Whoops, I skipped past the mountains

I don't know how much I should say about the mountains west of Denver. They were just as beautiful as you'd expect. You can find pictures of them just about anywhere on the Internet.

I didn't take my camera out for the excursion. Why not? I don't know. I guess I just wanted to enjoy the scenery without having to frame it all creatively. But rest assured they were no disappointment.

On this leg of the trip, new friend/tour guide Jen took me around. She lives in Denver, likes mountains, and drove there with me in the car. Up and up and up. And then up some more on foot. It was a fun time, to say the least. Jen: Thank you. Thank you so much.

Denver: The State Capitol

Things I learned on a tour of Colorado's State Capitol:

• Colorado was almost called Idaho
• State representatives and senators are paid $30,000 and expected to work other jobs
• Water is a delicacy in Colorado. There isn't very much, as Denver only receives about 15 inches of rain every year. See: rain shadow. (Thanks, grade nine geography)
• When Japanese-Americans were expelled from the west coast in 1941, and most inland states denied them from entry, Colorado decided to play hero:

During World War II, Colorado governor Ralph Lawrence Carr was the only elected official to publicly apologize for the internment of American citizens. The act cost him reelection, but gained him the gratitude of the Japanese American community, such that a statue of him was erected in Sakura Square in Denver's Japantown.

Wow. All this in just 45 minutes.

Salt Lake, you're in my crosshairs

I figured out how to get to Salt Lake today, to find the hostel I booked this morning before being shut out by both bus and train: the air.

My chariot has not docked at gate C43 yet, but thanks to Denver Airport's free wireless, I can show you what the gate next to mine looks like, with mountains (way off) in the background. Oh, technology.

Today's task: Make it to the Great Salt Lake

I've been told that city is made entirely out of salt and have decided to bring lots of fresh water. Demandigans!

Then it's back here to Denver because on Sunday: mountains.

UPDATE: It turns out that it was pretty hard to get out of Denver and then get back by Sunday without spending the whole time on a bus. So Denver it is for a little while longer!

Denver: First impressions

Around the corner from the Denver bus terminal, this banner adorned a wall.

The Denver Daily News tells me that Democrats picked up a Senate seat and a House seat in addition to, of course, voting for Obama. So there are now two Republicans in a traditionally red congressional delegation.

Colorado: Blue rectangle in Red swath