Denver in Photos

RITUAL. - I used to take the aisle seat for every single flight. More leg room, get out when I want, off the plane faster. Then one time I got “stuck” in a window seat. I watched the clouds passed, stared at the buildings below, watched the sun go down. Now it’s my ritual to take the window seat. To sacrifice some comfort for the view. Sometimes it’s the Rockies (pictured), or seeing land for the first time in 7,500 miles as we head into Sydney from LAX, or even just watching the sun rise to remind me what a beautiful world we live in. What an awesome ritual.

If ever you have felt gridlocked in the concrete jungles of the city, escape to the Mile-High City. With a wonderful downtown, Denver is not far from the mountains. Having a view like this from your window makes it hard to leave the beauty of this western haven.

The Mile High state is always a good time; if you are in Denver skip 16th street mall, don’t be a tourist for a night; instead, join “Theology on Tap” at Katie Mullen’s Irish Pub & Restaurant off of Court to hear the hard statistics on human trafficking and do something!

I did not think I would see a Christmas Market this year, in the US but to my great surprise I found out that Denver has one. So of course we went. It’s very small, not more than twenty chalets but so very authentic. You can find very nice hand made products, a few of them German, great authentic German food and gluhwein, music and an iceskating rink. It feels a lot like being at the ones in Europe on a much smaller scale. It was enough to make me happy. Try it next time, you will like it.

Commuting by bike is becoming even more popular. And I think a lot of this has to do with the gear becoming more stylish and functional. Gone are the days of having to put on loads of unattractive layers to ride to work in winter or even on a rainy day, and now on casual Fridays in some offices (especially in Colorado) active wear can even pass for work wear. My favorite way, by far, to get to work, even on rainy days, is on two wheels. I love it because I cruise past traffic, get in some exercise and never waste time (or money) finding parking. If you want to start commuting by bike, and I promise it really does wake you up faster than a shot of espresso. In this video, I will show you my top picks for essentials:https://vimeo.com/175520604 Or, head here: http://catchcarri.com/your-guide-to-a-comfortable-and-easy-bike-commute/

Camping is a surefire way to make special memories. It’s a favorite American past time, and fortunately for us, the camping gear currently on store shelves reflects the latest trends and technology. The same can be said for mountain biking which is now a serious thing for women. This relatively new sport—invented in the 1970s—requires trails making it the perfect excuse to go camping. So pack your tent, your helmet and anything else you want from the list below and head into the woods. Adventure awaits! In this video we show you some of our favorites that you don’t want to leave home without! https://vimeo.com/184506474

Ever been to a convention with decent food? The answer is clearly no and the Colorado Convention Center is trying to change that with the Blue Bear Farm. Named after the towering blue mascot out front, the back of the building along Speer Boulevard houses an urban garden sprouting herbs, veggies, and fruit that will go straight from farm to table. There’s even a colony of bees busy making honey.

I forget exactly where this was in Denver but I was intrigued by the illumination.

An adventure in American culture and history could easily be had by walking the 28.6 miles of Colfax Avenue in Denver. Even walking about five miles past urban blight, every imaginable ethnic restaurant, antique stores, bookshops, and abandoned storefronts and lots provided me with a caravanserai of images without assaulting the senses. As part of US 40, this abandoned Sinclair dinosaur caught my eye.

There are many iconic buildings in Denver, new and old. It is easy to see why this imposing structure is known as “The Darth Vader Building.”

There’s more to watch at a game than baseball. It didn’t precipitate, but the Rockies “rained on the Giants parade,” 4-1.

Avalanche Game, Aquarium, massages, great food