My Dumb Observations

If you ever visit Denver and arrive after midnight, just curl up in a ball and cry. Don't be swayed to visit the Midwest’s premier city with an $85 airfare from New York either. After arriving late into the vast atrium of Denver International Airport (DIA), one discovers in short order that the fetal position is a decent option. Another option, of course, is taking a cab from the green pastures of DIA, which lies far beyond the city limits, to the city center for over $55. The thought of enjoying a mountain getaway in the historic mining town of Black Hawk, just 40 minutes uphill from Denver, seemed wonderful from my air conditioned apartment. That is, until arriving after midnight to learn that the car rental center had closed. Consultation with the airport police confirms that this phenomenon happens nightly to passengers arriving late.The officer then presented the most common options for late arriving travelers. They are as follows: Stay at the newly built airport...

Anyone who has visited Las Vegas in modern times should be very aware of the town’s illicit temptations. Lured by free alcohol, cheap eats, and many options for the budget traveler, just a little cash can provide easy opportunities for the uninhibited. Heck, even the airport has slot machines. Excel is everywhere, and it is the town’s main attraction. Small wonder I try to make a pilgrimage annually. With great nightlife, ever-changing entertainment, and dopey drunk tourists purging money at the poker tables, Las Vegas is an easy sell. Yet, make no mistake, the town couldn’t hold a candle to New York. Even with sprinkles of advantage, overall, Las Vegas can never compete. Unless, of course, you’re the kind of hoople easily deluded by those who think diminishing tax incentives, or climate, or the increasing Mormon population is the impetus for relocating. No matter how they spin it, Vegas Is a soul-less podunk desert town populated by lesser evolved people from elsewhere. Focusing on t...