Colorado Tour Day 5

Off to Colorado Springs today. Our first stop the Air Force Academy. A must see at every venue is the gift shop. The challenge is to pace ourselves so the spending money doesn't run out. After the Barry Goldwater Air Force Academy Visitor Center (gift shop) stop we began our guided tour. There are 4,000 cadets attending the academy. We saw a movie that gave visitors a taste of what being a cadet was all about. Integrity, honor and teamwork. Sound familiar? The same values the Minnesota Boychoir cadets have. The difference being that chaperones aren't waking the boys up pounding on the door with garbage cans and screaming at them at 5 am. We wait until 6:45 am, it's much more humane. The boys had a special treat. They were allowed to perform four songs on the alter of the main chapel. The sound was spectacular and the visitors who happened to be there at the time were enthralled. We visited the Catholic, Jewish and Buddhist chapels too. An interesting aside.  The organ in the main chapel has over 4,000 pipes and the organist of over 30 years is retiring.  We are encouraging Phil to apply for the job.  Next stop the Ghost Town Museum. Before entering the museum they had to pass through another gift shop. Gift shops are sort of a gauntlet of self restraint. The museum was fun with old cars, stage coaches, antiques and period displays. They panned for gold and found a few flecks, not enough to pay for college but fun never the less. We arrived early at the hotel (another Embassy Suites, yes we're spoiled) and the boys had a chance to rest before eating tacos and burritos. The evening was left for swimming in the pool and relaxation, much needed. Tomorrow we have a Pike's Peak adventure among others and perhaps a gift shop or two.