Between travel and hiking, you inevitably come across things that you just don’t see everyday. We have been fortunate enough to have seen a good variety of wildlife, but most of it has been the typical deer, elk, birds, etc. Occasionally, though, we have come across some animals that have made us stop and say to ourselves how lucky we were to see something that is a little more unique. Some of it is just because we have put ourselves in position to see something special, but a lot of it is really just a matter of luck. When we look back at all of the various wildlife we have seen in their natural habitats, we realize how lucky we have actually been.
Baby Monkey on a BranchWild TurkeysSea Lions Playing at Pier 39 in San FranciscoVine SnakeMountain GoatsBarbary MonkeyUnique Bird in BoliviaAnother Monkey in a Tree in Ecuador
Colorado Springs has a lot to offer visitors. There is Garden of the Gods, the Air Force Academy, Pikes Peak, and Manitou Springs, just to name a few. Downtown Colorado Springs has much to offer as well, with many restaurants to suit a variety of tastes plus the Pioneer Museum, Colorado College, and the Fine Arts Center. We decided to spend a couple of days downtown to enjoy many of the things that this small city has to offer.
Pioneer MuseumWalking Tejon StreetOne of the Many Statues Downtown
Colorado Springs is the second largest city in the state, but it isn’t a large city by any means. It still has a historic feel and wonderful views as it sits at the base of Pikes Peak. One thing you can’t help but notice when walking around the downtown area are all of the statues that can be found on almost every block. One of the more interesting statues was of a western couple dancing that actually spins in a circle mimicking the motion of the dance.
More Modern BuildingsDancing StatueHistoric Buildings
We stayed at the Mining Exchange, which is a Wyndham Hotel and is centrally located in the heart of the downtown area. A block away is Tejon Street, which is the main street to find small boutique shops and many different restaurants. We popped into several of them, but one of our favorite locations was Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub, which has live Irish music on Thursdays and Sundays. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours, having a pint and listening to some authentic folk music.
Inside of the Mining ExchangeDowntown Shops
Colorado Springs is a perfect location to launch your Colorado adventures as it provides easy access to the heart of the mountains and is centrally located in the state. It is also the home to the United States Olympic Center and proudly calls itself Olympic City, USA. With so many places to visit near the heart of the city, it can be busy during the heart of the tourist season, which is from May to September. We are happy to call this city home, but don’t always explore it as often as we should.
Colorful BuildingDowntown ClockMountains in the Background
It is a harsh reality that our world is shaped by violent and disruptive events. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and violent storms change the earth’s landscape on a regular basis. Although each of these events can be quite dramatic, ultimately they can create stunning beauty. Many islands, such as Hawaii would not exist if it weren’t for the eruptions of volcanoes. Even though we see evidence of events that have occurred hundreds or thousands of years ago, seeing our world change before eyes is a constant reminder that we are but a small part of the natural world. As much as we try to control the world around us, nature continuously reminds us that we are not in control. This week’s Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is words that start with the letter V, so we have chosen photos of volcanoes from both Iceland and Ecuador, some of which were active.
Volcano in Iceland. Is it Steam or a Cloud?Quilotoa Caldera in EcuadorDramatic Volcano Crater on the Golden Circle in IcelandView of Cotopaxi VolcanoFrozen VolcanoQuito with the Active Cotopaxi Volcano in the DistanceCayambe Volcano in Ecuador
