Waiting in Atlanta to board our International Flight to Amsterdam and then on to Paris🇫🇷

In all my travels I have never visited Paris and am so excited to explore this city.

We have a full agenda and will be visiting many places.  

Stay tuned and I will attempt to publish as often as I can along the way.

My name is Cindy and I am addicted to photography.  When I got home and started downloading my photos I was shocked at how many photos I had on my computer.  Are you ready for this….37,980 photos….that is ridiculous.  I am now looking for software or applications that can help me manage this…..addiction.

But besides that, we have unpacked, laundry done, and photos downloaded. I’m ready to go again.  I hope to get more photos on the blog soon.  Soon as I can figure out how to manage them.

Vegas was a blast, there was so much to do and see that we have already decided we have to go back.  
We left out and headed north, through Utah.  We made stops along the way but we were accompanied by rain the whole way.  Zion National Park was out first stop.

   
    
    
    
    
 
We then headed toward Bryce Canyon not sure how far in we would be able to go.  We made it to Red Canyon and decided due to the rain to not go any further in that direction since it was out of the way and get back on the planned route.  

   
    
 We drove all day. I did take a few pictures out the window as we went.  The sun set around 6:30 and we were still a ways from Grand Junction, our planned destination.  We pressed on but I gave Greg a hard time about all the pretty scenery and landscapes that I was sure was out there in the pitch dark.  We stopped at a truck stop (see a pattern here?  we know where the good food is) West Winds in Green River, Utah.  Service was spot on, she almost sat down and talked to us while we ate.  Not much business in Green River at 7:30 at night.  

We crossed the Colorado state line at 8:30 and finally made it to Grand Junction and to the Grand Vista Inn at 9:30.  I have tried to stay away from chain restaurants and hotels.  I wanted to be able to experience down home America from the home town point of view.  Grand Vista was a very good find.  Clean, quiet and comfortable .  My must haves in a hotel.   Exhausted we crashed and crashed hard.  But only for a short time, because Greg wanted to get on the road early to get to Colorado Springs with the intention of riding the Train to Pike’s Peak.

   
   
6 AM came early and it was still sprinkling.  This could make for another Fun day.

We traveled up the road to Parachute, Colorado before we stopped for breakfast.  Guess where?  A truck stop!  The resturant was Shommy’s not to be confused with Shoney’s.  But it was a very good home made breakfast with wonderful coffee and a view too.  

  According to the waitress the first snow fall of the season occurred last night and was dusting the trees and covered the tops of the mountains.  It was beautiful.   

 The further north we went the more covered everything was and the temp kept dropping.  At one point in the mountains it was 28 degrees and snow was everywhere. I took as many pictures as I could without totally freezing us out because I had to roll down the window.  The speed limit is 80 mph!  I think this is too fast, especially on winding roads and rain.  And when you are hanging out the window trying to take pictures , it’s kind of scarey.  We did make a couple of stops along the way and I was really able to get some good pictures. 

    
 One of the problems with not making reservations and plans to far in advance is that you may not get to do what you want.  We were disappointed that the train was sold out but it was raining so it may have been a blessing. Not to be detoured we still headed to Colorado Springs.  Due to the snow, rain and heavy fog we didn’t get to do Pike’s Peak but we did go to the Garden of the Gods and Seven Falls.  Both are not as well known as Pike’s Peak but equally worth the visit.  The sun tried to peak out a couple of times while we were at the Garden, warming us up a bit as we walked through it.  Jackets and hats were definitely needed.   

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 We have relied heavily on the GPS and this time we put the destination of home in.  So far we have traveled 2594 miles and we have a way to go to get home. After the all day trip until 9:30 last night we both promised each other to stop driving when it started getting dark.    

  

 Dusk found us in Limon, Colorado so that is where we stopped.  I have used the app Hotels.com to find and book rooms as we go.  This has proved to be very useful.  I also had internet connected for one month in my jeep so I could use my laptop and ipad on the road.   So I picked what was available and went with Limon Comfort Inn.  Very pleased – quiet, clean, and very comfortable.
   
   

Checked in and hungry, we set out to find a good place to eat.  Greg found a local dive that had rave reviews.  Southside Food and Drink.  We fell in love with this place, the people and atmosphere was great.  It was packed, so oviously the locals love it too.  The food and drinks were very good.  The people that sat around us were friendly, with lively conversations.  If you ever find yourself in Limon, Colorado go down Main Street and find Southside.

