Day 5. The Mile-High City

June 11, 2006. Did you know that Denver was named after James Denver, the territorial governor of the Kansas Territory, before Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876? And that the name "Colorado" comes from the Spanish for "reddish color" after the color of the Colorado River?

This photo is a closeup of one statue on the Pioneer Fountain (1910) by the famous Beaux Arts sculptor Frederick MacMonnies, in downtown Denver. This image of the mother with the babe at her breast and the long rifle laid across her skirts says a lot about the spirit of the Old West, I think, and that is the backdrop for this city at the foothills of the Rockies. Lynne took a walking tour of downtown while Gerald and I went to Six Flags at Elitch Gardens. We went on a few water rides and the park's big roller coaster, the Thunder II. It is sort of like the Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas but much smoother and doesn't leave you feeling like you're going to be black and blue the next day.

When Lynne arrived, we ate at the food court. Gerald rode a few more rides, and then we saw the Amazing Acrobats of China Show in a theatre at the park. They opened with a Chinese Lion dance that you might see on Chinese New Year (gung hei fat choy!). It was enchanting. The young men performed spectacular jumps through hoops and the young women balanced spinning beautifully colored umbrellas on their feet and hands. They were truly outstanding. Although Lynne doesn't really care for the rides, she enjoyed the show. We left Six Flags, and later that evening found the old Rte 66 where there was not much to see, and then drove to a movie theater which was showing "Cars" which was newly released that weekend. Paul Newman was the voice for Doc. It was a surprisingly good story and enjoyable for young and old alike.