I had a nice time in Manitou Springs. I didn't really achieve the relaxation I was shooting for, which is no one's fault but my own, but I still had a good time.
I got to my B&B at 4:00, checked in and freshened up. After snarfing down some straight-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies (made special for me, I might add,) I headed out on foot to find a place to watch the superbowl. I wound up at a place that claimed to have "the best Philly cheesesteak this side of anywhere." Of course, this is an inherently ridiculous and foolish statement, especially when it's made in Colorado. But I went in anyway. Because really, even a mediocre cheesesteak can be pretty satisfying. (Let's just say it met my expectations.) The rest of the evening was much like the sandwich: it was alright, even kind of good, but nothing special. I eventually went back to my room and, since it was too late to sit in the hot tub, took a hot bubble bath.
The next morning, I was presented with the biggest breakfast my grizzly bear of a hangover could possibly handle. (Frankly, I was a little worried that I was going to have to excuse myself a couple times...) There were 2 blueberry muffins, a cup of fresh strawberries with vanilla yogurt, and this giant casserole of hashbrowns, ham, red peppers, eggs, and cheddar cheese. It was all very delicious, and I managed to make a dent in it. I skipped lunch.
[If you ever find yourself in or near Manitou Springs and need a place to stay, check out the Avenue Hotel. Everything about it was awesome.]
After poking my nose in a few shops and looking at a couple of the springs, I decided to leave Manitou and spend some time at Garden Of The Gods. Man, that's a beautiful place. I could just sit there doing nothing all day. I would have, too, had it not been so chilly. And really, after a little while, I realized that I didn't want to be by myself anymore. Everything I did and everywhere I went, I kept thinking, "I wish my family were here with me."
So I went home to them. We ordered pizza and cuddled on the couch. It was the highlight of my trip.
