ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK - Celebrating the National Park Service Centennial ~ "Travel Tuesday"

Happy 100th Birthday, National Park Service!

Since its inception on August 25, 1916, at the pen of President Woodrow Wilson (and 44 years after the establishment of Yellowstone National Park), the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our National Parks, National Monuments, National Memorials, National Military Parks, National Historic Sites, National Recreation Areas, National Seashores, National Scenic River ways, and more.

The third most visited National Park in 2015 happens to be in my home state of Colorado...

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

(a quick click on the line above will take you directly to the NPS.gov page).

I am also teaming up with... 

COTOPAXI

(again, a quick click will take you there)

They've allowed me access to some pretty great graphics for these two posts (too much photo overload for one).  As always, all photos can be clicked and clicked again (including the graphics), for enlargement.

"Cotopaxi is an adventure company that tries to get people outdoors and also, to do good.  We are a Benefits Corporation, which means with every sale we make, a portion is donated to world heath initiatives, and our travel backpacks help us make the biggest impact"...Cotopaxi.com 

RMNP is located in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, about 70 miles west of Denver.  Nestled between Estes Park and Grand Lake, the Continental Divide and its eastern and western slopes run through the park; the headwaters of the Colorado River begin here, as well.

The park is filled with awe inspiring mountain views, lakes, and varied environments (from forests to tundra) along with just about any type of western wildlife you could hope to see (that rainy day we spotted bear, deer, elk, and a large gathering of eagles - perched roadside, seeking shelter from the rain).  You'll also find easy access to back-country hiking trails and campsites, for those who want to get off the beaten path.

About a half mile into the entrance that day, we (and about 18 other cars) spied this sow bear and her two large cubs overturning boulders, on a hillside, in search of grubs.  The Park Service Rangers were quick to disperse the crowd - believe me, I was nowhere near these magnificent creatures to get this shot (and only had a normal lens on my camera, hence the bit of blurriness)...ALWAYS respect the animal life, and give them a wide berth!

The park encompasses about 266,000+ acres (or 415 square miles), and is one of the highest national parks in the nation - elevations range from 7,860 to 14,259 feet. Sixty mountain peaks over 12,000 ft. make for some breathtaking viewing.  And, 300 MILES OF HIKING TRAILS, for those so inclined!

For those who'd rather do their sightseeing from the comfort of the car, as we did that day (though we took many opportunities to hike some easier trails, or just pull off for photo ops), the Park offers Trail Ridge Road.  Trail Ridge inspired awe even before the first motorist ever traveled it.  "It is hard to describe what a sensation this new road is going to make", predicted the director of the NPS, in 1931.  "You will have the whole sweep of the Rockies before you, in all directions."  INDEED, you do!  We traveled in fog and low hanging clouds that day, until we reached our first pullout and paved hike...

A quick, easy trail that led to this beautiful vista...our trek started in the fog, and cleared as we approached the end (along with quite a few more folk who didn't seem to mind the rain that day - the backwoods trails will see you far away from crowds like this).

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect window of opportunity when that curtain of fog parted.

Trail Ridge Road (seen ever so faintly in the upper right photo) covers 48 miles between Estes Park and the town of Grand Lake, on the west side of the Park.  Eleven miles of this road take you above timberline (the Parks' pines stop at about 11,500 feet).  The road tops out at 12,183 feet in elevation, while winding across these beautiful mountain tundras.  

Pullouts are plenty, and there's the Alpine Visitor Center at the top, if you really want to stretch your legs (and lungs) - more on that on Thursday.

COTOPAXI - NATIONAL PARK PRIDE

Again, a click on the bold link will take you directly to Cotopaxi.com, where you can read more about what they are doing to promote our National Park Service, and helping you to get out and "Explore Your Park".  In need of a really great backpack?  Check out their "Gear for Good"  (go ahead and click right there, or RIGHT HERE).

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CENTENNIAL

And, one more link to entice you to make a trek of your own to this grand old Park - or one in your own neck of the woods.  Wherever it is, take the time to explore what it has to offer.  Been there before?  Go again!  Relive the memories, and make a few new ones!  Celebrate some of our greatest national treasures - 100 years strong!

