Since our southern-most destination was Tuscan, we aimed for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This means that we didn’t get to see that new glass walkway over the cliff-edge. I saw a show about it on the History Channel several years ago, and would like to go back and see it (quite an engineering feat, if you ask me). But that wasn’t part of the plan on this trip. We were able to cover quite a long distance along the canyon, due to relatively recent funding for trails and road maintenance. We didn’t plan ahead for our Canyon-side picnic and resorted to devouring a bag of SmartFood popcorn that I’d been saving.  This was before we found a full-size grocery store along with several restaurants…  We had lunch, went to the very end of the trail and came back. The Grand Canyon is huge. Which is an understatement. And overwhelming. And I think it was hard to appreciate at some level, without climbing the trails down or rafting parts of the river. But we did our best. We took a million pictures with Francisco’s point-and-shoot (this would’ve been a perfect time for a better camera…), so here are just a few to give a general idea.

We had planned on spending the night near Flagstaff, but we ended up just grabbing a coffee there and driving all the way to Tuscan that night. We were kind of tired of hotels (paying for them, mostly), and I was anxious to see my friends Chloe and TJ. We crashed pretty quickly when we got to their house, but they let us sleep in (thank you!!) while they went out on their respective bike rides. We ended up spending three nights there and leaving the morning of the third day. Chloe took us on a walking tour of the city, which was pretty neat and gave a good overview of downtown.  We all went out for Mexican food that night with her Tuscan buddies (I’d met most at their wedding in October).  The next day we headed out on bikes with Chloe and went a few miles along the “wash.” She said that the city is trying to find money to connect certain walking and bike paths in the city.  But at this point there was a definitive end to the path and then we had to turn around. Francisco enjoyed it because he didn’t get out of breath (more oxygen down there), and I loved being able to just ride and not worry about Boulder’s hills.  Chloe’s got a great set-up down there with her house and hubby, and she made us feel very welcome. At the end of our stay she gave us some suggestions on where to eat and sleep on our way back to Colorado. The first was Hatch, New Mexico, but that’s a story for next time.

We drove south to Montecello and the veered east toward Colorado again. The landscape was interesting to watch as it changed from mountain desert to snowy plains and back into more mountains. This also appeared to be the bean-growing region -every farm and every town was sporting bean fields or bean something. Not many people on this road, though. Once we got to Cortez we were pretty hungry, so we stopped to eat. Unfortunately, this meant that we were about 30 minutes too late for the 1:00 tour at Mesa Verde. I think it was destiny, though, because we spent more time than we thought we would have, just exploring the other sites (from a distance, since they are closed in the winter). It was fun to speculate with Francisco about the lifestyle of these people and see the ruins of some of the first cities in the U.S. (this may only be super interesting for an urban planner…). We made our way back for the last tour of the day and got the Park Ranger tour guide all to our selves (for the first half).  He took us down to see a refurbished kiva, but we couldn’t actually go in any of the homes. It was so neat to be that close to such an ancient (and surprisingly preserved) site. I recommend Mesa Verde to anyone who hasn’t already seen it.  On the way out of the park we got to see the sunset again.

We discussed our travel plans over dinner in downtown Cortez (our first southwestern meal of the trip) and decided that Cortez didn’t have anything else to offer us. We got back into the car and headed to the Four Corners. Now, at this point, I had no idea what to expect at the four corners (for those of you unfamiliar, this is the corner of four states: Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico), but I assumed that there would be a monument that paid tribute to those states.  What I didn’t realize is that it would be closed after 5:00. We almost missed it completely because there wasn’t even an illuminated sign telling us that this was the point. Francisco was quite disappointed that he couldn’t be in four states at once (I think it’s a residual fantasy from a Simpsons episode). We could only take a picture of the sign and move on. Welcome to Arizona.

