Travel, Food & Photography

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Experiencing the Labor Day Lift Off Balloon Festival

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We finally made it to our first balloon festival – The Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs, just 80 miles from our home in Arvada. The weather app kept threatening 50-60% chance of rain, but we were all in. I’d booked the hotel back in June (non-refundable, of course), and after years of missing weekend fun because we’re musicians who work most Friday and Saturday nights, we weren’t letting anything stop us.

Most balloon festivals are usually held on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Going to bed at 2 or 3am and getting up to drive somewhere to see balloons take off at 7am does not work for us. Luckily the Labor Day Lift Off was scheduled for Saturday through Monday. Our plan was to go Sunday night for The Glow,  get up Monday for the Lift Off, and head home.

When we left for Colorado Springs on Sunday the chance of rain had gone down but the wind was such that the balloons were not able to take flight as planned. Still, we were determined to make a weekend out of it.

As we neared the city limits, just a quarter mile from the North Academy boulevard exit, our Dodge Durango suddenly died! My husband, Jerry, managed to pull over to the far right side of the freeway as we contemplated calling for a tow truck. Unfortunately, our insurance didn’t cover it. We determined that since we were situated on a slight hill, we would at least try to coast to the top of the exit and away from the majority of the traffic.

As we approached the exit the light turned green which we took as a sign to keep moving. Without power steering, Jerry muscled the car through the light and over the freeway to the next red light. Here we had to stop but were still on a downward hill and figured we could coast to a nearby parking lot from there. As we started looking for just the right place to pull out we saw a Midas sign. We pulled in and saw that it said Auto Care Experts. What are the chances!

We were thrilled. Here it is 3:30pm Sunday afternoon of Labor Day weekend, and they were open until 4:00pm. We were able to have them take a quick look at the car before they closed but they said they wouldn’t be able to get to it until Tuesday morning.

Stranded:

Still 10 miles from The Mining Exchange, our hotel in downtown Colorado Springs, we called for an Uber to take us the rest of the way. If you’re going to get stranded, this is where you want to do it! The hotel is beautiful, the rooms are very nice, comfortable, and right in the heart of downtown. There are plenty of restaurants and shops all within walking distance and we were able to walk to the balloon festival in Memorial park a mile and a half away.

The Glow:

After dinner at the Springs Orleans restaurant we made our way to the festival. It was still light out and we had fun watching all the crews preparing for that evenings show. As the sun went down the pilots fired up the burners and made their balloons glow. This experience was an extra added bonus because we didn’t realize it was a “thing”. Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised.

Lift Off:

Monday morning came quickly. We have been night people for so many years that 6am feels like the middle of the night! Seeing the balloons lift off was our only incentive for getting up and making the mile and a half walk back to the park again.

We arrived just as the balloonists were starting to fill their balloons. One by one they ascended into the sky. After gawking at the them like kids in a toy store for two hours we headed back to the Mining Exchange where we were able to extend our stay for an extra day.

That evening, rather than hang out at the hotel, we had dinner at Jack Quinn’s and headed to the theater to check out the newest Mission Impossible movie.

The Finale:

Tuesday morning as we waited for the call from the repair shop, we had breakfast, took in some sights downtown, and went to the Pioneers Museum. This was certainly a classic case of turning lemons into lemonade. I highly recommend booking a getaway in Colorado Springs. There are so many things to do and see. You won’t be disappointed.

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Florence – The capital of Tuscany, Italy

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My first impression of Florence was both calming and chaotic. Calming because it was one o’clock in the morning and the streets were quiet. And chaotic because we were staying at an Air B&B located in the heart of Piazza della Signoria where the only traffic allowed was either on foot or by taxi.

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Arriving in Florence:

Here we are at one o’clock in the morning, six travelers who have a minimum of two pieces of luggage each. Four of us are dropped off with all the luggage at Ponte Santa Trinita, a nearby bridge, which was the closest access point to our accommodations. Meanwhile, the other two go to find a garage where we can leave our vehicle. Granted, we only had to walk about 500 meters (547 yards), which really isn’t a lot, but the four of us maneuvering luggage for six down cobblestone roads in the middle of the night was kind of funny. And on top of that we had a hard time finding the actual address of where we were staying!

Once we finally found the place, and got everything lugged up the long flight of stairs, we were able to relax, get a good night’s sleep and begin our adventure in Italy!

Piazza della Signoria:

There is certainly a lot going on here with many statues such as a replica of Michelangelo’s David, Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus, and the statue of Perseo holding Medusa’s head. There are also several restaurants where you can sit outside and enjoy the sites and do some people watching. In the evening there are busking street musicians in and around the area that you can sit and enjoy.