I will be back on Thursday with the remainder of the photos I  have for you, plus proof that I do own a great pair of hiking shoes, and didn't hike around in my cowboy boots this time.  Thanks to my dad for another well-thought-out day in the beautiful mountains of home.  Love you more!

A TREASURE FROM THE OLD WEST - SANTO DOMINGO PUEBLO on "Travel Tuesday"

Neck, arm AND eye candy, all in one shot.  The large white necklace, and where it came from, is what this post is actually about, but the magazine shot doesn't hurt (and was done with my Mom in mind).  Hell on Wheels starts back up for a final season on June 11th - if you haven't been watching it all along, you need to look up the back seasons on Netflix, because you don't know what you've been missing!  Anyway, back to the neck candy - it came this week in my mail, and it's spectacular!

I talked a little in the last post about knowing who you are buying Native American jewelry (or other artworks) from, and someone commented about online buying being a bad idea.  I agree - buying valuable jewelry online would probably be the last thing I EVER suggest unless you really know what it is you're after.  My dad, who has collected Indian art and antiquities for 50+ years, peruses eBay and the online sites in his spare time, and has commented to me about an increase in newer pieces being made to look old in this market, as well.  Reproduction pieces seem to be the norm, anymore, and you have to beware with just about everything.

However, if you REALLY pay attention to detail, check a seller's feedback, and KNOW what you're looking at (research WISELY, in other words), there ARE honest dealers out there.  You just have to use your head.  Dad and I have both made fabulous eBay purchases...the best one I've made to date arrived this past week - a purchase made from someone selling off a small collection of personal items collected in the 60s in New Mexico.  They were ALL the real deal.

The necklace above (and below) was in that collection - a beautiful Santo Domingo White Clamshell Heishi and Natural Turquoise necklace.  It has, very obviously, been in a vault, on a peg for the past 50 years.  I would be very surprised if it has seen more than one wearing - it is THAT pristine!

I DID know what I was looking at when I stumbled upon the auction, but not exactly how spectacular, or substantial, this purchase was until it arrived.  This necklace was (and it HAS been verified to be authentic, already) crafted in the Santo Domingo Indian Pueblo in New Mexico (about 25 miles south of Santa Fe and 35 miles north of Albuquerque - or pretty much "smack-dab" in the middle) by one of their skilled artisans - the exact maker may never be known due to the age of the piece, but we have a pretty good idea from the way the jaclas at the bottom are attached.

There are ten strands of hand ground clamshell and natural turquoise heishi.  The turquoise jaclas (jaclas were actually worn as earrings by the Indian women - when not being worn in the ears, they were usually tied onto the bottoms of their necklaces) are connected permanently with what is known as a "squaw wrap", which you typically see at the neck of a necklace.  Each of the heishi beads measures approx. 3/8" wide by 1/8" tall - and, in true tradition, there are real, red coral beads at the tops of the jaclas.

The necklace measures a total of approximately 21.5" in length - 15.5" from the neck wrap to the bottom of the white shells, and another 6" for the turquoise jaclas.  This beauty weighs in at 275 gms., or approx. 10 ounces - the equivalent of a can of Campbell's Soup!

I was told the 86 year-old woman and her husband purchased this in the 1960s, directly from the Santo Domingo Pueblo.  My Mom has beautiful pieces of jewelry from Santo Domingo as well, and I remember visiting it as a small child.  While the woman said she could remember very little detail, in all actuality with the time frame, it is very likely that it was purchased out of this iconic trading post, on the reservation.

While the bright signage was intended to attract tourists and was common at roadside trading posts and curio shops during the early 20th century (black and white photo is circa 1954), the post also served as an important source of food stuffs and finished goods for neighboring tribal residents of the Santo Domingo Pueblo.  President JFK was said to have visited the post in 1962 (see the small round sign on the post in the right hand side of the color photo - photo circa 1971).

The post was constructed in 1922, adjacent to the railroad and a small highway that would later become a short-lived alignment of Route 66.  This two-story building was constructed just north of an older trading post that dated to 1880, and was used as a warehouse by the owners of the new post.

