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Published: August 9th 2009
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Grand canyon July 15th
Started the day with breakfast together with 100 other tourists in the ‘charming’ breakfast room with annoying elevator muzac playing to get us out of there in a hurry. Amazing that even though the food looked nice it didn’t taste that way.
The morning was spent with cooling off in the hotel pool, which was quite nice, and planning the afternoon canyon visit, only disturbed by an endless herd of small airplanes and helicopters on their way from Tusayan airport to the canyon polluting not only the air but also making a hell of a lot of noise.
We decided to visit the less crowded area of the South Rim which is the part that is only accessible by shuttle bus. Parked our car in Grand Canyon Village nearby the shuttle bus station and started with cueing for the bus. Took the fourth full bus all the way to the end (Hermits Rest) and from here we hiked and bussed a bit along the rim back to our starting point.
Wonderful views of the Grand Canyon and as always very warm. The Grand Canyon is extremely impressive and so large
one can hardly believe how this
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Grand canyon tiny river running in the bottom has been able to create this phenomena. It stretches so far into every corner you can see and has so many side canyons and, well it is just vast. Absolutely wonderful, but next time (if ever) we will arrange to get into the canyon. We suddenly passed an Amish family and Tine was totally inconsiderate and took pictures as soon as they turned their backs on her.
Went into the village and found out yet again that we were happy not to live in the middle of all the action. Went to fetch our car and there was a whole herd of Elks (especially males, with huge antlers) very, very close by and nice to stand and watch close by.
Arrived back at the hotel and discovered that there was no toilet paper, no soap, no shampoo and that the only thing that had been made up were the beds, everything else was untouched. Not good for a motel/hotel with that price level. Not remembering our dinner last night with too much enthusiasm we went for the expensive, recommended restaurant and all had some great steaks. Met
Jesus our favourite waiter and had
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Grand canyon a laugh with him.
July 16th
Started with the wonderful, relaxing breakfast, indoor in this wonderful weather - everyone using at least two-three paper or styro foam cups, a couple of paper plates a lot of paper napkins and plastic cutlery - Eskils biggest fascination was that the soft drink machine was on, and a lot of people actually had cokes or something similar for breakfast.
Had a dip in the pool and later went back into the Grand Canyon National Park. Paul wanted to take a trail going into the canyon, but neither Eskil, Freja nor Tine had any interest in going down where it was even hotter. We split up and while Paul took the Kaibab trail the other 3 took some shorter walks along the rim on the other side of town and took a look at some of the exhibitions and views at Yavapai Point and observation centre and at the visitor centre. Anywhere and everywhere and in every folder at all the national parks you are warned about taking enough water, they describe the degree of difficulty and they ask you ‘politely’ to take into consideration what your own strength and durance is,
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Grand canyon and still Paul, on his descend, ran into a group of young Frenchmen where one was begging for water when she met him on the trail. Paul, of course, offered her some and she drank, but later when he had come up again, she was sitting there not quite herself - perhaps exhaustion, perhaps dehydration or heat stroke - the warnings are, thus, not for nothing.
The three of us went and had a drink and did a little bit of shopping in the village shop and went to wait for the shuttle to take us back to Tusayan, when wonders of wonders Paul appeared and gave us a lift.
A dip in the pool and take out for dinner (why does one buy fast food???) and then the bowling game we had promised Eskil. All the lanes were occupied and there was a waiting list so we went back to our room and waited until there was one free. The called us shortly after and we could have our game which Tine WON BIG. Went to pay but because the guy at the bar was on the phone he just waived his hand and said that it
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Freja on the rim trail was ok. Well money saved is money earned - so thank you.
Back and to bed - tomorrow is the last long drive.
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