GOODBYE DENVER

We did nothing in Denver.  We now leave for Memphis.  So here are are some facts on leaving The Mile High State:

• There are 200 peaks visible from Denver, including 32 that soar beyond 13.000 feet.  The mountain panorama is 140 miles long
• Denver is exactly 5280 feet above sea level at a step on the State Capitol Building.

• 
  Golf balls go 10% further on all 90 golf courses.
• Alcoholic drinks pack more of a wallop than at sea level.
• Water boils at 94C or 202F.
• Within a mile radius, downtown Denver has three major sports stadiums, the second-largest performing arts center, three colleges, assorted museums, a mint that produces 10 billion coins/year, a river offering whitewater rafting, a downtown theme.water park/aquarium and hundreds of chef-driven restaurants.
• 
  Enjoys 300 days of sunshine per year, more than San Diego or Miami. Honolulu averages around 270  days annually.
• Is dryer than Phoenix.
• Had a zero population in th current Denver metro area until 1858.
• Has more than 200 parks within the city and its own bison herd.
• The Denver Performing Arts Complex has nine theaters.

• 
  Has six professional sports team:  NFL Denver Broncos, NBA Denver Nuggets, NHL Colorado Avalanche, MLB Colorado Rockies, Colorado Rapids Men's Soccer and Denver Summit Women's Soccer.  Hawaii has none.
• Has become a model sustainable city.
• The Denver metro has 150 breweries.  Colorado is too cold or hot for grape vineyards, right?  Wrong.  There are 150 wineries in the state.  Mind you, I don't recognize one label, but so what,

Here are some things you probably did not know about Denver:

• Is not located in the Rocky Mountains.  Denver is at least 12 miles away, and is one of America's flattest cities.
• Some of the most notorious dinosaurs were first discovered near here.
• It is home to the first cheeseburger, trademarked by Luis Ballast in 1935 at Humpty Dumpty Barrel Drive-In.

• 
  Known to still be in the Wild West.  Visit Buckhorn Exchange, which holds liquor license #1 in the state.  You can have Rocky Mountain Oysters (the land kind) here.
• You thought that Denver had 6 professional teams?
• First, their sixth team, the Denver Summit women's soccer team only just played it's first game yesterday.
• But they have two more teams, the Mammoth lacrosse team, plus the Spartans indoor football team.
• Denver has 7 professional sport teams.  Or is it 8?

So now, you ask yourself, should you move to Denver?  You should consider these points first:

• Can your lungs tolerate a mile high altitude?  And it only gets higher, much higher.  You can drive up to the summit of Mount Blue Sky at 14,266 feet.  This is the highest paved road in North America.  Mount Elbert goes up to 14,440 feet.  The tallest mountain in the USA is Denali in Alaska, 20,310 feet.

• 
  If you drink beer, be aware that there are breweries galore here.
• Even locals must use Chapstick.
• You will need to tint your windows protect your skin.
• Marijuana is legal.  This is also good for many.
• Watch out for Rocky Mountain oysters.
• Watch out for forest fires.
• Here is a 21-minute video warning you about living in Denver.

 *Denver, the Last Dinosaur* was an animated show about a green Corythosaurus-like creature who loved rock 'n roll and skateboarding after hatching from a prehistoric egg.

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