Coeur d’Alene – Day 3

Every new experience is a learning opportunity, at least thats what my mother tells me.

When I stepped off the plane in Denver I felt like I transported. I have been to the Denver airport before but this time it was different. It was night and day from the Buffalo airport. The Buffalo airport had only a handful of gates open, maybe one or two eateries and tape on every other seat. The Denver airport had a lot of eateries open, no tape on seats, and honestly some people not wearing a mask. It is so different then what I have been around I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. That feeling didn’t go away as I traveled to Coeur d’Alene.

As I drove I saw the mountians and I couldn’t help but almost cry. For years I have always wanted to drive and see mountains. I think they are just unbelievely beautiful. Here I was driving to my new home and every direction I looked there was a mountian. I have repetedly said “I can’t believe I live here”. I will wait until I am out of the honeymoon phase to make a proper judgement on the town but thus far I love it. There are some things that are very different then Buffalo. For those playing along at home I am going to share some of them with you.

Two words coffee huts. I knew they existed but I have never seen one in person. What is a coffee hut you may ask. Its a shed in a parking lot that sells coffee. Although I am not sure how they function people love them. Almost every coffee hut I see has a line. I will have to try it but for now we get to drink coffee at home.

Trucks and SUVs. I swear thats all people drive here. There is an absurd amount of large vehicles. I don’t know if it is because of weather or farming or mountains. But I feel like all I see is trucks and SUVs.

Traffic and One Ways. It may be how the town was built but man is there a lot of traffic. All day not matter what time I feel like I am always sitting at lights which feel long. I also have found they really like one way streets. I don’t think I have driven on a three lane one way road ever. I definitely may or may not have thought the far left lane was going the other way and stopped in the middle to turn. I am sure with time I will be able to adjust.

Every one is nice. In my time here everyone has been incredibly nice. Not just in talking but in passing. I joked with someone that it was the fresh air here. But if you smile at someone they smile back, I have yet to have someone not smile back.

I am grateful that thus far it has been a positive experience. Although it has been a little overwhelming I am grateful that I get to add this to my life experience list. I know I have many more lessons to learn.