A view looking up at the dome of Duomo in Florence, ItalyDuomo: Brunelleschi’s Dome

Florence is best known for the Duomo, a nickname given to the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Saint Mary of the Flower). It’s a beautiful structure covered in pink, white and green marble with an enormous red tiled cupola. If you’re into history then you may already know that it’s construction was started in 1296 and took 150 years to complete.

We opted to pay extra for the ‘skip-the-line’ guided tour where they give you radio packs with earbuds to hear the tour guide’s explanation of the sites inside. We climbed the 463 stairs that take you up and between the inner and outer dome structures which is pretty amazing in itself. The passages are fairly narrow so if you are claustrophobic at all you may not want to partake.

Once inside we walked along the perimeter of the dome where we could see the giant fresco on the dome ceiling. The painting is called The Last Judgement and depicts bodies of the damned descending into Hell.

After more climbing you reach the very top of the dome where you can walk around the outside for 360 degree views of Florence. Bring your camera because this is a great place for a photo op.

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Duomo Museum:

Be sure to take advantage of your included admission to the museum. We actually did it the day after our tour since the ticket was valid for 72 hours after first use.

A deli counter at a food court in Florence, ItalyMercato Centrale:

After our tour of the Duomo we headed to Mercato Centrale for lunch. This is a huge building filled with shops full of delicious wholesome foods and around 500 seats to sit and enjoy some lunch and a beer or glass of wine between your sightseeing adventures. They have a huge variety of food ranging from pizza & pasta, to sushi, to fish, burgers, deli meats and cheeses, desserts and vegetarian fare. They have it all.

If you’re looking for other shopping there are several leather markets, street vendors, and shops selling clothes, housewares, luggage, and souvenirs nearby. The one thing I had to have was a scarf from one of the street vendors. At 5 euro each I wish I would have gotten more than one!

Santa Croce:

This church is the burial place of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo Galilei just to name a few. It is another of Florence’s must-see attractions as it is full of interesting history and architecture. It would be impossible for me to even scratch the surface of all the information there is to be had on just this church alone.

a sunset view of a bridge and a river lined with buildingsPonte Vecchio: “Old Bridge”

Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence dating back to 1345 when it was rebuilt after a flood. The romantic old bridge that crosses the Arno river is lined with numerous jewelry filled shops and is a great location for sunset photos.

A vie of Florence, Italy and the Duomo from the rose gardens

The Rose Garden:

If you want to see and capture some breathtaking views of Florence you have to visit the Rose Garden located just below Piazzale Michelangelo and the bronze statue of David. The garden is free to visit and contains 400 varieties of roses. You can see the garden, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, and the distant mountains all at once. The other thing you will see there is several works of art like Partir, the bronze ‘ship in a suitcase’ sculpture, by belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon.

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Plan ahead:

With a population of just over 380,000 Florence is a small city rich in art and culture. There are so many interesting sites. I can tell you that two or three days is not enough time to experience all it has to offer. If you are able, it is possible to walk to just about everywhere. And, it’s a good opportunity to walk off some of the extra calories from all the delicious food you’ll be indulging in!

For more information on travel to Europe please check out my blog: Europe – Helpful tips for first-time travelers.

Buon Viaggio!

Food

Smokin Fins Restaurant

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I wanted to give a shout out to Smokin Fins who just opened their eighth store in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

We first discovered Smokin Fins (also know as Lucky Fins in Idaho and Greeley, CO) last summer after our kitchen was taken out by a water leak. We had gone out of town for eleven days for work and came home to discover our refrigerator had sprung a leak. The remediation team came first thing the next morning and to make a long story short, they had to remove all our kitchen cabinets and flooring. We were left with about 25 percent of our great room tented off to contain the area so they could dry it out and stop any further damage caused by mold.

Anyway, we were left without a kitchen and no way to cook and prepare meals. The only solution was to go out to eat.

After a week or two of dining at our regular spots we discovered that a new restaurant had just opened right here in Old Town Arvada; it was Smokin Fins! We just happened to go within the first few days of their grand opening while the training team were still in town. Everyone was very friendly and we loved what we had for dinner that night. As a matter of fact we enjoyed it so much that we went back the next night, and the next. It pretty much became the only place we would go.

Smokin Fins Menu:

The menu has a something for everyone; Sushi, seafood dishes, smoked prime rib & pork, burgers, bowls, soups and salads. They also have gluten free options and a kids menu. I can’t really say what my favorite thing is because I love it all!

