as much as I am enjoying reliving it. 

**There's no where to go but everywhere....so get going! ~GEV 

Estes Park...and the Chipmunks

Who gets up early on Saturday morning, while on vacation, to hike?

We did...

And we lived to tell the tale. 

Denver, also known as the Mile-High city, is notorious for high altitudes, but we already knew that. In fact, according to Wikipedia, the authority on all things, Denver is exactly one mile above sea level, making it one of the highest major cities in the US. Imagine that. Usually, and for those of us who are not quite in shape, physical activity in high altitude also means shortness of breath. Keep that in mind as you read on. 

We get to the top of Estes Park via Aerial Tramway, take in the view including Lake Estes, snap a couple pics and start out on the trail. As we were walking along we noticed several little squirrel like animals boldly running around. Then we observed tons of peanut shells on the ground. We took a few more steps....all the tourists were feeding the peanuts to the squirrels! Then we put it all together....1) These weren't squirrels, they were chipmunks. 2) The little souvenir shop at the top of the hill was also selling small paper bags full of peanuts. 3) Tourists purchased the peanuts, not as a hiking snack, but to attract the chipmunks and feed them. 4) The chipmunks were snatching peanuts from humans hands left and right. We were intrigued. I must have snapped at least 20 shots of the chipmunks. They kept getting so close! And they're super cute...not exactly what I expected. 

So after I temporarily satisfied my fascination with the chipmunks, by standing there, pointing and basically giggling like a small child, we started the hike forreal. We leisurely strolled up the hill, stopping to take pictures along the way. 

We veered off the path a few times and took pics of some trees and a couple huge rocks. Actually, some of my favorite nature pics are from this trip to Denver. The weather was good and the sky was a crisp blue, we were really fortunate but it was hot...dry heat that will sneak up on you if you aren't paying attention.

For the most part, the trail was easy...and flat. There came a point in the path were that changed.....and the trail went uphill...yikes. (I wasn't ready) But, like the champs that we are, Kira and I trudged onward and upward. You can't tell from the pic below, but the people in the distance there were huffing and puffing like they had just been running the Boston Marathon. Now that I think about it, I probably shouldn't have laughed. It was a forewarning of events to come.

 

You know how when you're doing something that exerts energy, like jogging, and you can start off holding a conversation but then you start to run out of breath and whatever you were saying doesn't seem nearly as important as breathing? Well I do....It's actually kind of frightening trying to catch your breath in higher altitudes. You panic a little but then there's that voice in the back of your head saying, "don't freak out bro!" because freaking out while you can't breathe only makes it harder to breathe lol. 

Alright, we get to the top, I find my breath and pat myself on the back because I made it to the top, I didn't fall off the side of a cliff, pass out, or get eaten by a bear....we were all in one piece. We poked around a little bit, found the view of an awesome summit and then decided to make our way back to keep on track with our itinerary. On the way back down though, we start to see the chipmunks again and I'm like a kid in a candy shop...so excited. These furry little creatures are so cute and totally captivating. They come close enough to take these peanuts and then scurry off into the woods. One would pop up on the trail and then his friend would appear over the rocks to the side. It was like the were playing their own little game of hide and go seek. 

As we came around the bend, there was a man sitting on the ground. Of course, I'm judging him because I'm thinking, this man is gonna get his britches all dusty! But, as we got closer, I also noticed there were tons of peanut shells around him. Now that I had become acquainted with the area, I realized that where there are peanut shells, there are chipmunks. So as we move towards this curious man sitting in the dirt, I finally understood what he was doing! These dusty pants would be well worth the trouble! I got suuuuper excited... Can you why tell from the pic below?

Dude had chipmunks sitting in his lap! He sat really still like a statute, you know like those guys in Vegas and the French Quarter wearing silver suits and face paint? He quietly shucked the peanut and held it in his hand. At first, the chipmunk  was reluctant. Then, after testing the waters, it crawled onto the man's leg and snatched the peanut! I could hardly contain myself. 

Of course, I wanted to try it so I sat down too! The kind, dusty pants-ed man shared his peanuts with me and I waited.....but the chipmunks wouldn't come to me. (sad face) It's like this man was the chipmunk whisperer or something. The whole time Kira was looking at me like I had gone completely insane. hahahaha. 

I gave up and we continued down the trail. 

We made it back to our starting point but I was determined to get a pic with the chipmunks. So I enlisted the help of Kira to snap a pic...those little suckers are quick! They grab those peanuts as if from a burning fire and run off to share with Simon and Theodore....hahahah sorry, I couldn't help it and I'm laughing really hard.

I had saved some of the peanuts that the chipmunk whisperer had given me earlier so I used those as bait. Finally, after the little guy almost got my fingers a couple times, we managed to capture a magical moment! The little fella came right up to me and dern near smiled for the camera! Look at him! After that we got several pics of me feeding them. Here are a few of my favs. 

I was totally satisfied. I fed the chipmunks, got my pic, successfully hiked the trail...I had the whole Estes Park experience. Overall, it was pretty awesome.

See, I told you Estes Park needed its own post. I hope you enjoyed!

