Missoula is Montana’s second largest city with a revitalized downtown and bountiful outdoor opportunities. Home to the University of Montana, downtown Missoula is lined with bars and coffee houses that cater to the large student population. Four different mountain ranges and five major rivers surround the city, supporting skiing during the winter and fly fishing, hiking, and biking during the summer.

We plunged ourselves into the downtown neighborhood and began by gulping down a “granita” frappuccino at Liquid Planet, a popular Starbucks alternative. It tasted a bit like a dissolved Butterfinger. Tapping away on our MacBook Pros at a cozy table in the rear of the café, we procured a refreshing caffeine buzz that was essential for exploring the rest of downtown during the hot afternoon.

We moseyed across the bridge to a late Indian food lunch at Tipu’s Tiger, one of the only all-vegetarian establishments in Missoula. For $8, we gorged ourselves on the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, and stuffed a bunch of samosas in our bellies (and -- shhhh! -- in our pockets for later!).

All the while, Valentina and Ludwig made friends too...

A fire broke out on the hillside near their home in the evening. A few hundred acres of grass and brush went ablaze, thanks to two 7-year old kids playing with a lighter. Little pyros.

Firefighters, water-dumping helicopters, and local news stations were quickly on the scene, and curious spectators throughout the neighborhood were all out on the street, staring in awe and disbelief.

By midnight, we finally settled down in the pop-top outside their building for the night. Valentina and Ludwig snuggled up, kept each other warm, and watched the nearby flames on the hillside burn throughout the cold dark night.