  

 

 

If you know me, you know how I’m NOT a morning person.  The alarm sounded at 6 AM so we could see the Dam!  Our tour with the Pink Jeep Tours began at 7:15.  We traveled out to Hoover Dam

So much history to be learned here.  The enginering feats accomplished is pretty amazing and to remember that this occurred 90 years ago.

 

Turbines

Lake Mead

 

 

 

 

Memorials and Monuments

 

Our tour guide explained that only 90 men are listed as officially killed on the job.  Although he said hundreds died due to injuries and accidents on the job.  If they were carried away in an ambulance or succumbed to their injuries later they were not listed as a death associated with the dam therefore not receiving any benefits from the companies.  Because of this, many workers injured knew that if they left the site their family members would not receive any benefits or help from the company, leaving their coworkers to insure it was an official death.

 

The men that worked on the dam did so for two years straight with no days off.  This was during the depression and so many were without jobs and no way to support their familes.  Working on the dam, although dangerous and back breaking, paid double what most could find during this time.  The men, away from the homes and loved ones adopted a puppy that came up to the work site.  He became the Dam Mascot and was cared and loved by all the construction workers.  When he was accidently killed they men made him a grave that same day.

Much sweet and tears were put into creating and building the dam.  A dam to provide water and power to the West.

We actually slept in and then made our way down to the lobby.  First things first. Coffee.  Thumbs down for Monte Carlo – no coffee makers in the room.  We wondered down the strip checking out shops and casinos.

We had a late lunch – early supper.  Greg calls it Lupper!  We broke our rule of no chain resturants and ate at Hard Rock Cafe.  As many times as this happens to us you think we would learn but we did it again!  Over ordered!  Let our tastebuds pick more than our stomachs can handle.  Nachos, potatoe skins, bbq.  Enough left for at least two more people.

We had a little downtime until our show tonight so we went back to the Monte Carlo and hit the slot machines and the poker tables.  No big wins for either of us.

A bucket list item for Greg is to go the the Laugh Factory.  So tonight we have tickets for the Laugh Factory.

I must give the Laugh Factory a very good review.  We had a total of four comics entertain us.  A couple who have been on Jay Leno, Comedy Central and Last Comic Standing to name a few.

What a long day and so many memories made.

We turned in for another day to rest up for tomorrow.

As we left Williams, Arizona we headed back out on Route 66 for as long as we could as we headed to Vegas.  One stop along Route 66 was Seligman, Arizona.  A quite little town that you could only imagine during the hayday of Route 66.

  
At the Route 66 Motorporium a tour bus had stopped full of Europeans.  They were so funny looking at all the souvenirs and mementoes that were available.  I wonder if when we are in Europe touring their country if they feel the same way about us?  We stretched our legs and took a few photos and headed on our way.

Next stop – Nevada!  The scenry is changing, more desert and flat land but lots of Mountains in the distance.

  
  
When I imagined the desert  I had in mind sand, lots of sand, and only sand, with maybe a cactus or two.  Greg said we still may see this later.

We made it to Nevada, Vegas can’t be far.  This has all been new territory for me and I have been on the edge of my seat watching the scenery, not wanting to miss anything.  Greg has been so great to stop at every little thing we have seen and even stoping at lookout points so I can take pictures.

 

 We made it!  How much fun is this.  What a City!  We checked into the Monte Carlo.

 After checking in and unloading everything in our room, we headed to the concierge to check out tours.  What a small world, so happens that the lady waiting on us was from Germany, of course Greg had to say something to her in German.  She asked him where he had been stationed and he related Berlin, she said she was too, she then asked was he Air Force – Yes, Security Police – Yes.  Greg started getting a real funny look on his face and then asked who she was.  She related that she thought he looked familiar and come to find out her ex-husband and Greg were stationed together in Germany and had actually shared an office and they had all lived close to each other.  She was very helpful in helping us fill up the next two days and get as much as we could out of Vegas.  First things first was a open double decker bus of the town so we could get a over view of the place and see just what all we really wanted to go back and see closer.

We had supper at Pampas, a Brazillian Steakhouse, if you have never ate a Brazillian Steakhouse you must try one sometime in your life.  They are a culinary experience like no other.  Especially for the carnivorous ones.  A Brazillian Steakhouse practices the churrascaria style of cooking, where skewers of meat are cooked over an open fire.  Every type of meat you can imagine is brought to your table to taste if you like.  Everything from lamb, pork, sausage, chicken, beef and all of them cooked in different styles and seasonings.  Awesome meal and experience.