The trading post was nearly destroyed by fire in 2001, and has undergone more than a million dollars worth of renovation.  NPS grants through the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program have helped provide stabilization measures in 2007, and a 2013 grant helped to restore the historic facade painting.  It is scheduled for a grand reopening this July 9th - click here for more info:

NEW MEXICO EVENTS

Also called Kewa Pueblo now, residents of the pueblo maintain their traditional religious practices and social structure to this day.  The pueblo has a long history of producing, trading, and sell crafts, especially jewelry and pottery.  You can visit the pueblo and still observe the traditional way of life there, even attending ceremonial events such as the corn dance, held every year on August 4th.  As with any of the pueblos, there are rules to be followed before attending.  For more information, check out: 

PUEBLO of SANTO DOMINGO/NPS.GOV or 

SANTO DOMINGO TRIBE

Bottom (color) photo is part of the modern day Santo Domingo pueblo...notice the ceremonial Kiva in the middle of the photo.  If you get a hankerin' to travel this summer, legendary Route 66 holds some pretty remarkable treasures throughout the American Southwest.  And me, I'm tickled to death to have my hands on this remarkable treasure of my own.  Plans are to keep it as pristine as it is now, but to love and WEAR it...gently.  This was made to be seen - after 50 years of storage, it's time!

And, I'll leave you with this...not all my SW jewelry is Native American made.  As I stressed in the last post, collect what "calls" to you - collect what YOU like - collect what you LOVE.

If it's important to you WHO made it, do a little research (these were made by an Anglo artisan in NM, and I loved them the minute I set eyes on them, so they're mine now).

PLEASE be cognizant of knockoffs, those selling them, and who they might be affecting with their dishonesty, other than you and your purchase.  There are true and honest artisans out there who would LOVE to sell you something made from their heart, without trying to pull the wool over your eyes!  Happy Tuesday...hope you do some travelin' this week - whether in a car or just wanderin' someplace wonderful in your mind!  XOXO

OH, GIVE ME A HOME...TED TURNER'S WOULD BE NICE...Travel Tuesday

Where the buffalo roam...

Where the deer...

And the antelope...

And the antelope play (they both have neck stripes - I may have gotten confused). Disclaimer:  This one is a "stock photo" from a NM.gov site - the antelope were plentiful, but the car was traveling too fast for my own shot - they're out there, though!

 Where seldom is heard...

 A discouraging word...

Along the road that leads from the dinosaur in Taos to Cimarron, New Mexico (or as we like to refer to it, the "back way" home to Denver), there are some pretty spectacular sights to be seen.  Deer; antelope; the cliffs and palisades (think fences or walls around a fortress) of Palisades Sill.  The age of the Palisades Sill has been estimated at between 26 million and 34.7 million years...I wasn't too far off with the dinosaur, evidently!

Camping, fishing, hiking - all in one breathtaking spot.  For more information, click on the link!

CIMARRON CANYON STATE PARK, NM

And just down the road from that, we ran across THIS!

A glimpse of what life across the United States plains used to look like, on a far more minuscule scale.  Imagine these plains COVERED with dark brown, as far as your eyes could see!

This private herd of possibly 200-300 head of buffalo was awe-inspiring enough - it's hard to believe, and indeed sobering, that these magnificent beasts were almost obliterated from the face of this earth by man's stupidity and greed.

A highly electrified fence (buffalo need extremely sturdy fences to keep them where they should be - they can make short work of an ordinary fence in no time), and no tripod to rest upon, made my distance shots a little hard.

This is a beautiful, obviously well-cared-for herd - we were certainly glad we took the "back way" home.

And now, in researching my own photos, I find that Vermejo Park Ranch is owned by none other than media mogul, Ted Turner - 600,000 acres worth (or about 3/4 the size of the state of Rhode Island - what a shame, huh?!) of prime beauty, stretching from NM to CO.  "A TURNING POINT IN TURNER COUNTRY"

These were taken from the side of the lowly road outside the ranch (thankfully it wasn't snake season, as I was in some serious, knee-high weeds along that road)...I can only imagine the inside - this is as close a look as I'll ever be able to afford.  This was more than enough for me!