It turns out that Francisco actually really enjoys driving at night. He didn’t want to stop in Kayenta, AZ (and there weren’t very many appealing hotel options), so we drove on to Tuba City, AZ. There weren’t very many options here, but at that point I was so tired and grumpy that I would’ve taken anything. We ended up getting the last room available and for a decent price too. And I crashed.   I was saving my energy for the next day -We were headed to see the infamous Grand Canyon!

**The next installation of this road trip saga to come later.**

1. Our first stop was Glenwood Springs, CO. It’s historically famous for its natural hot springs, but I’d only ever seen the Fairy Caves. We arrived to our modestly priced hotel (that we mostly picked randomly off the side of the road) around 4:30 and decided to dip into the hotel hot tub and explore the town. We ended up at an Asian restaurant and ate way too much. It started to snow while we were sleeping and by the time I convinced Francisco to actually get up, we had to dig the car out of a few inches of snow. To start the day (and maybe get out of the snow for a while) we started with the Fairy Caves. I always enjoyed them because you get to take a gondola up to the top of the mountain -usually with a great view of the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, due to the snow, the only view we had was about 10ft around the gondola. The caves were quite warm, though, and it was quite nice to forget about the snow for a while.

We tried out the famous Hot Springs in the afternoon, which were much more popular that I thought they would be during the tourist off season. The steam coming off the water made the whole experience pretty magical. Needless to say, we came back later that night to experience them at night (you can come back as many times as you want during the day). Francisco thought the water was a little too hot in the hotter of the two pools but I thought it was so relaxing! I’d definitely come back again. The snow falling also made it special, which of course is seasonal, but I’m curious what it’s like during the summer months.

On our way out of Glenwood the next day, the sun was shining and the sky was blue (but our car was still under a thick layer of ice and we say several new accidents on the highway from the icy roads). But after just a few short miles down the road, the mountains turned back to their normal red color and the roads were dry again. We were now on our way to Utah!

2. We passed the Colorado-Utah border before noon (I’m pretty sure, but this is all from memory, to there’s certainly a margin of error). And took a picture. Shortly thereafter we cut down toward Moab, UT. We took the scenic route which took us along the river and through some beautiful canyons. After having lunch in Moab and settling in to our hotel we headed back up to Dead Horse Point State Park (or more often known as the “Island in the Sky”). We went all the way -or almost all the way- to the end of Outlook Point, but headed back just in time for a beautiful sunset. I didn’t feel comfortable hiking in the dark, which was one of the reasons why I made us turn back, but it worked out for the best because we also got to see the full moon at it’s brightest and lowest in the sky.  The 45 min. drive from Moab was one of the best little day trips we did -the views were simply stunning and with the low afternoon sun we got some great pictures (but it was hard to hike with the sun directly in our eyes, too). Once we were back in Moab, we decided to keep it simple for dinner and just made something in the little kitchenette in our hotel room. We ended up watching an old Brazilian tv show in bed and planning our next day.

We tried to get up early the next day, but that didn’t work out as well as I’d planned. But as Francisco tells the story, it was actually me who initially insisted on another 30 minutes (erm.. hour) of sleep. After packing up, we went back up to see some things in Arches National Park. It was bitterly cold, since the sun hadn’t warmed everything up yet, and we could only muster two short hikes before we threw in the towel and just decided to start on our way down to Mesa Verde. Full tank of gas and local drive-through coffee (actually really good!) we hit the road again. I did like the fact that because it was off season, nobody was on the trails with us. Okay, there were a few groups in the afternoon, but we didn’t have anyone on our trails in the cold morning at Arches.

***Due to constrains with time and patience I will end here and pick up again tomorrow (or whenever I actually end up having time). This only take you up to the start of day four into our trip, so there’s still so much to tell! ***

It’s been a great last couple of weeks -Christmas and New Years- with Francisco. I’ve really enjoyed showing him all the fun things to do in winter here (like ice-skating, making snowmen, sledding, skiing and watching a lot of movies with hot chocolate). We’ve never been on a trip just the two of us before, so I’m excited to just explore with him.

See you on the other side!!

