I saw several new places while visiting Colorado in June, and enjoyed a couple of them quite a bit. And another favorite activity happened the day I left: I walked around the Union Station area of Denver for hours before my Amtrak train trip back to Ottumwa.

I live in such a remote area of Norway, it was nice to soak up the sounds and activity of a busy metropolitan city!

After dropping off my luggage at the Amtrak counter …

 

… and a 30 minutes stroll around the streets in front of Union Station, I decided it was time to sit outside with a bit of refreshment and absorb the sounds of the area. The Thirsty Lion suited that need quite well.

 

Refreshed, I headed out for a larger loop around the area. Even with only a few blocks of this busy city being explored, I saw plenty of planning that makes nature accessible, from walking paths using railroad bridges over the South Platte River …

 

… to a section of the 17.8 mile South Platte River Trail …

 

… to sculptures and greenery that add interest to the scenery …

 

There were historical buildings, shops and streets …

 

… and signs that require no additional comment 😉 …

 

… and finally, a stroll to Coors Field. It was so quiet, almost eerily so. In the quiet, the remembered sounds of the crack of a bat and a crowds’ roar echoed — the result of so many memories of baseball games seen at Wrigley Field, Citi Field, Turner Field Citizen Bank Park, and Camden Yards!

 

The weather was threatening all day (in fact, it rained so much that night my daughter’s basement flooded), and I stayed within a few blocks of Union Station and its protection from the elements. Through my loops through the area, the inside of Union Station was my place to sit, grab a cup of coffee, people watch, admire the architecture …

 

… and then go out and explore a little more.

 

All of this was with the faint backdrop of the Rocky Mountains blending with the cloudy sky of this Mile High city.

 

And then it was time to go out and wait for the arrival of my train back to Ottumwa. Standing on the platform, I admired the curves of the outside architecture one more time …

 

It was a wonderful way to say goodbye to Colorado … and I’ll be seeing it again soon! Details to come. 🙂