Zephyr Trip: Day 3

Denver to Boulder

After an 80-degree Day 2 of the trip, we were hoping to continue the nice weather and do some Rocky Mountain hiking on Day 3. The morning started out warm and sunny as we made our way to St. Elizabeth of Hungary for Mass. A church used both by Roman Catholic and Russian Byzantine parishes, a hinged screen near the altar allows for differences in the services.


By the time we got outside again, the wind had picked up and dark, heavy-looking clouds had begun rolling out of the mountains to the west. Uh-oh. On the drive to my sister's place, the first raindrops began to fall. After consulting with the resident Denverites, we had to give up our dreams of hiking [snow was on the way, since the temperature was rapidly falling too].

Free tea!

Instead, we set out for the Celestial Seasonings factory just outside of Boulder, Colorado. The free tours take off hourly, and you gather in a room full of the framed art that their packaging is famous for. You are also given a small cup, and can try the 75+ types of tea they have to offer- also free. Oddly the cups do not have handles [which can be trouble if you're slow getting your hot hot hot tea to a table], but who can say no to free tea?

Step right up

The tour itself has a to-be-expected video to kick things off, with a brief history/philosophy/business spiel. Then the group heads into the factory itself [which was quiet due to it being a Sunday afternoon]. You will pass by sweet-smelling boxes of raw ingredients, and learn a few more facts about Celestial Seasonings and the tea trade. The highlight of the tour is when you're invited to step into the mint room, which has been sealed off from the rest of the factory. This is because the potent herbs would dominate the air with their scent; as soon as you step into the room, you can feel the menthol interacting with your tearducts/sinuses/throat. While refreshing, it is also a little disconcerting.

A few teas available for purchase...

The tour exits into their Gift Shop, which has all of their varieties of tea for sale. Good for some cheap, tasty souvenirs. You can also find tea-flavored lip balm, various sweeteners, and dozens of styles of ceramic cups.

Beerhall ahoy

We left the factory and headed into downtown Boulder, which is situated at the base of the Rockies' foothills. Of course, the low clouds/rain made them impossible to see. Boulder is home to the University of Colorado, and also gave birth to the Craft beer movement in America. This means that there are plenty of small beerhalls to visit, and we chose to try the Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery. After a free sample, we all ordered a round. I went with their Java Stout, which was dark, smooth, and had the coffee-aftertaste I love my porters to have. Yum.


By the time we returned to Denver in the early evening, a heavy snow had begun. We settled in for some tomato soup & grilled cheese at my sister's place, then watched the 2000 version of Jesus Christ Superstar. This may have been a mistake, as we would have those songs stuck in our heads for the next leg of our Amtrak journey.

Also managed to swing by Fabric Bliss

Wandering the streets of Boulder

You can almost see the Rockies behind us...

Zephyr Trip: Day 2

Downtown Denver

Colorado farmland

We woke up just before dawn somewhere in eastern Colorado. At first the Rocky Mountains were only a darker blue on the western horizon, but as the sun began to rise the snowcaps began to turn orange. I'm sure 'back in the day' it would have been even more dramatic, crossing the plains for weeks and weeks, then finally seeing something other than endless Prairie.

Mountains ahoy!

We rolled into Denver slightly ahead of schedule- nice! My parents and brother were just finishing up their Spring Break trip in Colorado visiting my sister, so Day 2 provided a rare 'entire Matteson family' event on the road. After being fortunate enough to check in early at the hotel [it was 8:30 am], we dumped our bags and grabbed a quick breakfast. We were eager to get out and enjoy the 80-degree [!] day.

Civic Center Park

Cas and I walked a lap around Colorado's statehouse while waiting for the rest of the family to join us. The capitol building sits at the head of Civic Center Park, facing the city/county building at the other end, and the Rockies in the distance. A step leading up to the capitol's front doors is labeled as 'One Mile Above Sea Level'... so yes the Mile-High City title is an exact measurement.

Libeskind's DAM

We took advantage of the nearby Denver Museum of Art's 'Free First Saturday' promotion, and then found a nearby brunch place at 'Dozens'. The weather was perfect for wandering semi-aimlessly, and we worked our way over to the 16th Street Mall- the main shopping drag that is closed to all traffic except for a free bus shuttle system that runs regularly up-and-down the boulevard. We walked most of its length heading northwest towards the Platte River and the bridge overlooking Commons Park.

Mattesons on tour

A few of us caught a Final Four game at Wynkoop Brewing [Denver's Oldest Brew Pub], while the other half of the party grabbed a nap back at the hotel. So we were all relaxed and ready for some quality Italian dining across the river at Gaetano's. A nice, warm, full day.

5,280 feet up

Defend the high ground!

Denver State Capitol building

16th Street suspension bridge tower

Past Blast: Prague

Týnský chrám at night

Charles Bridge, with Prague Castle above

Prague, one of the highlights of eastern Europe, is the Czech Republic's capital city. Sitting upon 9 hills and stretching across the Vltava River, it is sort of a colder version of Rome. In fact, the Holy Roman Empire once ruled from here, and King Charles IV built his famous namesake bridge in the 1300s.


There is plenty to see, and as long as you don't mind hiking a bit, it's all quite accessible. The Jewish quarter has cramped cemeteries and synagogues to visit; one temple's interior is entirely covered with the names of the 77,200 Prague Jews who died in the Holocaust.

Prague Castle; feels like LOTR

Prague Castle [Pražský hrad], noted by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest castle complex,  has a commanding view of the entire city. Most of the complex is open to tourists, including St. Vitus' Cathedral and its royal tombs. The castle itself gives you a real feel for the gothic late-middle-ages, and has balconies to admire the city below.


A treat on my visit included a taste of Absinthe, at the time not allowed in many European countries [let alone the US] due to its high alcohol content and alleged hallucinogenic properties. Prague is also home to many quality and economically-priced beers. According to my journal, we enjoyed 0.5L mugs of a local Pilsner for the equivalent of $1. So while you may be doing a lot of walking, there will be plenty of opportunities for refreshment.

View of Prague from its hrad