A Work Trip in Denver, Colorado

     I will not forget my first trip to the “Mile High” city – Denver, Colorado back in 2000. It was a cold April month, and I was pregnant with my son, Joshua.

     It was a trip with US Trade & Development Agency to accompany some high-ranking government officials to an Official Visit and conference in Denver and Washington, DC. I had busy weeks preparing for this trip. The itinerary and schedule of the whole trip were extensive, but it was a great experience. We visited some government offices, including the US Geological Survey, and met with US government officials.  

     I was having morning sickness and couldn’t eat. I vividly remember those days I could hardly drink water because it aggravated my morning sickness.

     After 15 years, I revisited Denver to meet my good friend, Thess, on her work trip. 

     It was a coincidence that she stayed at the Courtyard by Marriot, the same hotel where I stayed in 2000. It brought back memories as soon as I saw the hotel. I remember I had a photo outside by the hotel name, so I decided to take a photo on the same spot.

     I didn’t see my friend in three years, so we constantly talked the whole time. We enjoyed dinner at a Japanese restaurant, coffee at Starbucks, did some shopping, and a lot of catching up with life stories. Fun times!

     I would love to see more of Colorado in the future. Maybe a trip to a ski resort? 

 

A Sunset by the Bridge in Arkansas

      Little Rock is one of the places on my "50 states journey" where I enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

     Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas and is named as one of the top vacation spots in Arkansas. It is also one of the most affordable cities in America.

     If you are like me, who loves the sunset, spending the afternoon until the sun sets on the historic Junction Bridge is one of the best things you would enjoy in Little Rock. Overlooking the sunset is the silhouette view of Central Arkansas Transit that runs between Little Rock and North Little Rock. Then, while the sunset fades and the night unfolds, you would be mesmerized by the beautiful river lights on both sides of the Arkansas River.   

      There are lots of outdoor activities that you can do in Little Rock, including biking and walking on the Arkansas River Trail. According to the records, the trail is one of America's longest pedestrian and bicycle bridges. So maybe next time I visit here, I will include that on my itinerary. 

     
     One of the things I like about traveling is meeting friendly local people. Some of them would volunteer to take my photo. Thanks to them! Some would say hello and spend a little time chatting. 

     Another thing I enjoyed here was the ride on the Central Arkansas Transit. It is both tourist and public transportation and was very inexpensive. I think I paid a dollar for the ride. It was like a tourist bus where the driver also serves as a guide and talks about Arkansas.

     My Airbnb experience here was the best I've had so far. The house was beautiful, and the owners were very nice. They even drove me downtown.

     I love Little Rock and want to say . . . Arkansas rocks!