Central City

Taking Dave's post as inspiration, I figured there was no time like the present to post a few shots of the trip we took to Central City this week. Central City is the original Gold Rush town in Colorado, just a few miles up Clear Creek Canyon from my hometown. Its nickname is the 'richest square mile in the world.' It's a beautifully preserved mid-1800's town full of brick and stone buildings and dotted with abandoned mines.

In the mid 1990's Colorado approved gambling in Central City and its neighboring town of Blackhawk, and we were up there spinning a few slot machines and visiting the spa for a 24-hour getaway.

We took a walk through Central City and were saddened to see that so many beautiful buildings were completely empty and that - although the casinos were full of people - no one was out walking around. There were not any shops or restaurants as I would have expected in a little mountain town full of history.

Central City Opera House.

Central City Hall

The hope is that the proceeds from gambling will be used to revitalize the city.

Original steam engine that rode the tracks between Golden and Central City until the mid-1900's.

Been Busy?

Lately, the most frequent question I receive is: "Been busy?"

If this blog is any indication — by that I mean the total lack of posts — then yes, we've been busy.

After returning from Cuba, Erin and I have been on a whirlwind adventure, criss-crossing paths and occasionally seeing each other. Adventures to Philly, Cape Canaveral, DC, Princeton, Seattle and DC again have kept us more than just a little busy.

Actually, the best picture of this came on the day I returned from Cuba. That day, Erin was leaving again for DC. We knew that we'd be cutting it close, but after not seeing each other for more than two weeks, we had been hopeful that an exchange of smooches in the airport might happen. Unfortunately, I was checked, checked again and checked one more time upon entry into Denver from Mexico/Cuba – ("You know that we have an embargo there?" – Me, "Uh-huh. But I have papers from OFAC saying that I could go?"...thus ensuing the baton pass of my physical being as we explore what OFAC is and how that could be....long and drawn out). In the end it meant I got no smooches, but at least the car was still warm when I got to where Erin had left it and I only had to pay $2 to get it out of hock.

Ships passing in the night, man.

Along the way, we celebrated our 4th anniversary...the third time that our celebration was in the long-distance form. Just another sign of the jet-set life we've chosen.

Anyway, all this is to say that we are long, long over due in posting just what the hell we've been up to while on all these trips.

OK, so to come:

• Ponderings and musings along the way
• Cuba Impressions and Pics
• Democracy and the Heart
• and more less serious stuff too