Unfortunately and fortunately, Francisco was supposed to fly in to visit me today. I say unfortunately, because the minute after I sent my last paper to my professor I started stressing out about him coming (if he would make his flight, if immigration would give him guff again etc.). So, the knot in my spine suddenly switched from grad-school stress to travel stress. Neither one make my body feel very good, so I’m already laying down (only 8:00) and nursing a crampy body. I woke up this morning and called Francisco. He should’ve already reached his first stop in Recife and checked in to get on a plane to Miami. But, his first plane was almost an hour late which left less than two hours between flights. American Airlines wouldn’t let him check in and get on that second flight. I couldn’t believe it! I was still sleepyface and was not ready to face the world -let alone not getting to see my boyfriend who was about to fly 5,000 miles to see me. But it was true.

Fortunately, they got him on a flight for the next day (tomorrow), and set him up in a four star hotel on the beach with meals and a taxi pre-paid. This just means that he has to hang out in a hotel room and I have to wait around for an extra day before we get to see each other. It doesn’t sound bad, but I asked my supervisor if I could work tomorrow because the last thing I want to do is sit around and stress about the potential problems that can occur while traveling.

I’m trying to get some “me” time in tonight and tomorrow too, since I can’t remember the last time I did something just for me. Maybe a bath in my newly cleaned bathtub is in order…. I haven’t been able to stomach alcohol during finals (my body completely rejected a glass of wine that I was trying to sip to calm my nerves while I studied about steel and concrete compression strength), so maybe I’ll try to get back off the wagon and loosen up a little. A friend invited me out tonight, but honestly that sounds just as stressful as trying to put another final project together. I’m definitely not up for awkward social interactions. I need the warmth of my comfort zone right now. And maybe a romantic comedy.

I’m really looking forward to sleeping in and relaxing. Hopefully Francisco is as excited about that as I am. We’re getting a Christmas tree this weekend, but beyond that I think it’ll just be a lot of eggnog and sleep. Happy Holidays!

Planning for next summer has already started too. I’m trying to find a planning internship down in Fortaleza so I can kill two birds with one stone (visit Francisco while being proactive and productive in my field). But, it’s turning out a bit harder to find than I’d initially assumed. I have to bring out the big guns and get back into contact with a few people that might have leads for me. It’s becoming more and more obvious that the really exciting planning isn’t being done in Fortaleza. With such things as the Olympics in Rio 2016, the World Cup in 2014 and simply a crucial need for smart cities, the innovative and publicized work is being done in Rio, São Paulo, Porto Alegre and Belo Horizonte. That’s great, but the places that really need the help are to the north and west. Plus, I’d rather do something I’m super interested in while in Fortaleza. And this isn’t necessarily politically motivated either; there are a lot of organizations and consulting firms that do small urban projects internationally (and many are in Brazil).

In other news, I was officially recognized for my work on the Capital Improvements Stakeholder Committee (Round 1). Last Monday, the City Manager of Boulder, Jane Brautigam, presented me with a Certificate of Appreciation (with my name spelled just a little wrong) and a hard hat helmet with the City logo on it. Everyone on the committee was recognized.

Speaking of which, my love is officially coming to visit for Christmas. He’ll be here for seven weeks and experience his first Colorado winter. I’m so excited that he could come up. Otherwise, it would’ve been a year apart before I could get enough time to go down there. I’m hoping to land an internship in Fortaleza to keep me busy next summer. It’s probably wishful thinking, but I plan on testing the waters soon to see what’s out there.

For now, I’m trudging through graduate school and loving everything except the stress. My friend here haven’t seem much of me these past few months since I’m locked to my books at all hours of the day. I should probably loosen up, but I get stressed out when there’s too much on my plate. It’s what I signed on for, though.

