Things have been more than just a little hectic for the two of us over the past couple of weeks as we try to get prepared for being out of the country for several months. Working two full-time jobs and packing up our house has caused us to be pretty stressed, so we decided to give ourselves a break and head to Denver for the weekend. It was a pretty hot weekend, but the weather was perfect for being outside and walking through Denver’s historic district. It is hard to believe that after all of the years that we’ve lived here, we hadn’t taken the time to walk the historic district of downtown Denver. It was worth the wait, however, as we really enjoyed seeing all of the buildings and statues.
“On the War Trail” StatueDowntown ParkThe Pioneer MonumentWater FountainBy the Art Museum
The capital is under some major renovations at the moment, but its gold dome still dominates the skyline, shimmering in the afternoon sun. We walked over to the Molly Brown House and Museum, which is a wonderful representation of the turn of the century Victorian homes. As most people know, she became famous after surviving the sinking of the Titanic giving her the nickname of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”. We also walked around Civic Center Park with its columns, statues, and flower beds. In a couple of weeks we hope to return there to partake in the Taste of Colorado, which is happening in the park over Labor Day weekend.
Capital DomeFlower in Civic Center ParkMolly Brown House“Broncho Buster” Statue (that is spelled correctly)Close-up of the Pioneer Monument
By the time we made it back to the 16th Street Mall, which is a pedestrian street with lots of restaurants and shop, it was late in the afternoon. There are hop-on hop-off busses that will take you from one end of the street to the other, but we decided to have one of the bike taxis take us to the far western end of the street as we were hot and tired at this point. They aren’t cheap, but it is a fun way to travel on the mall as they are like an American version of a rickshaw. We’re back at work today and the pressure is mounting once again, but at least for a few hours over the weekend we were able to forget about all of our stress and enjoy a beautiful summer day in Denver.
Denver City and County BuildingOn the BikeCommunity PianoCathedral Basilica of the Immaculate ConceptionHistoric Building
We spent two weeks in Spain a couple of years ago and we chose the town of Estepona as our “home base” while we were there. We had rented a car, so it was the perfect location to launch from to get to all of the surrounding cities and towns. In addition to being able to get out to the surrounding area, it was a gorgeous destination in and of itself. Estapona is a short drive from Marbella, which is the playground for the rich and has vacation homes for many celebrities in the area.
Resort in EsteponaBeach by the ResortStreets of EsteponaDelicious Squid in Estepona
The beaches are wonderful and there are resorts all along the coast from Malaga to Estepona, but we were there during the off-season, as usual, so it wasn’t too crowded. There are plenty of opportunities for shopping in the area as well with shops that offer everything from clothing to souvenirs. We could have spent hours just wandering through the various shops and talking to the owners who were extremely friendly and welcoming.
Shops in MarbellaOutdoor DiningWindow GardensRestaurants on the Street
It isn’t all just sunbathing and shopping, though, the food in the area is absolutely fantastic. We’re huge lovers of seafood and it is truly a food-lovers paradise. We were told by everyone that we had to visit the mountain town of Benahavís, which is located a short drive from Estepona as you drive toward Marbella. It is renowned for its restaurants and is considered the gastronomical center of Costa del Sol. We were not disappointed, we only wish we’d have had time to go there more than once as there were several restaurants that we wanted to try, but ended enjoying dinner at a lovely little family owned restaurant.
Restaurants of BenahavísBenahavís in the MountainsBeautiful Building in BenahavísMenu from Marbella
Eating and drinking our way through Estepona, Marbella, Benahavís, and Malaga was truly a wonderful experience. Although we spent a lot of time driving and going to cities like Granada and Seville, when we were at the resort area, it was more of a true vacation than actual travel. We were able to truly relax and decompress, which made our trip to Spain an incredibly rewarding experience. Clearly we hope to visit there once again and, when we do, we will make it one those vacations where you simply sit on the beach, get tanned, eat and drink too much, and watch the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea.