There were so many shows to see that deciding was rather hard, since oviously we couldn’t see them all.  We decided on see Vegas the Show.

  Although you may think it was all shows girls and glitter, it wasn’t.  It started in the early 40’s telling the story of Vegas and how it had changed through the years.  It highlighted, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr.  along with Wayne Newton and Elvis.  They threw  in a little Cirque Du Soleil and Magicians and singing and dancing.  It was a real must see and I highly recommend it.  It was the best of all shows through the years thrown into one show.

After the show we wondered around the Strip to see it in the night lights.  You could hardly tell it was night except for the fact all the neon really shown bright.

  
After walking what felt like a hundred miles we decided that we would call that a day and head in for the night.

After a snack for lunch as we sat on the veranda of the Bright Angel Lodge we watched squirrells try to steal food from everyone.  Signs were posted everywhere “Don’t Feed the Squirrells”  I don’t think the squirrells could read. 

 
The Bright Angel Lodge and the El Tovar Lodge were the oldest lodges in Canyon Village.  Canyon Village is inhabited by 2000 people that live there year round and work for the company.  It is kinda like the song says owe your soul to the company store.  The Company is Xanterra Parks and Resorts and they provide their employees with housing amoung other things.  The Village has a school, general store, post office and a doctor’s office.  All the guides we had seem to really love living and working there.

  
This is the fireplace in the Bright Angel Lodge, it’s hard to see in the picture but this was designed by Mary Colter and each layer of stones represents each layer of the canyon.  Colter was a female architect and designed in the early 20’s and designed many landmark buildings many of which were here at the Grand Canyon; Hopi House, The Lookout, Hermit’s Rest, Phantom Ranch and the Desert View Lookout.

   
    
   
These are some of her works.

We were privileged to be able to see the last show of the season by the Navajo and the Hopi Tribes.

  She is doing a butterfly dance.

  He is doing a dance to honor the Navajo Code Talkers.  His Grandfather was a Code Talker during World War II.

  He is doing a Hoop Dance from the Hopi Tribe.   At one time he was dancing with all the hoops you see in the picture and never missed a step.

   

 And before we left the Grand Canyon I adopted a Lion.  It was well worth it to know that every cent went to help with the population of Mountain Lions.  If only I could have brought him home!

After a very busy and long day we boarded the train to head back to Williams.  The ride back was two and half hours.  We only thought we would get to rest or maybe even sleep on the way back but there was just too much going on for that.  First we had a fiddler come by and serenade us. 

      
 
And then we had a gang of bandits hop on the train and proceed to rob everybody!

  
And then the Sheriff comes on board to try and catch these train robbers

  
After all of this we shared a champagne toast that we survived!

Back in Williams, Arizona and checked into the Grand Canyon Hotel.  Supper and a little walk around the resort before we both are ready to call it another wonderful day with lots of memories for a lifetime.

Since I had to give an abbreviated post of yesterday, I will try to make up for it today.  

The Sunset tour was awesome.  Going this time of year as been a bonus for us.  The weather has  been wonderful and the number of tourist are a lot smaller, making for smaller groups.  The guides are more lenient  and seem to take more time to show you more.  We made three stops at various points to view the canyon as the sun was going down, leaving the best for last.  Our last stop was a point in the canyon that would give you a 360 degree view alowing the sun to hit most of the canyon for a beautiful show of color.

   
  
    
    
    
            

 
Pictures and words are not enough.  Somethings are just indescribable and must be seen to behold.

We returned to Maswik lodge and our room.  We were told that it was somewhat rustic and was fairly old.  I was pleasently surprised when I opened the door to our room which was in the Pinyon Pine Cabin.

   
 
With the nights getting down to 38 degrees, we both slept like a rock.  I don’t assume that all the hiking and walking all day had anything to do with it either.

With our first night at the Grand Canyon Hotel in Williams and then the train ride and a night in the lodge at the Canyon and then back to Williams for a night, we had to do some creative shuffling of luggage to not be carring everything we brought for two weeks.  The Grand Canyon Railway did a heck of a job keeping everything straight and in order.  When we got up we checked out of the Hotel in Williams, left out luggage in our room, boarded the train and forgot about it.  When we arrived at the lodge our luggage was in our room waiting on us.  When we got up this moring, we got ready and left our luggage in our room again, checked out and then went on another tour, forgeting about the luggage and not having to worry about it.  When we checked back in at Williams our luggage was in our room.  I could not have asked for a more smooth operation.  

