Goodbye Denver :(

Here are warm greetings from Denver for the last time. Before my flight to Las Vegas, I realized that I haven't told you much about Denver itself. And that has to be done before I leave, because Denver is a really beautiful city. When I read about Denver before my arrival, I learned that Denver is the perfect city for Scorpios. I know, it sounds crazy, but it's absolutely true for Scorpio Kathrin. Although Denver, like probably every American city, has some new, modern skyscrapers. 

On the other hand, the city is filled with cute, small brick houses and buildings that don't look modern American. The many breweries, parks, and of course the mountains in the background give Denver a very cozy flair. I also really like the size of Denver: about 600,000 people live in Colorado's largest city. Big enough to have numerous opportunities and cultural offerings. But not so huge that you feel completely lost. 

For European standards, Denver is of course a baby: Denver was founded in 1861. The first people who settled here were gold miners, as Colorado is an area where a lot of gold was found and mined. Many of the gold miners back then came from Mexico, which is why many Mexicans still live in Colorado today. Good for the city if you like Mexican food like me :)

Unfortunately, prices in Denver are currently rising rapidly, many people want to move here. And do you know what the reason really is? Colorado is one of the six states in the USA where it is officially legal to smoke weed for recreational purposes. So, there is cannabis available on every corner and in every form: for smoking, in sweets, or as a plant, American coffeeshops officially offer everyone legal weed. And that really attracts many people. I used to be quite liberal about smoking weed: if you enjoy it and don't overdo it, why not? After all, the consequences for the body and the addictive potential are lower than with cigarettes and alcohol. However, I have changed my opinion a little after my first stay in a hostel: here, almost everyone consumed cannabis permanently. They were really nice people, but unfortunately, they seemed very broken at the same time. They were completely dependent on smoking weed, without taking a hit from the joint, they were not motivated to get up and do anything. Living without weed was no longer imaginable for anyone here. A job was no longer possible for any of them, you could really tell how the dependency on cannabis made these people sluggish and unmotivated... too bad! Hopefully, many others can better restrict their consumption here. 

But besides weed, beer also plays a very important role in Denver. There are more breweries here than in any other state. After work or during lunch break, Denverites like to meet up for a beer and enjoy life together. This creates a very cozy atmosphere, but on the other hand, it's often difficult for me to understand: Because you can hardly get a beer for less than $7 anywhere. And how some manage their daily alcohol consumption remains another mystery to me. 

Maybe alcohol is easier to break down here because everyone moves a lot. Just like daily beer, daily hiking or the gym is part of the daily routine here. Almost everyone in Denver has a dog, and Denverites have told me that dogs are the best spouses ;) And the dogs are walked multiple times a day, no matter how cold it is!

Speaking of weather: I have already told you about the extreme temperature changes here. That is still unbelievable to me. Allegedly, the sun shines here about 300 days a year nonetheless. And that can make you forget about the cold. Denver is 1.5 km above sea level, so it's very high. And you can feel that enormously: the air here is incredibly thin and dry. That was a drastic contrast for me after Florida's insane humidity. My skin has become quite cracked and dry, I needed lip balm all the time. And the worst part: the impact on my fitness ;). The first time I exercised in Colorado, I was shocked by my shortness of breath and my decrease in performance. When someone explained to me that it's completely normal because of the thin, dry air, I was very relieved ;). 

Furthermore, Colorado is an extremely liberal state. Certainly, among other things, because many young people and students move here. In all my time here, I have not met a single Trump supporter. On the contrary, the people I met were all still completely stunned by the election result.  

I am really sad to leave this beautiful state so soon. I definitely have to come back somehow, someday :) My plane to Las Vegas is about to leave. I am very excited about the hustle and bustle there :D. In Vegas, I will meet my friend Petra, whom I met a year ago during my time in Vancouver. Petra is Czech and extremely fond of traveling: she now lives in New Zealand, but is currently on a road trip in the USA as well. She bought a small van, remodeled it into a mini camper, and is now traveling around. I am very excited to share this experience with Petra for over a week starting today. That will definitely be ultra exciting :) Petra and I will drive through New Mexico and Arizona after we first party in Vegas tonight.

I will try to keep you updated on our adventures as often and as well as possible. But don't be surprised if it doesn't work out sometimes: Since I rely on Wi-Fi and don't know in which wilderness we will end up, staying in contact with the outside world can sometimes be difficult ;)

If that's the case, I will make up for it with even more pictures =) 

See you soon!!!