OCTOBER 17-24, 2009
(Click on any picture to enlarge)
Flag of ArizonaBecame the 48th state on February 14, 1912.
OCTOBER 17, 2009
NEW YORK-PHOENIX
Flew out of Newark on US Airways #75 at 10:20 am to Phoenix, Arizona arriving at 12:40 pm. Checked in at DoubleTree Suites, nice suite with a king size bed and a living room overlooking the swimming pool. Weather was really warm so hung out by the pool. Dinner at the hotel's Belvedere Restaurant followed by a briefing from the Caravan tour guide, Larry Whipple.
OCTOBER 18, 2009
PHOENIX-MONTEZUMA CASTLE-CLIFF DWELLINGS-SEDONA
This morning we drove from Phoenix to Sedona passing through Scottsdale with a view of the Camelback Mountain and also giant saguaros. Our first stop was Montezuma Castle National Monument to view the cliff dwellings built by the pre-Columbian Sinagua people around A.D. 700.
Sedona is a beautiful area with red sandstone formations. We stopped at Bell Rock, a well-known vortex (an area that has strong energy forces believed to revitalize) for photos before reaching the city. After a nice lunch at Sally's Mesquite Grill & BBQ, took Sedona Trolley's Seven Canyons Scenic Tour. Several colorful javelina (piglike peccary) statues were also on display all over the city.
I had a wonderful room with a jacuzzi and a fireplace at the Kokopelli Suites in Sedona.
Dinner was at a local sports bar/restaurant.
OCTOBER 19, 2009
SEDONA-OAK CREEK CANYON-FLAGSTAFF-GRAND CANYON
Drove through winding Oak Creek Canyon. First stop was the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. Wonderful exhibits on Anthropology, Geology, Biology, and Fine Arts.
A Hopi mural in the museum's Kiva Gallery.
Stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch before we proceeded to the Grand Canyon National Park, arriving there early afternoon. Our tour bus dropped us off by the Visitor's Center and I immediately set out to walk along the South Rim. Had fun posing on edges of the canyon! Took pictures of bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer too! Met Pat from New York at one of the lookout points.
Checked in at the Thunderbird Lodge on the South Rim in a room with a nice view of the canyon.
Hiked with Vivian and Lana for a few miles then took the Park shuttle bus to view the sunset at Hopi Point.
Dinner and drinks at Bright Angel Restaurant with new friends Carol, Pat, Vivian and Lana (all from NYC). Walked later and gazed at the star-filled sky. Saw a herd of huge elk near the El Tovar Hotel, almost bumped into one in the dark. In the morning, we heard that some people came too close to the herd were attacked.OCTOBER 20, 2009
GRAND CANYON-NAVAJO AND HOPI TRADING POST-LAKE POWELL
Breakfast was very good at the El Tovar Hotel Restaurant. We then drove on the East Rim to the Desert View Watchtower designed by architect Mary Jane Colter. It has observation decks for viewing the eastern parts of the Grand Canyon and contains Fred Kabotie murals (Vivian and Lana, center picture).
Next we stopped at the Cameron Trading Post for shopping and lunch. I bought a Hopi fetish (white bear). Then we drove over the Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Powell.
After checking in, we took a scenic boat cruise through Antelope Canyon. On Lake Powell cruise: Joe & Teresa Marlino from Pennsylvania and Norman & Betty Takeoka from Hawaii.
Had a drink at the Driftwood Lounge before dinner at the Rainbow Room with Pat and Carol.
OCTOBER 21, 2009
LAKE POWELL-NAVAJO NATION-MONUMENT VALLEY-LAKE POWELL
After breakfast the first stop is at the town of Kayenta, "the gateway" to Monument Valley, where we saw examples of hogans and a sweat lodge.
We entered the Navajo Indian Nation and took a jeep tour of the restricted backcountry of Monument Valley from Goulding's Trading Post with an authorized Navajo guide. The Valley was the backdrop for Western classics, such as "The Seartchers," "Stagecoach," and "Once Upon a Time in the West." There is a memorial dedicated to Hollywood director John Ford.
Carol from New York and a couple from Florida.
Lunch was at the restaurant at the Goulding's Trading Post and dinner was back at the Lake Powell Resort's Rainbow Room.
OCTOBER 22, 2009
LAKE POWELL-BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Flag of UtahBecame the 45th state on January 4, 1896.
Drove through Page, Arizona, then entered the "badlands" of Utah before reaching Bryce Canyon National Park. Lunch was at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. Saw the giant natural amphitheatre created by erosion with the distinctive geological structures called hoodoos which were formed by wind, water, and ice erosion of the river and lake bed sedimentary rocks. Bryce, at an elevation from 8,000 to 9,000 feet, provide spectacular vistas with the red, pink, orange, and white colors of the rocks. Hiked up to Sunrise Point.
The Bryce Canyon Lodge; Bryce Canyon Point, elevation 8300 feet; Raisa clambering for a stunt shot.
Overnight at the Bryce Valley Inn in Tropic, Utah. Dinner and breakfast at nearby Clarke's Restaurant. Checked out Ebenezer Bryce's log cabin and a nearby motel with teepees.
OCTOBER 23, 2009
BRYCE VALLEY-RED CANYON-ZION NATIONAL PARK
First stop was at the Red Canyon Visitor Center in the Dixie National Forest.
Strange cloud formations on way to the Zion National Park.
My cabin; my bedroom with a fireplace; dinner with Carol, Lana, Vivian, and Pat.
Some wildlife at Zion National Park.
Group picture of the Caravan Tour members from all over the United States; Larry Whipple, our very knowledgeable tour guide.Here are pictures of some of the people from the trip.
OCTOBER 24, 2009
ZION N.P.-LAS VEGAS
Flag of NevadaBecame the 36th state on October 31, 1864.
Left Zion National Park after breakfast and after a brief sightseeing drive through the Strip of Las Vegas our tour ended and we were dropped off at McCarran Airport. I stayed in Vegas with my niece Aurora and her husband Leo (my sister Coring was visiting them too) for a few days.
OCTOBER 25-29, 2009
LAS VEGAS
I went to see two Cirque du Soleil shows: Ka at the MGM Grand
and O at the Bellagio.
and more sightseeing with my sister at Red Rock Canyon just outside the city.
OCTOBER 30, 2009
LAS VEGAS-NEW YORK
Flag of New YorkBecame the 11th state on July 26, 1788.
Flew back to New York and after being on the road for a couple of weeks, I'm glad to be back home! Made four new friends from this trip: Carol, Pat, Vivian, and Lana, all from New York City.
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