Denver - Lili on the Loose

21 12, 2015

Travel Missteps: It was Santa!

By Lili|December 21st, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2011, Christmas in Germany 2011, Denver, Europe, flight, flight attendant, Germany, santa, USA|0 Comments

Occasionally you witness someone else’s Travel Missteps and Mistakes. On a flight from Denver to Germany right before Christmas I saw this big drunk German guy in a cowboy hat walk onto the plane late for boarding. He had a bunch of loose items, mostly what looked like various Walmart/Target toys for children. Since he was late most of the overhead space was taken, so he would just jam a toy here and there as he found space while walking towards the back of the plane. Apparently he had also put some toys in the space for the fire extinguisher

19 11, 2015

Egypt Trip Cost & Budget Analysis

By Lili|November 19th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Budget|Tags: 2015, Accommodation, activities, Africa, airfare, analysis, baksheesh, breakdown, budget, Cairo, cost, Denver, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, Egyptian Sidekick, Europe, food, Frankfurt, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Germany, hotel, Lufthansa, meals, Middle East, Munich, North America, optional activities, shopping, spending, Super Shuttle, taxi, tour, travel insurance, Travel Insured International, USA, Visa|0 Comments

This is my budget breakdown of my trip to Egypt (with a layover in Frankfurt, Germany). I knew going into this trip that it was going to be on the expensive side. I had budgeted $6262.41 in expenses for this trip. Here is how I actually spent that budget: Airfare: $972.26 I had watched airfare obsessively for about 2 months before I saw the airfare drop significantly through Lufthansa. I was able to get a 1 stop through Frankfurt on the way to Egypt, including a 12 hour layover in Frankfurt. And then on the way home I'd have 2 quick stops in

16 11, 2015

Museum Monday: Paleontology Lab at DMNS

By Lili|November 16th, 2015|Categories: Dinosaurs, Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, dinosaurs, DMNS, Jurassic Park, Movie, North America, Paleontology Lab, USA|0 Comments

When I was little I wanted to be an archeologist or paleontologist. While that didn't happen I can live vicariously through the volunteers and employees at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. At the end of Prehistoric Journey is the Paleontology lab, where you can see the progress that is being made on specimens recently brought in from the field. He kind of looks like John Hammond from Jurassic Park. If you are a member of the museum, they also do many special nights where you can actually go into the lab and see a lot more

2 11, 2015

Museum Monday: Aquamarine Tiara

By Lili|November 2nd, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: aquamarine, Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century, cartier, Colorado, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, diamonds, museum, North America, platinum, tiara, USA|0 Comments

The Denver Art Museum had an exhibit called Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century which I was lucky enough to see in its last few days. There were many beautiful tiaras at the Cartier exhibit. While I loved the early tiaras for their ornate garland style, this beautiful aquamarine is also timeless. The Hesketh Aquamarine Tiara Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

5 10, 2015

Museum Monday: Poison in Detail

By Lili|October 5th, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, DMNS, exhibit, Fantasy, museum, North America, Photo Essay, Poison, The Power of Poison, USA|0 Comments

As I wrote before in my review, I loved The Power of Poison exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Here are some of the exhibits models and artifacts in more detail. A blow dart gun, and the pot to brew & dip the tips in poison. There is something so intriguing on massive ancient tomes. I really enjoyed the faux magnification of various plants and animals in the forest area. It was very eye catching. An actual "Mad" Hatter's mercury laced hat. So many Beautiful, but Toxic Butterflies! Snow White's area was beautifully decorated and felt like

15 09, 2015

Local Treats: The Cookie Lady

By Lili|September 15th, 2015|Categories: Food, Food & Drink, Local, Travel|Tags: 16th Street Mall, Carrot Cake, Colorado, Cookie Lady, cookies, Cupcakes, Denver, Downtown, Local, North America, Santa Fe Cookie Company|0 Comments

The Cookie Lady has a wide Variety of cookies, listed out in cute place-cards in front of the baskets. I had heard rumors since I started working in Downtown Denver, of the infamous "Cookie Lady". Without much to go on, my mind ran rampant and likened her to the "Soup Nazi" of Seinfeld fame. So one day, when I smelled the most delicious fresh-baked-goods scent wafting through the air, I followed it down to the Santa Fe Cookie Company. But alas, that first visit was for nought. She was out of cookies! I nervously waited around, watching the

10 09, 2015

TSA Chemical Swab Test False Positive

By Lili|September 10th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Tips|Tags: chemical swab, Chemical Swab Test, Colorado, Denver, EDS, ETD, Explosive Detection System, Explosive Trace Detection, false positive, glycerin, Glycerine, Homeland Security, Nitrates, North America, pat down, Secondary Security Screening Selectee, Secondary Security Screening Selection, security, SSSS, Travel Thursday, TSA|0 Comments

I've written before of how I'm on the "random" SSSS list and so get extra security every time I fly. What I forgot to bring up in that discussion was how once I accidentally set off TSA's Chemical Swab Test using Explosive Trace Detection (or Explosive Detection System aka EDS) to find explosive residue on your person or belongings. It was like any other travel day for me. I was getting my usual extra "random" security, and automatically presented my hands to be tested with their chemical swab. But this time it beeped, and the female TSA agent checked the machine. "Sorry,

7 09, 2015

Museum Monday: Woman of Pompeii

By Lili|September 7th, 2015|Categories: History, Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, DMNS, exhibit, North America, Pompeii, statue, USA|0 Comments

A statue of a woman from Pompeii I love statues, there is something captivating from being able to walk around and seeing the artwork from all sorts of angles. This statues is from Pompeii, and was part of the A Day in Pompeii exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in 2012. Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

24 08, 2015

Museum Monday: Unicorns at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

By Lili|August 24th, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, DMNS, exhibit, Fantasy, museum, Mythical Creatures, Myths, North America, Unicorn, USA|0 Comments

This is a reminder that Denver Museum of Nature and Science's Mythic Creatures Exhibit ends in 2 weeks on September 7th. Read my review here. Unicorn at DMNS Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

10 08, 2015

Review: The Power of Poison at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

By Lili|August 10th, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel, Travel Review|Tags: Colorado, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, DMNS, exhibit, Fantasy, museum, North America, Poison, The Power of Poison, USA|0 Comments

Last month The Power of Poison opened up at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. While I didn't like the recent Mythical Creatures (ongoing until September 7th), I absolutely loved the Power of Poison! I found the way the exhibit is laid out beautifully with clearly planned themes, each with a different but congruent feel. Colombia's Chocó forest model. I recommend to come in the early hours of the exhibit so you can have it mostly to yourself. There are many smaller artifacts that require attention to read the place cards. I also would suggest this only for