Denver - JFK

I have to confess the cold Colorado air just knocked me out, and I fell dead asleep.

I had spent my day in Denver walking all over the city. The downtown area was very enjoyable and pedestrian friendly.
Train and bus transportation was clean, fast and easy to navigate. Though it is a very long way from the airport to downtown, I didn't mind the trip. Denver Mile High Airport is just that: a mile high, and it is so far out on the planes that you think you are in another state.
I really enjoyed everyone I met. It was like being in a western where they all wore white hats. In fact, there are "greeters" around the terminal who actually wear white hats, and they are just filled with information and tips on how to enjoy their beautiful city. There is much Denver pride about the Broncos or the vast array of things to do in and around Denver. Of course I had only a day, so I set my sites on the Botanical Gardens, The Capital area, the Convention Center, and Molly Brown's residence.
I got off the bus at 15Th and California, and walked a block following a "Visitors Center" sign to 16Th street. I did not find the Visitors Center, but I did not need to. I am ever armed with maps and pamphlets I pick up along the way. I was a private pilot and Air Traffic controller, so I am usually confident that I'll find what I'm looking for wherever I go, and no matter how foreign the territory.

The area along 16Th street Mall in downtown Denver is a Promenade lined with trees and beautiful street lamps. It is restricted to foot traffic, though free trams constantly ply their way slowly up and down this promenade lined with shops and restaurants other outdoor cafes. Since the trams are free one can hop on and off all along the route and save a lot of walking. At the western end of the line is the famous Union Station. A mecca for travelers when rail travel was as essential and popular as air travel is today. Of course earlier on this was the same rail which carried gold and silver from the mines and put Denver on the map along with Mr and Mrs Brown. The Browns were actually in Leadville just a short way from downtown. However, because of my time limitation I did not get to see Molly's famous house.

Just down from Union Station is the Platte River. Nothing compared to the mighty Colorado. The Platte is a slow moving muddy river that runs WSW of town. At the end of the line for the tram you can walk over the bridge which crosses the Platte river, turn left on Platte St which winds and turns into water street. SW of the bridge on Water St is the downtown Aquarium.

Back to downtown along the same route I got off the tram at California Av, and walked down tot the Convention Center. next to this beautiful Center is an older building which is the Denver Center for the Preforming Arts. SW of there along Champa St is the Met State College of Denver.
Back to the 16th St Tram for a ride ESE to Broadway and Colifax where you will run into Civic Center Park and the Colorado State Capital Espelande.

I was tempted to go a bit further East and visit the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. However, I feared missing my flight and with the thought that the airport is almost on another planet; instead I walked back to the tram and headed to WNW to the bus station on 16Th and Wazee between the famous Tattered Cover Book Mall and the old Oxford hotel touted as the oldest and most haunted in Denver. It is sometimes compared to the famous Philadelphia landmark Hotel The General Wayne Inn which I have also visited several ties.

On my way out of town we stopped at the Black American West Museum. It reminded me of a story my father -in-law a real native of Florida used to tell about the Black cowboys who used to work the large cattle ranches on which Disney and many other Orlando attractions have since erased.

Jet Blue was on time, but I was worried about making it to the gate since TSA had the alert status up to ORANGE, and the lines at Security were quite long and very slow.

Flt 126
DEN- JFK
Flt Deck: Irv and Wayne
Cabin Crew:Jennifer, Mago and YAYA

As I said I slept most of the way and in row 10 I was surrounded with AA employees getting back to JFK.

Toward the end of the flight, and interesting thing happened. I had Tim Donoho's book "Argruing With God" sitting on my tray, and a man across the aisle asked if he could see it. I told him it was very interesting reading, " Sounds like what I'm reading" he said handing me a book by Dr. Maurice Boyd former pastor of City Church, New York.. The book is called " The Fine Art of Being Imperfect." We swapped books and Tom, my fellow traveler. Said. "...very similar in nature wouldn't you say?"
I leafed through it, and there were similarities. However, Dr. Boyd's book was a compilation of weekly radio shows. Tim's book had much more humor.
I was relieved and pleased to meet a fellow believer in my travels. Tom was just returning from Denver where he visited his Dad. Also,he was attending had just attended the funeral of a good friend. Tom had a custom cane pole split into 3 parts so he could carry it on the plane. His best relaxation and way to ease his burdens seemed to be fishing the pristine streams of Denver. He was a native whose work placed him in New York. Tom was a Christian, but we did not have time to delve into weather he was having a personal relationships. I did sense a calmness about him,a nd a I felt comfortable in his presence. It is short encounters that gave me energy and inspiraation to contuinue this journey.

My daughter Natalie picked me up at the airport. I was happy to see her again, and thanked her for picking me up at nearly midnight. Christian and I walked to school this morning, and today is "early Release" day so I will walk over and get him at 1:30.
Before we left for school, he gave me a precious hand made card which said "Happy Grandfather's Day." I will treasure it always.

I'll be here until Friday when I leave for Portland, Or.