(Read part I of this post here) Most people don’t know this, but one of my majors in college was anthropology. Granted, it was anthropology with a biological focus. But I still took all the introductory classes, including archaeology. In fact, I initially signed up for an anthropology course because I wanted to be an… Continue reading Life on the Edge of a Cliff – Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado (part II)
Tag: history
Into the Past – Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado (part I)
A couple years ago, I wrote all about Mesa Verde based on my visit to this fascinating park back in 2010. But Pat had never been there and it’s a place I was happy to return to, so in early July of last year we headed out for a week long exploration of southwestern Colorado,… Continue reading Into the Past – Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado (part I)
In the crater of a volcano – Capulin Volcano National Monument, New Mexico
Pat has been wanting to visit New Mexico since the day we arrived in Colorado. He didn’t really know anything about the state and, as a result, I think there was an aura of mystery surrounding it. I have to admit, I see his point; New Mexico rarely seems to be the topic of any… Continue reading In the crater of a volcano – Capulin Volcano National Monument, New Mexico
Colorado Destinations: Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Winter 2019 in Colorado was a ridiculous one. I hear. It was our first winter out here, but everyone we talked to assured us that it was unusual. The season began fairly mild but by March – right about the time I was ready for winter to end – the snow arrived with a vengeance… Continue reading Colorado Destinations: Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Colorado Destinations: Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
If ever there was an area of the US with a bizarre history, this is it. Even the name – which combines ‘arsenal’ and ‘wildlife’ into the same sentence – suggests that this land has quite the storied past. Located immediately northeast of Denver, the land encompassed today by Rocky Mountain Arsenal used to be… Continue reading Colorado Destinations: Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
Shadows of the Past – Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado
When I mention giant redwood trees, Sequoia National Park and California are probably two of the first places that come to mind. But if I’d mentioned giant redwood trees about 34 million years ago, you’d most likely be thinking of Colorado instead! Thirty-four million years ago, what is now the Florissant (pronounced FLOR-ī-sent) Valley in… Continue reading Shadows of the Past – Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado
Westward Bound, part I – Connecticut to Kentucky
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I hadn’t planned to spend so many years in Connecticut. And I certainly never expected that I’d be sad to leave. Admittedly, I wasn’t sad to leave behind the humidity and the brutal winters and the traffic and the rude drivers (because yes, New England drivers really are… Continue reading Westward Bound, part I – Connecticut to Kentucky
Springtime in the Adirondacks
It was March 2018, and reality was really starting to catch up to us as we searched for apartments in Denver and collected quotes from moving companies and I began spending all my free time applying for jobs. But the most pressing matter (priorities, right?) was that our “Before We Leave CT” to-do list still… Continue reading Springtime in the Adirondacks
World Capitals: San José, Costa Rica
Alternate title: In Which Diana FINALLY Gets a Stamp in Her Passport! Welcome to the third installment of my World Capitals series. Today’s post is all about the highly contradictory capital of Costa Rica. Our trip to Costa Rica began with our mid-day arrival at the airport in Connecticut, meaning we didn’t land in San… Continue reading World Capitals: San José, Costa Rica
25 ways to spend a day in Connecticut
A while ago, I wrapped up a seven-part series on the state parks of Connecticut. And while the parks were my most common destinations, I also explored lots of other areas of the state from time to time. So, as somewhat of a wrap-up of the 6 years I spent calling Connecticut home, here's a… Continue reading 25 ways to spend a day in Connecticut