This month we wind down Colorado and prepare for a quick visit to the Bristol show in Kenosha, Wisconsin. And then it’s back to being a Tortuga… Yippee!
The Colorado show is moving along nicely. Sales are solid but not spectacular, but that’s not so bad considering the economy. We’re very happy with the apartments we stay in. They have done an amazing remodel since we stayed her last year. The Apartment we got was just updated and we were the first in it. It’s nice to have a full size fridge and a stove. You can only cook so much with a microwave. And, knowing the area better we’re not wandering around lost most of the time trying to find things.
When we leave here, we’re gonna head directly to Minnesota. We’ll drop off merchandise, (Art and Leather) then; we’ll spend a day getting moved into our new place, only to head off to Kenosha, Wisconsin. “Kenosha?” you ask? Yes, Kenosha. We’re gonna work one weekend there since there is two empty weeks between the Colorado and Minnesota shows. We really can’t afford to be unemployed so we’ll hit the Bristol Faire for a week and then Sharon starts work at the Minnesota office during the week. She did it last year and they loved having her there. As for me… I’ve teamed up with another vendor to bring a new product to the show. We purchased a booth and we’ll have a cart also selling stuff. If you’re curious, ask me about “Lotion Candles” the next time you see me.
Our last month here in Colorado has been enjoyable. We checked out the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo a couple weeks back. They are very well known for their captivity breeding program for Giraffes. So getting to feed them was fun. We went with our friends Rachel, Sara, Mark and his daughter Lilia. Lilia loved the Giraffes. We saw bears, otters, and meercats, oh my! Actually the bears were a hoot! I’ve never seen them play like this before. This one bear played fetch with himself in the water with a tree branch for like 30 minutes.
While walking around the zoo which is on the side of a mountain by the way, I noticed this “ivory tower” further up the side of the mountain above the zoo. I asked around and it turned out to be the Will Rogers Memorial Shrine of the Sun. Lucky for us it turns out our zoo ticket includes admission to the Shrine.
So, after having our fill of the zoo we darted back to the car to drive up to the Shrine. It was a neat drive. You actually get to drive through the zoo to get to it. We honked at Mark and the gang who had headed back to see the giraffes again as we drove up. The drive was only about ten minutes, which is much better than the drive up Pike’s Peak. But, I have to say the view was almost as spectacular. The Shrine’s stones were apparently carved from a single piece of rock. I should have read more about the history of the thing but I was tired of all the walking “up”.
Lilia and a real Tortuga at the zoo.
Lilia feeds the Giraffe
Sharon poses with the Giraffes at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Mark and the Giraffes
The gang in a mud hut at the zoo
Bearly playing fetch
Baby Wallaby!
He's so cute… Wallaby too!
Entrance to the Shrine
Sharon at the Shrine of the Sun
Tiny chapel in the basement of the Shrine
Looking down from the middle of the shrine
View from the Shrine
View of us from the Shrine
Sharon in front of the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Cocktails at Broadmoor
Painting of the Broadmoor
The Real Broadmoor
Enjoying a Half Yard at the Golden Bee
Enjoying the usual at the Golden Bee
After spending some time at the Shrine, we found ourselves a little alcohol deficient. So, we decided it was time to go. My dad had mentioned the Broadmoor. It’s a resort hotel that has a ton of history. But alas, I didn’t do my homework on that one either. But, I have to say it is beautiful! Several buildings filled with rooms surrounding their own small lake. And, apparently there is like 13 bars and restaurants. (Our kinda place!) We got a cocktail on the patio overlooking Cheyenne Mountain and Pike’s Peak. What a great view! After that, we did a little exploring. I got a list of all the restaurants and bars in the place and found a spot called The Golden Bee.
The Golden Bee is a little pub tucked below the convention halls. It originally came to the Broadmoor in 1961 as a collection of panels and fixtures from an entire 19th-century pub that were shipped from England and reassembled in Colorado Springs - a town once nicknamed "Little London." A ragtime piano player tickles the keys to a repertoire of sing-a-long songs, and the ale is served in yards. I copied this last paragraph from the Broadmoor website by the way. : )
We headed home after the Bee. It was Friday and we had to work the next day after all. If you can ever check out the Broadmoor Hotel and Cheyenne Mountain, I highly recommend it.
Our last stop on this month’s journal is Bastille Day! Arsene Du Paris is one of the entertainers here. He’s done many fairs over the years so perhaps you’ve heard of him. Anyway, he actually is French so he celebrates Bastille Day. (French Independence Day) We hang out with him as often as possible when he’s around since he’s such a character. He hangs out at a restaurant called La Petite Maison. He invited me and Sharon for the Bastille Day celebration. We thought it sounded fun so we went.
Oh my God! The food was amazing! I got the Bastille Day special which was a four course meal and Sharon got the duck. Duck’s a tricky thing. It has to be cooked just right or it comes out dry. But, they did it right! Yummmmmmmm. After dinner we watched Arsene and some locals play Petanque. It’s a game where players or teams try to land larger croquet type balls closest to a smaller ball. I’m sure you’ve seen it before. Boy, we slept well after that meal. And, we had leftovers! I’m gonna have to work out extra hard to work off this meal. (BTW I’ve been spending a lot of time in the gym; hopefully it’ll be noticeable by MNRF)
Happy Bastille Day!
Sharon enjoys her duck at La Petite Maison
Well, that does it. Another month and a little bit closer to Minnesota. I can’t wait to be a Tortuga again! Well, I hope your summer has started out grand! And, if you live in Minnesota, See ya soon neighbor!
Pirate Jef the Leather Salesman
Pirate Jef the Leather Salesman in his cool coat!
