28th July 2011 - In case you did not see them...we did!!

Yes! they are actually trying to hide...

28th July 2011 - Our last day in the Colorado...before the big move!!

Today is our last day in Denver. We spent four weeks here, first for me to meet my new colleagues and have a better idea on my futur work @ NagraStar (Joint Venture between the Kudelski group and EchoStar). Another important goal of our visit was to find a new place to live and get ready for our big move in mid september.

Denver area is very big and is composed of several smaller cities. There is of course "Denver downtown" with its famous "16th street" (mall street)...amazingly, Wai Leng did not "click" on this area and prefered to live in a more "greener" environement, which is of course more kids friendly. So we found something nice...surprise, we will give you the address once we have moved in, ok?

The second important goal was the day care for Mila (called here "learning centers"). There is no possible comparaisons with Switzerland:
(1) there are plenty of them cities-wise...and you can actually pick the one you like!!
(2) no need to book your place two years in advance; you just go, and drop your kid. It's that simple
(3) there are generally of good, even of excellent education quality
(4) prices are fixed, rather "friendly" and the same for everyone. There no such thing as paying a % of your salary which is more or less what is usually done in Switzerland
...and we found an amazing one for Mila, which shall be, if everything is confirmed, a "stone's throw away" from our futur home.

Third and the maybe the most important point of all: a big car!
First you feel safer on the highway because Americans have huge cars!! And if you drive a Fiat Punto out there, one of them might not see you ;-)...houps!!
Another interesting element is that cars are much cheaper than in Switzerland; if you add the kiss-cool effect of the actual exchange rate, you can get really good deals!
...and we found a good deal! More details in October when we shall get it!!...but before, we both have to pass our driving license (theory + pratice)...damned! More details in a futur episode...

I just took a few pictures around the hotel tonight while walking in a park with Mila...enjoy the ride!

25th July 2011 - Rafting in Colorado

Rafting in the Colorado:
URL: http://clearcreekrafting.com/
Adress: Clear Creek Rafting Co., 350 Whitewater Rd., Idaho Springs, CO 80452-3178
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It funny, suddenly Wai Leng is not so motivated anymore after having seen the "Animal" channel on TV the night before. She is scared that there will be snakes and crocodile in the river... ;-)

So it is Monday morning, Mila is at the day care for the whole day and we got to decide: "go" or "not to go"?
I found on the Internet a rafting operator which is about 45 minutes drive from Denver. Next trip is at 11:00 AM and it is already 09:45...hurry up, Wai Leng, hurry up!!!...we finally manage to reach Idaho Spring just on time. We are both very excited for our first rafting experience in the Colorado (and the first time ever for Wai Leng!!).

In no time, we are ready. A short briefing on the security, the "does" and the "don't" while on the raft and we are already padling in the icy water!

For a first time, we did a modest 1h trip for beginners...but Wai Leng is already talking about going back for the intermediate level!!

...and after the rafting, do not forget to try the famous buffalo burger!!
Here is a great address:

The Buffalo Restaurant
1617 Miner Street
Idaho Spring, CO, 80452

[Updated on the 02/11/2011]

While unpacking our boxes, we found the DVD with the pictures of our day trip...so here are a few to give you a quick view of the Colorado rivers!!

As you can see, we are in the front line...this has some importance for the upcoming ride!!

...you see, I told you ;-)

Nice ride!!

22nd - 23rd July 2011 - Winter Park, CO

Winter Park, Colorado:
URL: and
Adress: Winter Park Resort is located at 85 Parsenn Road, Winter Park, Colorado 80482.
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Today is the "grand tour" to the mountains...we are all going to Winter Park CO!
This is a short drive here...it's only 1.5h drive... The landscape with the mountains all around is really breath taking...wouha! For info, Denver is already at 1600 meters above see level and Winter Park at more than 2600 meters!!

Once up there, we had to rush a little to find an hotel and realised that it will not be too easy as there was the yearly Jazz festival during this weekend... It took us a good hour to find a hotel in the neighbourhood!!

We tested one for you in Fraser which is the next small city after Winter Park on the US40:

The Pinnacle Lodge
108 Zerex Street
Fraser, CO 80442

Overall, not too bad: indoor heated pool, + jacuzzi, big rooms and a nice breakfast in the morning. Price-wise, well I guess we got lucky with a room for three @ USD 120.- (TTC)...other hotels that we contacted priced their rooms @ over USD 180 (HT)!!!

Overall impression: we will come back during winter time... ;-)

Check out the few pictures of our trip below.

18th July 2011 - Tonight, we met Sheriff Rosco Coltrane...

In Denver, you get to follow the speed limits and the signs on the road...one tiny mistake and...too late.
Now we are laughing about it, but when the police car with all lights on is following you...you really feel that you are in one of these "car chasing" reality show ;-)

We got luky tonight as "Sheriff Rosco" was in good mood...and let us go...free. The funny part came up when he hands us his "business card" over...(no, I don't want to do business with you!)

...so remember, don't play play over here.

17th July 2011 - The Garden of The Gods

The Gardden of The Gods:
URL: http://www.gardenofgods.com (more details can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_the_Gods)
Adress: 1805 N. 30th (at Gateway Rd), Colorado Springs, CO, 80904
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Today was a very nice day (sunny and 36*C ) and turned out to be perfect to visit de "Garden of the Gods". South of Denver on the I-25 highway, drive about 50' and you'll reach this National Park. Driving by car is already very impressive but you really have to walk close to these huge monuments and you will truly appreciate the force of nature! There, you can also do a lot of activities: hicking, bicking, horse riding, rock climbing...and even visiting with a Segway!!

Check out the few pictures of our day-trip below.

14th July 2011 - Cave-aged cheese...finally

Here what you can find if you search a little and ask the people around...it has even been approved by little Mila ;-)
...I still wonder how they managed to get it over here but the taste is...as it should be!!

...and for the scepticals...

12th July 2011 - Swiss cheese, really?

Today I found by chance (or by mistake) some "Swiss cheese". I was quite happy (and proud) to find such product at the 24h / 7by 7 / 365 by 365 "King Soopers" shop nearby our hotel. Well look by yourself and try to spot the impostor; is it "Swiss cheese #1", "Swiss cheese #2" or "Swiss cheese #3"?

...and the one that looks (or even might be from Switzerland) does not taste good ;-(

09th July 2011 - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo:
URL: http://www.cmzoo.org
Adress: 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road, Colorado Spring, CO 80906
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This is a very nice zoo located in Colorado Spring, about an hour drive south of Denver. It is located in the mountain @ 2072 meters above see level. The main attraction is...the giraffe that any one can feed and specially the kids ;-)
There are as well several other animals, such as : Meerkats, Tigers, Leopards, Grizzlis, plenty of birds and many many more...+ you can go up with a "chair lift", so cool!

04th July 2011 - Denver Zoo

Denver Zoo:
URL: http://www.denverzoo.org/
Adress: 2300 Steele Street, Denver, CO 80205-4899
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On that 4th of July, seems like we were (almost) the only one with the intense heat... Temperature in the Zoo: 42 degree Celsius!!
A majority of the animals could not take it and remained in their protected home. Yet, we spoted a few interesting "species" wandering around...
We will go back there once it will get a little cooler ;-)