Photos: A day in Detroit

One of the best things about my baseball travels is that it gives me a legitimate excuse to visit places that I never really thought I’d ever visit.  I mean seriously, I don’t know anyone in Detroit, there’s not really any particular motivation for me to go to Detroit, but because there’s a Major League Baseball park in Detroit, it gives me a reason.  And that’s really all the little push I need, because sure I’m going to go see the ballpark, but obviously, I’m going to take in as much as I can otherwise, while I’m there.

As far as day trips go, this was the smoothest one I’ve had in ages, possibly ever, as I’ve already mentioned previously.  Detroit itself is indeed the gritty, blue-collar, kind of rough-around-the-edges kind of city that people often use to describe it, usually in exaggerated jest though.  It helped that it was a picture perfect day when I went, because seriously, I’d have second thoughts about wandering around the place at night.  But for what it was worth, I had an enjoyable time wandering around the urban sprawl that was Detroit’s general Downtown and eventual Greektown areas.  There really is that gritty blue-collar feel about the city, but as cliched as it sounds, in spite of how run down certain blocks looked, it legitimately feels like there’s still some fight left in the place.

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Real Men Don’t Wear Small update: Comerica Park

My latest baseball journeys took me to Detroit, Michigan, where I was able to get in a game at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, and officially ballpark #23 out of the 30 Major League Baseball cities.  Despite the fact that the Atlanta Braves are winless every time I go to see them play for the first time in other cities, the rareness of the Braves playing in Detroit compelled me to make the trip regardless, and if there’s one thing about baseball, it’s that salvation is always potentially the next game.

Photos: Colorado Springs and more Denver

The following camera dump is the remainder of the photographs I took whilst out in Colorado.  The second day of my trip, I ventured out to Colorado Springs with the main objective being the minor league park located there.  But at the same time, it was a good excuse to see the world a little bit, and I wandered about Colorado Springs to see what this city had to offer.

Beautiful nature, that was for sure; I found a place called “The Garden of Gods,” and there was no way I couldn’t check it out.  Although I probably only saw about a thirtieth of the place, I still spent some time walking and hiking some of their trails, and took in some of the mountainous sights.  And before I headed back into suburbia to see the ballpark, I passed through Old Colorado City, an old town that I honestly do not know the historical significance of.

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Smooth as a good scotch

Yeah, I know, gushing about how awesome a day was, is so 2001 brogging.  But it occurs to me just how rare it is that I find myself having what seems to be a genuinely good day; not to sound overly pessimistic, it just really does feel that way to me.

Anyway, I made a day trip up to Detroit, to catch a baseball game.  And anyone who’s paying attention should know by now that “going to go see a baseball game” usually entails going to see the city.  That being said, I had never been to Detroit, let alone Michigan in my entire life, and a baseball game was as good as excuse as any to tackle two goals at the same time.

Eventually, I’ll update my baseball parks page with the ballpark I went to watch the Braves lose in this time, but I just can’t really get over how smooth of a day everything went for me.  I ain’t even mad that the Braves lost.  I ain’t even mad that I had to wake up at 5:30 a.m. in order to make this day even happen.  Everything else just went so well, that it’s put me in a fantastic mood.

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Photos: Denver Trip, Coors Field

For my birthday, I ventured out to Denver, Colorado, a city and state I’ve never been to in my life.  Obviously, baseball was on my agenda, but it was also a perfect excuse to get to see and catch up with a long-time friend that lives out there now.  Who was gracious enough to show me the ins and outs of the Downtown Denver area before I headed off to go watch baseball at Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies, and ballpark #23 on my list to eventually see all 30 Major League Baseball parks.

As a whole, I liked Denver as a city.  It feels like the vast populous of people are kind on the young spectrum, and I can’t recall seeing too many actual families and older people in general.  For the matter, the diversity in the city seemed a bit lacking in comparison to what I see on a regular basis in my daily life.  In other words, not a whole lot of black folk; but not a whole lot of other demographics either for the matter.  And of course, there’s the whole pot thing; now aside from the occasional drink, I’m pretty much clean as a whistle, but far be it for me to criticize the Romans in Rome.  It kind of makes the place kind of relaxed, if not devoid of any chips in any convenience stores late at night.

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Real Men Don’t Wear Small update: Colorado

The journey continues on in the 2013 season, with, depending on how you want to look at it, is either my first official ballpark trip of the season, or unless seeing Marlins Park for a WBC game should count in its own right.  But whatever, I made a trip out to Colorado, where I was able to visit and see baseball at MLB park #22 on my journey, Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies.

And because I’m such a baseball hipster that likes minor league ball more nowadays, I also made a secondary trip, 70 miles south of Denver to Colorado Springs, to see a game at Security Service Field, the home of the Rockies’ AAA affiliates, the Sky Sox.

The best ironic holiday of the year

You know who’s not working today?  Me.

You know why I’m not working today?  Confederate Memorial Day.

Yessir, a day that only a handful of states actually acknowledge, and really that’s only privy to state workers.  A lot of my co-workers often say that it’s embarrassing that Georgia acknowledges it, but I don’t hear them complaining about the paid day off work that comes with it.  Personally, it’s funny in an ironic way, but I’m also of the mindset that it’s best to embrace and acknowledge all history, good and bad.  It’s what makes things what they are, and it’s what makes Georgia, Georgia.

Either way, I’m glad that I have today off.  Having spent the entire weekend in Denver was fun, and I was happy to catch up with my homegirl Amy, as well as knocking one more MLB park off of my list, and getting to go see a minor league park in Colorado Springs additionally.  But after a weekend of lots of food and drink indulgence, with not enough sleep, high altitude effects, and even less sleep after taking the redeye back to Atlanta, today being off is a little bit of a godsend, even if it’s for “embarrassing” circumstances.