**There's no where to go but everywhere...so get going! ~ The Green Eyed Venuist (hereinafter also referred to as "GEV")

Labor Day Weekend in Denver Part 1

Did you know that if you're really, really nice to the rental car people they'll give you an upgrade? To a Tahoe? For free? When you originally rented a mid-sized car? and over Labor Day weekend? Kira and I must have been killing this dude with kindness. He skipped to the computer and promptly handed us the keys. As it turns out, a Tahoe is not the best vehicle to drive up the extremely steep and narrow roads of Rocky Mountain National Park...who knew?

Kira and I have been best buds since college. We both love to travel but never traveled together. So last year, we planned a trip to Denver over Labor Day weekend.

We spent days coming up with the perfect itinerary (which I still have and am willing to share), including a centrally located hotel, places to eat and things we would do during the day. What you don't know is that Kira and I both suffer from a severe case of "I can't decided what to eat"- itis. Lunch time is the worst time of day for us both. In fact, I dread it...I know she does too...lol. We struggle daily with deciding what to eat until we finally frustrate ourselves into selecting something we didn't really want. If I don't prepare a lunch for myself before work (which I rarely do), then I am completely lost. I usually end up wandering around HEB for 30 mins hoping that something will catch my attention. It doesn't help that we both try to maintain some semblance of a healthy lifestyle. I'm sure we're not the only ones who suffer from this affliction. 

We finally decided (yay us!).

We flew in Saturday, for cheaper ticket prices and because we had an extra off that Monday. From the airport, we would spend the afternoon in Boulder. 

Our first stop, the Boulder Creek Winery. I've decided that I love going to wineries and not just for the tastings. (hehe) I especially love the smaller, unassuming wineries like Boulder Creek. Kira and I arrived according to the Google Map directions and were confused. The winery is located among what seem to be several warehouses and is a little difficult to find. When you walk inside, you're encouraged to take a self guided tour lead by footprints on the floor and arrows on the walls. All the information about the winery is right there for you to review at your leisure. I'm used to the tours lead by guide in Napa Valley wineries, but I appreciated this non-pretentious approach as well. It makes for a more personal experience. You get to walk thru and read all about how and where the wine is made....pretty cool stuff. Like I didn't know cork came from a cork tree...did you? These aren't the best pictures but you get the idea.

I've got a good friend who lives in Denver who joined us, on crutches, at the winery (bless his heart). After a few tastings, we purchased bottles of our favorites and made our way to dinner. So, you know how you spend time creating itineraries but something happens and you have to deviate? Well, here's the first deviation. We were scheduled to go to The Kitchen for dinner but that plan fell through. There's a lesson in this though, don't become so overly attached to the itinerary that you are unwilling to try out other things. My friend made another suggestion for dinner and we listened, obviously. He's a native of Denver so we were in for a local treat. He didn't disappoint. We went to The Med Boulder, a sweet little Mediterranean style tapas restaurant in Downtown Boulder near The Pearl Street Mall. The food, drinks and service were all great. Kira and I both highly recommend it. This place was a nice differentiation from the norm Spanish style tapas.

After dinner, we drove up a mountain to take in a view of the city at night. The city from this aspect was beyond spectacular. But it wasn't until I looked up into the night sky that I was truly impressed. I had never seen so many stars so up close and personally. It was as if I could reach out and touch them. Anyone who knows me know I love stars like a fat kid loves cake. This sky was like none I had ever seen. Again, God is good. I wont even disrespect you by adding a picture right here. My camera sufficiently failed in its attempt to capture it all.   

We checked into the aloft Broomfield. I am here for all things aloft. This location, like the others I've stay in, was just what we needed. It was located right in the middle of everything we would be doing that weekend. It had free wifi, gave us each a free bottle of water every day, which we needed desperately after days filled with hiking and high altitude. We arrived later than we anticipated but the front desk clerk was helpful and cheery. 

The next morning (Sunday) we scheduled an early wake up and drive to Estes Park where we would ride the Aerial Tram.  

Pause: Did I mention we also stopped at The Stanley Hotel? You know the one I'm talking about. The one that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining? And where the television mini-series, The Shining, was filmed? Yeah...The Shining. You know what that movie is about right? Not sunshine and rainbows, I'll tell you that. The hotel itself is beautiful and it has all this awesome history but its creepy and believed to be haunted (I don't believe in that sorta thing but I do believe I felt highly disturbed the whole time we were walking thru).

Anyway, the Aerial Tram costs $12 per person and my suggestion is that you arrive early. This is a highly visited attraction. It even warns on the website to ride early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds, get better pics and calmer weather - and we appreciate calm weather when we're inside a small cable car hanging from a string between two mountain...yikes. 

Oh yeah, if you survive the tram ride, you get to see this:

The hike in Estes Park deserves a post of its own. So does our journey through the Rocky Mountain National Park. You know what....I'll tell you abou tthe Red Rocks Park in a separate post too! This is so exciting! Now that I'm writing all these adventures down I'm realizing that Kira and I got ALOT accomplished in 3 days in Denver. It was all incredible too. Later for now!

You know the phrase...say it with me. There's no where to go but everywhere...so get going! ~The Green Eyed Venuist