Denver

As a kid, almost every summer was spent with relatives in various parts of Colorado.  Whenever we visited my aunt's family in Denver, we inevitably went to Casa Bonita for Mexican food (we really went for the atmosphere - cliff divers, Black Bart's Cave...check it out: casabonitadenver.com) or we went to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

I just moved back to the US a few days ago.  My folks planned to drive to Denver to pick me up at the airport; it's about a 5 hour drive from their house. Since I probably won't drive up to Denver too often this summer, I requested to go to the museum for old times' sake.

So, on my first day back in the US, we went to my favorite museum with my aunt & uncle and one of my cousins.  I hadn't been there for about 25 years!  I was looking forward to it very much.  They have a GREAT dinosaur exhibit, and a lot of other exhibits like Egyptian mummies, space, geology (my uncle's favorite), and many many more. The dinosaur exhibit was, of course, my favorite. But I wondered if my other favorite part of the museum was still there...  

At the entrance to the museum, there used to be a big saber-toothed cat replica.  You could drop coins down its throat, and it would roar at you.  I loved it!  My cousins and I would always beg our folks for coins to "feed the cat".  After 25 years, would the saber-toothed cat still be there?

I wasn't disappointed!  Not only had the museum expanded, and added lots of new exhibits (check it out: www.dmns.org/), but it still had the cat! 

I suddenly realized that I only had Japanese yen in my pocket. Once again, after 25 years, I had to beg my mom for coins to feed the cat.  Yep, he roared like he used to!  I was so happy- I felt like a kid again.

(photo courtesy of Aunt Mary)