Mardi Gras Mask Manitou Springs

We’re a long way from New Orleans here in Colorado but that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to have a good time and keep it fun for the whole family!  Every year the town of Manitou Springs, Colorado holds a Mardi Gras Parade suitable for the whole family to participate in or, enjoy on the sidelines.  This was out first time at the parade and we weren’t disappointed!  We strategically placed ourselves not on the parade route but rather closer to the action – where everyone gathers before the parade starts!  This made for some great closeup pictures and just about the best people watching anyone could hope for.

Dancing in the Streets

Manitou  (“spirit” in Native American) is situated on the outskirts of Colorado Springs.  It’s a small, old place with tons of character.  It started out as sacred grounds to the Ute nd Cheyenne Indians.   The famous Pikes Peak Mountain snow runoff feeds the 11 mineral springs located throughout the town.  Today, Manitou Springs is great for tourist shopping, artesian galleries,taking the Pikes Peak God Railway  to the top of Pikes Peak, or grabbing a bite to eat at any of the local restaurants.

I walked away without any beads or candy, but not disappointed.  Mardi Gras in Manitou will become an annual event to watch people having fun and dressing crazy and sharing the silliness with all the local fans.

The Color of Fun

I am, admittedly, not a car, hot rod, muscle car enthusiast, BUT, I have to tell you that this show was fun!!!  Right from the minute we pulled into the show area I could see colors, and shine, and love all over the place!

One thing about these vintage cars that is immediately apparent is the amount of work, time and money that has been put into each and every one of these vehicles.  Even as you’re just walking through the show area, owners have their polishing rags out to ensure there isn’t one fingerprint or smudge to be seen.  Once you start talking to the owners you’ll instantly realize, as we did, that these are all labors of love.  These people are passionate about their old cars and trucks and it shows in every detail they put into restoration and/or preservation.  There is such pride in what they’ve accomplished and what they still hope to be able to do that you just can’t help but take on some of that enthusiasm.

Brilliant reds, greens, oranges, blues and so many variations of custom colors are truly a visual delight.  Looking closer at some of the interiors, trunks, wheels and “accessories” will certainly help you appreciate the amount of hours each vehicle has had put into it.  Just to make it fun, we saw one with a Minnie Mouse in the front seat and another will a little boy doll next to the grille.  One of my favorites was an orange Grand Torino with a vintage  matching orange Coca Cola cooler sitting right next to it.  It’s the little things that amuse me!

So, here’s the lesson learned on this adventure!  Don’t summarily dismiss an event just because the theme doesn’t particularly interest you – go for the scenery, go for the colors, go for the people you will meet that will make a lasting impression on you.

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One of the great pleasures of living in Colorado Springs is that we are home to the United States Air Force Academy.  Doug and I are doubly blessed in that we live very close to the AFA and every May we get a spectacular free air show as the cadets graduate and the Thunderbirds pay tribute to the graduates!

We were nervous this year as we had 5 days of rain in a row- a somewhat rare, especially in May.  Aparently, there has been an outdoor ceremony ever year since 1959, so I’m sure students an parents alike were concerned that this year might break the long standng record.  Good ole Mother came through for us as Graduation Day was met with blue skies and faint traces of white clouds.

It is truly a spectacular site seeing the Thunderbirds fly over – again and again.  We get such a surge of patriotism as we see these gifted pilots fly in formation and perform precision acrobatics that only talent and practice, practice, practice can demon state.  The “show” starts a couple days in advance of graduation as the jets arrive here from their home at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.  We have a spectacular view from our house or anywhere in our neighborhood and they do their “fly-overs”.  Just south of our house they banki their turns and head over the valley and whoosh they are back again.

We always know when they are here.  Colorado Springs is a pretty quite town and especially on the north side of town where the Academy is and where we live.  You just don’t hear much noise except for an occasional lawn mower and the faint buzz of the small planes and practice gliders.  The sound is unmistakable.  My heartbeat always accelerates when the mild roar is heard and as I make a quick run to the windows to try to catch a glimpse of the F16′s.  We look forward to this every year.  And, now that graduation is over, we know they’ll be back this Fall. They come back every year for football season – just a couple of games – military academy against military academy.

There’s nothing like this.  Seeing people stand in the parks, in their yards,  or by special permission park on the side of the freeway.  For a few minutes we are all united.  No politics, no right or left.  We stand there and watch the best of the best and know that this is the greatest country in the world.