A quieter day today. No driving myself, just taking the light railway into the city. But first – the usual breakfast.

Lincoln Station is only 10 minutes away. Google Maps says 17, but you can cut across a parking lot on foot. The tram – yes, that’s what it is – came late, so I only waited 15 minutes. To reach the station, you have to walk over a bridge spanning the 10-lane Interstate. On the train I checked for a free walking tour and found one leaving from the State Capitol at 10. Perfect. Just needed to switch to a bus at Colorado Station.

Well, not so perfect. The bus I needed doesn’t allow passengers, only drop-offs since it’s a regional bus. No other bus would get me there on time, so the tour was slipping away. Last chance: Uber. The app confused the pickup point, but I fixed it.

Gary, my driver, was an older guy, a bit in his own world during the ride. Small talk drifted back and forth – while I silently wished he’d stay in his lane. He dropped me right at the meeting point, just up a flight of stairs. $15 for failed public transport.

The group was eight or nine people, about half friends and neighbors of our guide Alex, a woman around 60. Then there were two Germans, a Swedish guy from Lund, and a Dane. Scandinavia was well represented. We had robsign a waiver, that if we get injured on the tour, we won’t sue the company. USA as we know it.

As always with these free walking tours, they’re tip-based. You give what you think is fair at the end. Ours lasted about three hours and covered 3 km around the city: Civic Center Park, the U.S. Mint, Denver Broadway, Larimer Square, and 16th Street.

Alex was a great guide, and the group had good energy with small talk along the way. Friendly, interested people. Denver turned out to be a clean city with plenty of history, from the Gold Rush to today. Many names I won’t remember, but impressions that stick.

We ended at Union Station, where Alex handed out a printed sheet with tips for lunch and things to do. I tipped $25 – what a paid tour would cost – and was glad to see that seemed to be the norm. Not like in parts of Europe, where some people sneak off or drop a measly €5 for two after three hours.

First stop: bubble tea. Honeydew milk tea without sugar. The honeydew itself is sweet enough. Then I grabbed a Lime scooter – much cheaper than in Canada – and rode along the riverside paths. Denver has done this right: well-built lanes for both bikes and walkers, making it safe and fun. A very bicycle-friendly city.

And noticeably fewer homeless people. There are some, of course, but far fewer (visible) than I saw in Portland or Seattle.

My first scooter ride ended at Rhein Haus, a self-styled “German” sports pub and restaurant. Bavarian flag outside (long live the stereotypes), plenty of German and Austrian beers, and some German-sounding dishes. I ordered a pretzel with Obatzda. Close enough, but not quite. The prices, though! $8 for the pretzel and $12 for a 0.5l Radler. Robbery. Norway has competition.

Back to the city center and 16th Street, a pedestrian street where only a free electric bus runs between Capitol Hill and Union Station. During the tour, we learned that the paving stones mimic the pattern of a Diamondback rattlesnake. Interesting detail, though luckily no rattlesnakes here.

I didn’t want to push myself further. Instead, I found a shady spot, ordered a drink, and sat down to read and people-watch. Sometimes it’s better just to be still instead of chasing through more museums and sights.

The wind picked up, thunder rolled, and people left the outdoor cafés. Probably wise. But it left me wondering: what’s for dinner tonight?

Prices at restaurants were higher than I was willing to spend again. Maybe on the last day, but tonight I wanted something simple. Whole Foods behind Union Station came to the rescue. It’s a supermarket, but much better quality than Target, Safeway, and the like. More expensive too, but quality comes with a price. Dinner was two slices of pizza, a salad from the bar, and a Berliner Ballen for dessert. In the end, only a little cheaper than a food delivery, but much better.

The ride back on the E Line was quiet, not many travelers. Not driving yourself gives more chances to notice the surroundings. Americans love their malls and shopping centers – always outside the city core, always car-based, and always massive with endless parking lots. Not one mall, not two, but dozens of them, everywhere. Exactly what we try to avoid at home. By the way: a single ride in Denver costs $2.75, a day pass $5.50. Not bad – if you actually get where you need to go.

Back at Lincoln Station, just a 10-minute walk to the hotel. Dinner in the room and some travel videos to wrap up the day. Tomorrow is my last day before departure.