Carving Fish next to the BeachSunset over the Mediterranean SeaMenu in EsteponaFlower BoxesView of the Church
With its array of monuments, museums, and landmarks, Washington DC is truly a world-class city. You could easily spend a couple of weeks in Washington and still not see everything that it has to offer, which is somewhat ironic for the two of us. We both lived outside of major cities growing up, one of us outside of DC and the other outside of Philadelphia and other than taking friends and family into the city when they came to visit, we avoided the tourist locations due to the crowds. So, despite living close to great cities for much of our lives, we actually saw more of those cities later, after we had moved to Colorado and then gone back as tourists ourselves.
The United States CapitalThe Reflecting Pool and the Washington MonumentLincoln MemorialWar Memorial Statues
We had taken the kids to Washington during the summer of 2001 and it was an amazing time, albeit a whirlwind trip. Unfortunately, it was one of the hottest and muggiest summers for the area, one where the heat was downright oppressive. At the time, the kids complained literally every fifteen minutes about how miserable they were due to the heat and that all they wanted to do was go inside and do nothing. But these were the days of what we like to call “education vacations”, so we were determined to see as much as possible, despite the complaints and weather. At the time it seemed like none of the children enjoyed a single moment of the trip, but years later we would find out that they actually truly appreciated everything that they saw.
The Kids with a Statue of RooseveltLincoln MemorialWashington MonumentThe Capital Dome
There is so much to see in Washington that is hard to know where to start. Being the nation’s capital, it is obviously important to see the United States Capital as well as the White House. We were there before the attacks of September 11 and access to these seats of government was greater than it is today. There is so much history associated with these great landmarks and every American should see them at least once in their lives. Seeing the National Mall and the Washington Monument is another absolute must while you’re visiting Washington. Completing the tour of the monuments by visiting the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial should put you in a patriotic mood as you pay homage to the founding fathers. While at the National Mall, you should also be sure to go to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, it is a very moving tribute to the victims of the holocaust and meant to educate people about the atrocities that man is capable of so that future generations don’t repeat the atrocities.
The White HouseUnited States CapitalThe Jefferson MemorialVietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial and the Korean War Veteran’s Memorial are both beautiful and haunting. Seeing all of the names on the memorial wall of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial is something that is very meaningful to people of our generation who had family members who served at the time. Visiting the National Cemetery and watching the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is something that you will never forget. Seeing the respect that our current military pay to the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice is incredibly humbling.
Changing of the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierWall at the Vietnam Veterans MemorialKorean War Veterans MemorialGuard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Then there is Old Town Alexandria, just across the Potomac River in Northern Virginia, truly one of our favorite places. Seeing Ford’s Theatre where President Lincoln was shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth is another place that will make you pause and reflect. Not everything in Washington is about the memorials, there are the Smithsonian Museums with their dazzling array of artifacts and pieces of American history. There is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which still has performances on a grand scale that are definitely worth attending. And certainly there are no shortage of restaurants to suit anyone’s tastes.
Ford’s Theatre and the Balcony where Lincoln was ShotDisplay at Ford’s TheatreThe Smithsonian MuseumSmithsonian’s Air and Space Museum
Washington DC is probably America’s greatest city. It is truly a different experience and was designed specifically to be that. From the layout of the streets that was planned by Pierre Charles L’Enfant in the Baroque style, with avenues radiating out from rectangles to the height restrictions that ensure that the Washington Monument and United States Capital are visible for all to see. Washington DC is the closest thing that the United States has to an “old world” city and it is truly a pleasure to visit and see. There is so much more to see than just the monuments and museums, too much to describe in a single post. It is truly a city that everyone should visit at some time or another and definitely a city that every American should be proud to have as our nation’s capital.
Funeral Procession at the National CemeteryFord’s Theatre SignJefferson MemorialJohn F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at the National CemeteryWashington Display