When we left our lodge room and went for breakfast this is what accompanied us enjoying their breakfast too.   

    
 
People didn’t seem to bother the elk, they came and went as they wanted.  Like the guides said it is their home we are only visiting here.  They did warn you to beware of the Bull Elks because it was rutting season and they could unexpectedly charge at you.  Warning heard…I stayed behind things and snuck my pictures.

After breakfast we loaded up for a morning Desert View Tour, taking us to another part of the Canyon that we hadn’t seen yet.

   
  
After this tour we went back to the Canyon Village.

I will start the afternoon in another post.

We are staying tonight in the Grand Canyon and remote as it is, internet is sketchy at best.  The only place I could find wifi was in the sports bar, you know Greg is crying, having to set here watching football while I blog.  But with my glass of zinfandel I will attempt to describe the day.  We started out at the Grand Canyon Railway with a western shoot out. 

 
The gang arrived in the town because “MA” had gotten herself arrested the night before and the boys were without money and were hungry.  Slick decides to hustle a tourist with a card game for some money.  Five aces win and a shoot out insues because someone has to be cheating.  In the end they all die except for the Sheriff.  It was a fun way to start the morning before we boarded the train.  Greg was like a kid, giddy with boarding and riding on a train.  Kind of reminded me of Sheldon on Big Bang Theory.  

We had dome seats which meant we had a 360 degree view of the ride out to the canyon.

  
The ride was two and half hours from Williams to the Grand Canyon and we were serenaded by a singing cowboy Cody.  

  
Once we arrived at the canyon we boarded a bus to begin our Southern Rim tour.  We had several stops along the way to take pictures…which I did!

   
        
    
 
I was amazed that you could get so close to the edge.  And I did.  I dont know what I expected or if I even had an idea. But the Grand  Canyon is beyond explanation.  The vastness of it is overwhelming evidence of a Higher being, a powerful  and  mighty God.

Due to the upload being so  slow, I will post the  sunset tomorrow.

I have been amazed at the breathtaking scenery and landscape.  I have been around the world but had never been out west.  New Mexico and Arizona have surpased  my imagination.   

    
    
    
   

 The Painted Desert with its earthy colors layered in sheets of rocks.  I’ve seen pictures and even movies but seeing it for real is undescribable. 

   
   
The Petrified Forest was amazing too.  I have seen petrified wood before but I guess this wood was special or something,  the quartz and other gemstone like colors were so vivid.  The Forest went on for miles.  We literally drove 40 miles through the forest which ironically only had the petrified trees in it and no other trees.

  
    
    

We took advantage of every  stop we saw along the way, checking out museums and tourist traps, as they  maybe. Yellow Horse ‘s buriel site, a museum dedicated to the Navajo Code Talkers,  gift shops filled with Indian craafts.  One stop in particular  was in  Winslow, Arizona.  

    
    
Most people my age will get this.  It is from an Eagle’s song “Take it Easy”

 Well I’m a runnin’ down the road try’n to loosen my load

I’ve got seven women on my mind

Four that want to own me, two that want to stone me

One says she’s a friend of mine

Take it easy, take it easy

Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy

Lighten up while you still can

Don’t even try to understand

Just find a place to make your stand, and take it easy

Well, I’m a standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona

Such a fine sight to see

It’s a girl my Lord in a flat-bed Ford

Slowin’ down to take a look at me

Come on, baby, don’t say maybe

I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me

We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again

So open up I’m climbin’ in, so take it easy

Well, I’m a runnin’ down the road tryin’ to loosen my load

Got a world of trouble on my mind

Lookin’ for a lover who won’t blow my cover, she’s so hard to find

Take it easy, take it easy

Don’t let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy

Come on baby, don’t say maybe

I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me
Winslow is not that large of a town, in fact it is pretty small, but we had to drive around twice before we found the “corner”  But we found it and I am so glad we did.  Thanks for taking the time to find this for me Greg.
We next went looking for the Meteor Crater.  This was something Greg wanted to see so nothing was going to stop us now.

  
  
What should have only taken four to five hours at the most to go from Albuquerque to Williams took us all day, but what a day it was.  And look at all the things we saw.

Finally by sunset we had made it to Williams, Arizona and the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel. 

  
Super nice place, this is the lobby.  The “resort” consist of the hotel, the depot, the restaurant, and two  gift shops,  along with pools and a gym..
We leave early in the morning on the train to the Grand Canyon..  We stay the night in the  canyon  so “if” internet is  available  will determine if I get to post  tomorrow or not..