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Went for a coffee in the Teahouse which was brought over from Tajikistan as a gift from the people of Dushanbe (Boulder's "sister city") in 1990. It took 3 years to create the multicoloured, beautifully crafted Central Asian artwork (painted in the ceilings and sculpted in the columns) in Tajikistan and 8 years to reconstruct in Colorado! With over 100 different teas to choose from, I tried the Lotus Flower.
Walked along the Boulder Creek path and watched the homeless people. Quite surprised at how many were sleeping rough and also at how young they were. It almost seemed like there were tribes of drifters living along the creek in tent cities with bicycles and their own community.
Did you know that Boulder has the highest flash flood risk in Colorado? Flash floods in Colorado have killed at least 350 people and caused more than $2 billion in damage. Known as the "Father of Floodplain Management", Professor Gilbert F. White believed that removing houses and other structures from floodways - and building green ways along rivers and streams - could be more effective than concrete channels and walls. Boulder Creek is a perfect example of that natural philosophy in action.
I was lured into the Boulder Public Library by some quirky art works at the entrance. I like the tongue-in-cheek "Uncle Jerry & Lil' Elvis Meet Billy the Kid" by Michael Stevens - mixed-media painting with pine, enamel and cardboard. Also, the ceramic sculpture "Gaga" by Phillip Maberry & Scott Walker was a wonderfully, quirky and colourful piece that looked like it was an inflatable toy.
Inside the belly of the library was a glass cabinet featuring Kay McMullen's exhibition called "Capturing the Spirit of the Journey" which chronicles some of the travel journals she has kept over the years. As Kay says, "My journals reflect the mood and spirit I where I've been, what I experience there, and what it made me think about. I hope they will inspire you to keep one on your next journey". In January 2012, Kay got the opportunity to travel onboard the MV Explorer as a Lifelong Learner with the Semester at Sea project where a cruise ship was transformed into a university (sponsored by the University of Virginia).
I was really inspired by her exhibition and hope to create some collages when I return home. I have seen so many beautiful things on my travels and would love to share these with others. I also wish to explore my creative side further by assembling photos I have taken and combining them with eye-catching images that are associated with people and places. I remember, one of my favourite art projects in my final year of school was a self-portrait photo collage.
In the afternoon we met up at the Farmer's Market. Organic producers from the area gather in Boulder every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning to sell fresh, aromatic food. All you had to do was follow your nose to lead you to colourful, beautifully presented produce. There were lots of samples to be had and you could see happy customers walking away with piles of fresh corn on the cob, juicy peaches, crispy bread and multi-coloured heirloom tomatoes. We ate World Food (Vietnamese, Indian and Mexican) whilst listening to bluegrass music being played by a very talented group of young musicians. We also drank some good glasses of Colorado Malbec wine and watched the traders barter bunches of fresh veggies for beer at the alcohol stand!
Pearl Street is a partly-pedestrianised walkway in the middle of Downtown. There's a great relaxed vibe which, unfortunately, many other towns and cities in America lack. I hate to say it, but it seems more "European" - like a plaza or piazza or central square where citizens and visitors alike can take the time to stroll or sit on benches and watch others. People walking, shopping, eating food al fresco and kids playing.
Dinner was at Pasta Jay's - which we found by following the smell of roasted garlic - mmmmm! Didn't think carefully about how we'd be cooped up in a tent for the night afterwards, but it was so delicious! That night it rained. With no tarp to protect the tent, I got a little wet. Nevermind, things dried out in the morning.
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