25.04 - Day 101 - Denver
Thursday 25th April - Denver (Day 101)
The day starts with buffet breakfast at La Quinta in South Denver - the highlight being the waffle maker, creating 4 circular DIY waffles in two and a half minutes much to the delight of the kids, and me.
We use SpotHero to find somewhere to park the car in Denver for the day, which continues to work well for us; navigating 30 minutes of last rush hour traffic to a Sheraton hotel in the city centre. We’re next to the Civic Centre Park walking through it under sunny but fresh blue skies to the Colorado State Capitol Building, an imposing impressive building at one end of the park, modelled on the US Capitol in Washington DC.
Once through the airport screening we’re able to wander freely around, passing under the domed roof covered in a paper thin layer of gold and a circular balcony with portraits of every US President. The only one without a plaque being Joe Biden - will his term finish in 2025 or 2029?
We’re also able to sit in the gallery of two different senate (?) sittings, passing or amending bills. Seb declares he wants to be the Chairman so he can bang the gavel. Three bills were passed in the 10 minutes we sat there - “the ayes have it”.
There’s a free bus running from the park to Union Station which we hop on - the large building now part station, part hotel, part building site inside.
I’d realised there was a baseball game on at Coors Field Station whilst in the hotel this morning and we can see it from the station, two blocks away. At the ticket office it’s $4 for an adult, $1 for a child, so if we get bored, it’s no big commitment.
With 1.5 hours till the game starts at 1pm we walk east around the station to the RINO district, home to low slung buildings containing small offices, shops and restaurants. There’s also heaps of murals painted on the sides of buildings which are always an easy entertainment in terms of seeing them out and judging them.
Inside Denver Central Market in one of these buildings are several food options in a trendy bustling food court. We got a very tasty freshly made orecchiette lamb ragu and margherita pizza before walking back to the stadium. There are lots of staff, most seemingly aged over 60 and very happy to chat or explain anything to us international newcomers. Sienna and Seb are given a pair of Trading Cards by the ticket scanner man, get a free pair of bobbleheads complete with a photo of their own face and get a congrats on your 1st game certificate all before finding our seats.
From up high in the sun we watch the Colorado Rockies host the San Diego Padres trying to use our limited knowledge to explain the intricacies of the game to Sienna and Seb. There’s plenty of empty seats - it is 1:30pm on a Thursday afternoon after all and these two teams have already played one another Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening - but there are also lots of school children.
As the Rockies match position deteriorates so does the weather, dark clouds rolling over us. By the end of the 7th Innings at 9-4 down we decide we’ve had our fill and leave, Seb asking for more trading cards from a few more of the staff who seemingly all carry a small wad around with them.
As we’re getting back on the shuttle bus we hear a cheer from the stadium - we later discover the Rockies have stormed home to win 10-9. But Sienna especially is much happier to now be at the Denver Library spending an hour reading some fresh books.
The journey home is easy enough in the now rain and after the kids try out some Magic Tricks from an ex-library book (purchased for 50c) it’s time for bed.