Denver is a pretty neat city, by the way. I never really knew that, since as an adolescent I never spent much time there. But, the architecture is actually really interesting (some of the city’s planning ordinances make for really innovative spaces -combining the historic and the modern). And I found this delicious little crepe restaurant off of Lawrence and 16th St, that I’ve already spent too much money on. The downside to working and studying at large universities is that everyone probably thinks that I’m an undergraduate. Not that it’s far from the truth (as I’m only just over a year out of Smith), but I feel a distinct separation from them. At CU, most of the undergrads that I deal with are complete idiots and I would love to put as much distance between me and them as possible. And at UCD, most of the students on campus look like they’re going through an identity crisis, and I’d like to think that I’m over that. But, ironically, I’ve been in doubt about my architecture duel degree recently. Should I spend the next four years tied to my studio desk at all hours of the night? Or should I put my effort completely in planning and be out by 2013? Why do I have to be so ambitious and interested in everything?

So, if I didn’t make it clear; I’m here but not really here since I’m sometimes over there or in between and my mind is too far ahead to even reach.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

In other news, Chloe’s birthday is coming up in two and a half weeks. I’m picking up my bridesmaid dress on Friday and have covered my bases with the bachelorette party planning. I’d buy her a gift already, if I didn’t know that she could see exactly who buys what on her registry. The dirty little secrets of weddings.

Also, I’m excited to hear Nicole’s amazing news and I would spread it to the world, if it was my place to say anything. She really sounds like she’s in a good place now, and I can’t express how reassuring and uplifting that is. She has her old pep back in her voice… I missed her so much.

I apologize to all my avid readers that I didn’t make this blog a priority while Francisco was here. I didn’t even write in my journal, and barely looked on facebook. But now I’m back. And… I have a job! I went back to the Academic Advising Center (where I’d been working this spring) to return a book that I had borrowed and to see all my old friends (and distract myself from Francisco’s absence). I walk in and my old super-visor gives me a hug and says “Hey! Do you want a job?!” I didn’t really think she was serious, but it turns out that they are really short-handed these days and could use any help they can get. So, I’ll pick up some hours this week and next week and then maybe even after Graduate school starts on the 22nd. My schedule works out that I’ll have time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, so this might be the perfect solution to my financial concerns. And it just fell into my lap. Amazing.

In terms of the living situation, I still haven’t found something that I love in Denver so I’m in Boulder until further notice. But since I’m working here too, it might work out well for the next few months. I want to see how well commuting works, and what my course load is like too before I decide anything permanent.

There is also a Family Reunion in a few weeks that I’m very excited for. I missed the last one since I was in Brazil, but this one fits in perfectly right before my classes start. I’m especially looking forward to catching up with my cousin Annie (second cousin?… not sure what the official connection is between us). She is really the only family member on my Dad’s side that I’m moderately close with, but hopefully that will change after I reunite with everyone again. This will be a nice weekend trip to California -a state that I don’t frequent that often. I have fond memories of family reunions (on my mother’s side) in Iowa, but we haven’t had one since my great-grandfather died many years ago. I’ve had a few conversations with my cousin Peter about how unfortunate it is that our family is so spread apart with very minimal interactions. Maybe we just need a family reunion to iron out some family drama that’s been festering… Speaking of family, I am still working on the Family Archives on and off. I sent out an email to my cousins several months ago, asking for them to send me their personal dates/information so I could update the archives, and only two cousins have gotten back to me (out of 10). Pitiful. Maybe I need to contact them by phone and really put the pressure on them.

Anyway, that’s my update for now. And here are some pictures for good-measure. Enjoy!

But, that actually wasn’t the news I was going to announce… I was informed today that I’ve been accepted to the UC-Denver Masters Program in Urban and Regional Planning!! They didn’t accept me into the Architecture program (THIS round), but I plan on re-applying next year and trying for a duel Masters. There is so much overlap between programs, that it really makes sense to try them together. This means that I’ll be a student again in the fall. And most likely living with Grant and Jessica (Thanks again, guys!), once they get back from Africa. I’ll be honest, I had heard back from the Architecture Masters a while ago (early/mid May) but didn’t want to announce the bad news until I’d heard from the other program. But now it’s only part-bad, part-good. Things have a way of working themselves out…