 A young bull, surveying his "wealth".  Here's to getting out and surveying some of your own wealth in the coming, warmer months.  More Travel Tuesdays to follow, possibly with just enough inspiration for someone to make their own plans.  There's SO much to see out there - time's a wastin'!

...and the skies are not cloudy all day!

TRAVEL BY TRAIN - DENVER'S UNION STATION on "TRAVEL TUESDAY"

Some day I'd love to do just that.  I'd have to get out of Vegas to do it, as there is no passenger train that runs anywhere close to here, but it's on my agenda - some day.  In the meantime, I got a chance to walk through the newly renovated Denver Union Station in January.  The main railway station/central transportation hub is located at 17th and Wynkoop Streets in the present day, "upscale" LoDo (for Lower Downtown) District.  The Station now encompasses the historic terminal building, a train shed canopy, a 22-gate underground bus facility and light rail station, a grand hotel, retail stores and restaurants.

The first Union Station opened on June 1, 1881 at a cost of $525,000.  The impressive structure lasted 13 years before a fire in the ladies' restroom burned it to the ground.

A second version lasted a little longer - from 1894 to 1912 - before crews demolished it and rebuilt to handle increasing passenger traffic.  This time, it was redesigned in the Beaux-Arts style of the day. This present day structure was opened in 1914.

A $500 million dollar* renovation project (*I have found conflicting reports regarding final cost, ranging from $54 million to $500 million, to just now, an fhwa.dot.gov site that lists it at $487.70 million, so your guess is as good as mine - in any case, it was lots of cash!) began in December 2012, with the re-opening of the Station in July 2014.  The majority of the terminal building's upper levels have now been transformed into the 100-room Crawford Hotel, with the 12,000 square foot Great Hall serving as the lobby, public space, and train waiting station - an additional 22,000 sq. ft. house retail shops and restaurants/bars.

The Great Hall was used, historically, as the passenger waiting room.  It featured tall, multi-story arched windows and bays on the facade, with terrazzo floors, two exterior clocks, a metal canopy, and other classical elements.  It's interior actually lacked the grand ornamentation that was commonplace for stations of the time, and instead, utilized a simple color scheme, metal light sconces, and marble paneling.

And, 2,300 carved Columbines (the Colorado State Flower) on the borders of the plaster arches!  It was a a detail I missed while standing in the middle of all the grandeur, but read about - upon checking closer in my photos, there they were.  When originally constructed, the Great Hall housed three 8 ft. diameter chandeliers and ten long wooden benches that incorporated heating and lighting into their framework.  At some point prior to 2012, the chandeliers were replaced with flat, fluorescent panels.

These original sconces had also been under coats of paint for decades, and were restored to their beautiful bronze during renovation.  The renovation returned large chandeliers, similar in detail to the first ones, but also saw the removal of the benches, due to asbestos.  Two original, simple wooden benches were saved, and remain along one wall.

Other modifications included changing the brown and tan color scheme to neutral white.  The old ticket counters and offices have been converted into the Terminal Bar, along with retail and restaurant spaces being created on the periphery of, and opening to, the Great Hall.  "Denver's Living Room", the grandiose Great Hall functions today as part hotel lobby, part Amtrak, part waiting area, part retail and part public space.

A huge bronze plaque outside the Amtrak office, honoring General William Jackson Palmer (1836-1909) - founder of the Denver and Rio Grand Railroad, and the driving force behind the establishment of Colorado Springs as a major American city.

We visited on a day with spitting snow and below freezing temps, hence the grey skies that would normally be vivid Colorado blue.  If you visit, make sure to take in the fabulous mix of the old architecture that was Denver in it's heyday, happily left in place and intermingling with the new.  There's plenty of parking to be found around the area, if you're not traveling anywhere but just want to take a look around for a few hours.

On an adjoining corner to Union Station, sits the Ice House - designed and built around the turn of the 20th century, it was home to the Littleton Creamery and Beatrice Foods Cold Storage Warehouse for some 80 years.  Added to the National Historic Register in 1985, today it houses some of the most sought after loft residences in downtown Denver.