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During the (approximately) six months we were without a kitchen we got to know a lot of the employees, including some of the training team that were here initially from Idaho. It was one of these friends, Robin, who called us when she came to town to open their Highlands Ranch location and invited us to the pre-grand opening friends and family event. Naturally, we were thrilled to be a part of their big day!

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If you get a chance to eat at one of their restaurants, do it! We’ve tried pretty much everything on the menu and it’s all great!

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Europe – Helpful tips for first-time travelers

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Planning your first trip to Europe? Here are few quick tips I wish I had had before going.

Euros: Currency ExchangeA black and white photo of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

A lot of places in Europe accept credit cards; make sure you get one that doesn’t charge a fee for using it out of the country. And be sure to let them know when you’ll be traveling. I used a Capital One Venture card which also let me earn points toward travel.

We discovered that the best way to exchange dollars to euros was to go to an ATM when you arrive; you will get whatever the current exchange rate is, no hassle. Currency exchanges charge a higher rate and they will tack on a service charge.

Power: Dual voltage vs. single voltage AND adapter vs. converter.

We learned by chance that most of our phone and camera chargers are dual voltage; we had no idea. i.e. Nikon battery charger and laptop charger. If yours is dual voltage it will say ‘Input: 110-240v’ which means all you need is the european adapter. You can now plug directly into the wall. If you have a charger that is 110v ONLY, then you will also need the converter (converts 240v to 110v). A lot of places sell a set that contains both the power converter and the european plug adapter. (see links below)

Charging on the go:

Another thing that came in handy while we were traveling was a portable USB charger. (see links below) When you’re out sightseeing all day you don’t have time to stop and charge your phone which you’ve been using to navigate the city and take tons of photos. You can charge the charger while you are in for the night and use it to keep all your USB devices charged while you’re out. We were a group of six and it seems that at least one of us always needed some extra juice to get us through the day.

International Calling Plans:

There are several ways you can stay connected while traveling. We opted to get a plan with our carrier, AT&T, that let us pay $10 for each day we needed to call, text or email. At the time it was the most economical choice for us. I’m not very tech savvy and therefore I found this ABC News link that has more helpful information.

Travel: Different ways to get around Europe.

You’ve probably seen the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Well, that’s what it was for us. We flew from Denver, Colorado to Paris, France and then took a Lyft/Uber to our Air B&B. After a couple days in Paris we took the high speed train to Marseille where our friends picked us up in a rental van and we continued on to Nice and boarded the ferry to Corsica. After a week driving around the island, literally, we took the ferry to Livorno, Italy and drove to Florence; three days later it was another train ride to Venice for a few days and a water taxi to the Venice airport to get us back to Paris for our trip home. Whew! The point I’m trying to make is that all the forms of travel were super easy to maneuver and now that we’ve done it all once it will be really easy to confront the next time we go.

As is with most things it’s best to book early on any mode of transportation you choose.

Dining: Go with the flow.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Venice, Italy – Getting lost in adventure!, we stayed in a lot of Air B&B’s where we were able to shop and prepare some of our meals. Of course we also wanted to experience the local cuisine which was generally pretty good. I think the consensus was that the favorite meal during our trip was the hamburgers at Cocorico in Paris.

Breakfast:

While charcuterie is great on occasion, you will find it dominates a lot of menus and is even served as breakfast; you will be hard pressed to find anything more than a soft or hard boiled egg. I witnessed more than once, friends coming back from a trip to Europe and commenting how all they wanted right now was an American breakfast! Even after an internet search all I came up with is a link to Spoon University where someone else made it their quest to find one. You can always ask your server. My guess is that maybe you can find something more “American” in the upper end hotels. Feel free to send me information and I’ll update it here. Good luck!

Coffee:

The other thing you will have a hard time finding is a regular cup of coffee. I’m not a big coffee drinker so it wan’t a big deal for me even though I do like a latte now and then. My recommendation is to either pack yourself a french press or take some instant coffee packets. For more on the coffee situation abroad check out this article from AFAR. 

Wine:

Bottles of wine in both France and in Italy are very reasonably priced. We ordered a bottle with dinner in Florence and paid about 32 euro (approx $36 at the time) for a bottle that would have cost us closer to $80 here in the U.S. If you’re curious about the cost of wines in Europe , or anywhere, there’s a great app called Vivino where you can scan the bottle with your phone and learn all about how it rates, how much it goes for and read A beautiful display of fruit and gelato in a shop in Florence, Italyreviews by others.

Favorites:

Last but not least, you of course can’t go without trying all the staples; crepes, chocolate croissants, gelato, pizza by the slice, and the paninis. Don’t plan to diet while on your trip because everywhere you go the food is displayed in windows like glimmering packages just begging to be opened! Bon Appetite!