We visited the U.S. Mint in downtown Denver. Not our favorite so far. John was unhappy because I told him he couldn't take his Bee or his Baby. Here's the list of forbidden items:
* Cameras or camera cell phones
* Handbags, book bags, backpacks, purses, fanny packs, diaper bags
* Packages of any type
* Strollers
* Food or beverages of any kind
* Video recorders or any type of recording device
* Tobacco products
* Personal grooming items (makeup, hair brush or comb, lip or hand lotions, etc.)
* Any pointed objects (pens, knitting needles, umbrellas, etc.)
* Mace, or aerosol containers
* Guns, or ammunition
* Fireworks
* Electric stun guns
* Martial arts weapons/devices
* Knives of any size
I figured they would not allow a stuffed animal or a blanket. Turns out I may have been wrong... but you guess, then you commit, and oh, well.
The tour itself was kind of boring. It was nice to see the machines, but there was not a lot of activity, and there weren't very many machines that we could see. Most of the info was about the history of the mint. And the tour guide was one of those used car salesman types. There were three LAME jokes I heard him use at least twice, and that REALLY turns me off. But the tour only lasted 30 minutes or so, and the U.S. Mint Police were really nice and very friendly. Not power crazy like the T-S-A people...
After that, we drove to the Denver Botanic Garden. It was very nice. Much more garden than arboretum than the one in our neighborhood. They had a very nice visitor center, lots of displays, and a Jurassic display that showed about 15 dinosaurs scattered throughout the park. The weather was perfect!
Here is a picture of the first dinosaur we found. Notice the large yawn which indicates the 5:30am wake up time, in addition to no nap the day before.
He also had fun rolling down the grassy concert lawn.
We came back, had an aborted attempt at a nap, then John and Tony went for a swim and I worked.
We then met Tony's Uncle John (who John calls "Pa John") and Aunt Vicki and her sister Rory and her niece Allison at the pizza place where John and Vicki's daughter Evelyn works. Very yummy pizza, and Evelyn amused John by putting a piece of pepperoni on the window where you can watch the pizza bakers working.
We then went to John and Vicki's house, where Grandpa Mike was waiting from his flight from Indy.
John watched "Finding Nemo," Uncle John gave me and Tony maps and lots of good information about Rocky Mountain National Park.
Now John and Tony are reading "Rudolf von Flugel's Busy Day," after having had the bath.
Tomorrow we pack up the car, check out, do some sightseeing thing (TBD) in the Denver area and then drive to Colorado Springs.
5 comments:
WOW - u guys r doing alot and having so much fun except for the mint.....i hope jm keeps having a wonderful time - he is growing and maturing so much each day.....mimi
I love how he waits until the route is clear when other kids go by on the hillside - then continues rolling.
Pa
Oh, and it's obvious that John's Bee would be considered a 'martial arts weapon/device' - anybody who's seen Linus in action in the Peanuts comics knows that!
I'm amazed that the TSA allowed it on the plane...
My favorite was imagining the mint police: "you can't take that in there, after dinners only." "chocolate over there ma'am, keep moving please" "no, no, juleps only in july and august, please read the sign - and now you need to fill in form 45-D"
just watched the video - dad's right - I think John is in fact the most polite hill roller I've ever seen. What a great kid.
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