More Arched Suspension Bridges

As I drove toward Boulder today, I noticed several more arched suspension bridges like I wrote about several posts down the page. Since I was driving, there as no way to safely use the DSLR, but it was easy enough to use my camera phone to get this snapshot, hence the poorer than usual quality. Still, it beats no picture at all. One interesting feature of this bridge is its support cables are angled, rather than being vertical.

As I am posting this from the phone, that is also why this is a very short post. You cannot write the Great American Novel on a miniature keyboard.

More from Boulder

Boulder Theater Marquee

My last blog entry dealt with outdoor performers I saw on my trip to Boulder today. This post will have some of the other sites I enjoyed. As usual, click on any photo to load a larger version.

This first entry is one of a rapidly disappearing piece of Americana . . . the theater marquee. This one in good shape, as is the theater facade itself, seen in the photo below. I didn't go inside, so I have no idea how that part has fared, but hopefully it is being maintained.


Boulder Theater, Boulder, Colorado

As you can see in the photo below, some of the trees are beginning to bloom here in Colorado. This is a photo of the Boulder County Court House. It is a very attractive building situated along the Pearl Street Mall. Of course, if one is there as a defendant, I doubt the beauty of the architecture would be foremost on one's mind at the time.


Boulder County Court House

One block north of the mall is home to the next two buildings. The first is a very intricate and ornate bell tower at a church in downtown Boulder. The bell is too low in the tower to see much of it here, but you can see clearly the big metal wheel that is used to make the bell ring out. I particularly like the designs in the stone ornamentation that is near the top of each of the four cylindrical supports for the roof.


Bell Tower at Church in Boulder

The next thing that caught my eye is directly across from the bell tower. It is the Shambhala Meditation Center, a Buddhist facility established in 1974. The brilliant gold ornamentation on top really catches your eye as it reflects the bright Colorado sunshine. If you load the larger version, you will see two modes of common Boulder transportation parked in front; a bicycle and a motor scooter. These Boulder Buddhists are ecologically aware!


Shambhala Meditation Center of Boulder

I have just barely scratched the surface of things to see in this most liberal of Colorado cities. In a formerly "red" state that is rapidly turning "blue", Boulder is one of the deepest blue spots in the country. I know I will go back to investigate all that is there, as well as take more photos to share here.

Street Performers

Percussion Band in Boulder

This afternoon I took a drive up to Boulder, Colorado for a meeting that was being held at the Boulder Main Library. It is a beautiful day today, with scattered clouds across a clear blue sky, temperatures in the 60s, perfect weather for people to enjoy being outdoors. After my meeting, I heard some very eclectic-sounding percussion music, which intrigued me. I grabbed my camera from the car, and went in search of the enticing beat of the instruments I was hearing.

Crossing a footbridge over a creek, I found where the music was coming from. The percussion band in the photo above was making music for the enjoyment of all, and being enjoyed it was. Families, singles with dogs, college students, and many others were gathered around to hear the performance. One young man was doing a solo dance along the trail in front of the band.

After I got back in the car and was driving through town, I saw the Pearl Street Mall was very busy this Sunday afternoon, so I knew I had to jump out and take a stroll, camera in hand, of course! All along the mall, there were performances of various types, jugglers, fire eaters on unicycles, and of course musicians. The banjo man below was strumming, picking, and singing for the enjoyment, and tips, of passersby. He is also wearing on of the quintessential Boulder type of footwear...sandals.


Pearl Street Mall Banjo Man

The musicians were of all ages. The youngest performer I came across was this young man. I first noticed him near a magic act, and he was not being noticed by most. I then saw him later, as he had moved down the mall a bit, to where there was less competition. He really was quite good.


Young Virtuoso

Then there was the enthralling sound of the Australian didgeridoo, playing in harmony. The couple below, probably in their late 50s or early 60s, where making music on these hand-crafted instruments. They kept time by tapping the side of the instrument with a piece of wood, while playing the didgeridoo itself. Notice the woman's shoes. Like the banjo man's sandals, hers are also very representative of Boulder. I saw quite a few people wearing Crocs, and this woman was just one of many. They have to be some of the most ugly looking shoes made, but doggone if they aren't comfortable!


Didgeridoo for Two

What open air mall is complete without a balloon guy making animals for the kids. The gentleman below had created a colorful balloon headdress for himself, and the many hues added a nice splash of color to the vista. Here, a boy watches the craft of the balloon artist, anticipating what kind of animal he would end up with.


Balloon Guy

There is much more I saw in Boulder today, but I am glad that I didn't just rush back home, instead taking the time to walk along the Pearl Street Mall. After a winter of blizzards, it is great to see people getting out and enjoying the sunshine and fresh air!

As usual, you can click on the photos to see a larger version.