The buildings in these aren't actually leaning, but were taken from behind travelling car windows on a very cold day.  I used to work in the tall white building, upper left.  Denver is fast becoming another downtown New York - 25+ years ago, when I worked there, EVERYTHING closed its doors at 5:00 pm, and people went home to their houses in the suburbs.  Today, it is the center of all that is "hip" - an exciting "young" town now, in an old skin, thankfully!  Hooray for keeping the history and character of the old buildings, in the midst of progression.

A parting shot of the iconic and charming Daniels & Fisher Tower, that I walked by every day on my way to that tall, white building.  Built in 1910 as part of the Daniels & Fisher Department Store (which was later bought by May Co., and eventually called May D & F), this was the tallest tower between Mississippi and California when it was constructed.  Standing 325 ft. tall (20 floors), it has clock faces on all four sides, with a 2-1/2 ton bell housed in the top two floors above an observation deck.  The store is no more, but the tower has been renovated into businesses, and more lofts.

Have a wonderful Tuesday - get out and see something this week, be it old or new - increase your brain power and keep that mind strong.  Be safe - be happy!

THE EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE THAT IS VEGAS...A Return to "Travel Tuesday"

What better way to return to Travel Tuesday 2015, than in my own backyard.  A recent meet-up (camera ever in tow) with old friends passing through town, proved that Vegas is the town that never sleeps...especially when it comes to reconfiguring the old.  I know they were pleasantly surprised.

What used to be just a large alley-way between the old Imperial Palace (which is now The Quad) and The Flamingo Casinos, has been transformed into The Linq - shopping, eating, bowling and concerts; local artworks on the walls; and the 550 ft. High Roller Ferris Wheel that provides breathtaking views of the town.  This was an unusually gray, clouded-over day - we don't get too many.

The Flamingo Hilton, next door - the casinos and hotels are on a never-ending quest to update.  A few still have the old Vegas charm to them, with a few new twists.  The flamingos and pelicans can be found in a center, outdoor sanctuary of the casino - a place to go and reflect on the money you may have "spent" while in town.

A trip through the gorgeous FABERGE Revealed Collection, inside of the Bellagio Hotel - now through May 25 (it's an ever-changing exhibit, as well)...238 rare and jaw-dropping Faberge artifacts - the largest public collection outside Russia.  The glass sculpture atop the eggs (they don't allow cameras in, but believe me it is well worth a look!) is Chihuly - you'll find a Gallery for that there, as well.

The seasonally changing display at the Bellagio Atrium presently showcases Chinese New Year - 2015 Year of the Goat.  

I did hear grumblings among some there that 2015 is the Year of The Sheep.  Sheep/Goats - I think it's probably all relevant - gorgeous no matter what you call it!

And the ending of the day brought this - from atop the 32nd story hotel roof where they were staying, a view of the ever-changing skyline of The Las Vegas Strip.  This, the newest addition to the landscape - the fabulous and glittery City Center.  Housing The Aria Hotel and Casino; The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino sitting within the same block; high end shopping; dining; condominiums - truly a city within the city, with loads of glittering glass!  I think the days of the "theme" casinos (such as the old Excalibur and the MGM Grand) are on the way out.

A straight-on shot of the Aria, with the high-end shopping mall of Crystals in the foreground.

Either direction (north or south) on The Strip, remain the older, more easily recognizable buildings - they will all eventually end up with a Las Vegas face lift, making way for the new models.  There are a few here in town that NEED to be demolished and redone, but I guess I kind of like that they are holding on, just the way they are...at least for the time being.  

A view of the back of Planet Hollywood (which used to be The Aladdin, for those that remember), Paris, Bally's (which is older now, and used to be the old MGM Grand that caught fire all those years ago), with the new High Roller Ferris Wheel behind it all.

More great places to see - I've been saving up photos just for Tuesdays, in hopes of showing you something you might have never seen, or may want to put on a list to visit.  Hope your week is spent out of snow and cold!