After long days, weeks, months, of the same drab and boring routine, I get anxious. I can’t help but feel like I could be doing something more important, something more meaningful and valid with my time. So amidst my frustration and monotony, I took myself on a vacation; with my sister and brother in tow, I took some time off work and headed for the hills. This time I decided on two locations: The cliff dwellings of Manitou Springs, and the Garden of the Gods. Along the way, we stopped by the Red Rocks Open Space as well.
The Cliff Dwellings was our first stop. A recreation of the dwellings the Anasazi Indians’ abodes, the cliff dwellings wasn’t exactly what I had hoped it to be. Not that it was bad, just that it was too fake. I was expecting to get
the chance to climb through a real dwelling, but was sadly mistaken. Looks like my next stop will be Mesa Verde for the real deal. However, it was still a fun excursion and start of the trip.
After about an hour or two of dwelling in the caves, we went to a cool park we saw on our way to the Cliff Dwellings called Red Rocks Open Space. Here is a vast hiking path, a long walk through the various protruding rocks and trees, a beautiful afternoon stop. We ate a quick lunch on the provided tables and then went exploring. We discovered that there were plenty of awesome rocks to climb up on. My sister wasn’t comfortable with climbing, so the mountaineering was left to me and my brother.
After about 2 hours of exploring, my memory card was full and we were forced to leave, but not before having captured some sublime pictures of this most eloquent landscape.
All pictures provided here are the raw images, unadulterated by Photoshop, with the exception of the last one, which I was more or less compelled by some innate sense of self-perfection to present the best possible quality for my favorite picture. My life is typically followed by one slight disappointment after the other, as I imagine most people’s lives are . But on this day, and the following day at the Garden of the Gods, I was fortunate enough to have the conditions align in just the right way as to provide a bounty of ample lighting to create photographic perfection.
The next day was spent at the altar of the Almighty at the Garden of the Gods.
Now I’m not religious by any means or to the extent that you might have insinuated by the previous sentence, but the Garden of the Gods has an intrinsic quality about it which leaves its beholders awestruck, rapt at the presence of the divine. We went to the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center to get a map of the rock formations first, which proved to be quite the futile effort as the rocks are fairly well navigable due to plenty of well marked and long walking paths. As you first enter the Garden, you are met with a swarm of like minded people, with cameras at the ready, prepared for the shot that they have assuredly been waiting for. At this point I feel that it is worth noting that during this trip, I took in excess of 500 pictures (approximately 2oo the first day and rest the second). Due to this, I was forced to choose only a handful of my favorite shots. So any complaints about how I could’ve had better shots than the ones I’ve provided are worthless as I most likely have shot a similar to what you desire, but could not include due to space issues. However, if you follow my other blog http://ericbrownphotography.wordpress.com/ , then chances are you’ll see some other photographs that I was unable to include in this blog.
No matter where you go or which way you turn, you’re sure to find a picturesque sight regardless.
The Famous Kissing Camels, seen top left of the rock-face.
The Magpies, like the one in the foreground of the above shot, are beautiful birds and are in abundance at this location, enhancing the beautiful scenery.
On every face of the gorgeous rocks are initials and names of explorers of the past who have come to the giant rocks, forever etching themselves in Colorado’s geological history. Or at least until someone scratches their name out or erosion does its job that is.
People find their ways to the top of the rocks, despite this particular sight being off limits to the public. As a sign of their triumph, they call out to me and pose for a picture.
Everyone has their own way of experiencing nature, especially at the garden. Some climb the rocks, others photograph it. Some take a more unconventional approach and bring along a didgeridoo. I had run into this man while driving around the rocks look for a good shot. He had hit my car with his car door since my car was double parked. After some choice words were exchanged, we parted ways. Later while exploring, an ethereal sound seemed to be erupting from within the rocks themselves. My brother, having gone ahead of me, called out for me to come and see what he was looking at. To my surprise, it was the man from earlier, but this time with a didgeridoo in hand. I snapped a quick photo and said his playing was ‘awesome’, and meant it. He proceeded to stand up and called out, “Not awesome, excellent. Awesome is too common place,” took a few more steps, and continued,”I don’t have a fancy camera to play with. You gotta do what you love,” and moved to a more concealed location and resumed his playing. Despite his brash way of responding, I couldn’t help but feel that he was right. I think I rather liked his responses for that matter, after all, doing what I love was the reason that I had come all this way.
In the end the experience was a success. I couldn’t have asked for better weather. The clouds provided excellent cover from the sun, while breaking apart long enough for some truly spectacular and well lit shots. My brother and sister enjoyed the experience too and we all boned over the rare chance to see such a remarkable natural wonder as the splendor that is The Garden of the Gods. For those who read this posting and catch the same adventure bug I had, be prepared to bring enough food and water to enjoy an entire day at the Garden alone. If for some reason you tire easily and require a change in scenery, simply drive five minutes out of your way to find the Red Rocks Open Spaces for another beautiful hike and more breath taking scenery. Or if history is your niche, then the Cliff Dwellings are a truly interesting sight as well. And if that is still not enough natural wonders to suit your craving, simply head to one of many more great sights in the nearby Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs mountainside. Such sights as Pike’s Peak, the Cave of the Winds, and many more are just minute away. My only regret is not having had more time to explore these great wonders too.
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