Trip to Arizona - Days 3 and 4 - Live from Holbrook
I bring updates!
Day 3
- Got up at 6:10.
- Stared in awe as the sun rose through Monument Valley.
- Went to the hotel gift shop. Was surprised that they didn't sell that DVD of Monument Valley that we got at Goulding's Lodge giftshop.
- Heading to South Rim Grand Canyon. According to our GPS, it's a 3 hour 15 minute ride from where we are.
- Saw a donkey running near the road. Took a picture.
- Stopped by McDonald's at Kayenta for breakfast. A dog was hanging around the door. Took a photo. The dog wanted me to pet it, so I wholeheartedly did.
- Stopped at a gas station at 10:55. Found out that Coconut Flavored M&M's exist. Took a bag even though I hate coconut; I was curious. (never found any anywhere else)
- Stopped by Tuba to see dinosaur tracks. Spent 10 minutes there. Costs whatever you want it to (donation).
- 12:30 : Stopped by Cameron Trading Post. Bought some more souvenirs.
- Stopped for a scenic view of Little Colorado.
- When we got back to the car a black stray dog was laid down in front of it. Took a picture, petted the dog, then left.
- Entered the Grand Canyon National Park (from the South Rim of course) at 2:40. Paid passage of US$25.
- Drove through the park. Stopped at various scenic views. Those ravens are pretty photogenic. Not only do they land really close, they stand still for hours and even seem to strike poses for the cameras.
- Reached Tusayan at 6. Altitude: 6540 feet. Checked in at Holiday Inn.
- Went to Yippie-ei-O! Steakhouse for dinner. Ordered a Tusayan Tenderfoot (8 once sirloin steak on a bun with fries). Came with a sharable salad too. All the waiters were dressed as cowboys. Our waiter even agreed to be photographed. Good thing I hadn't eaten much during the day!
- Got to hotel at 8. Chilled out.
Day 4
- Got up at 6:45.
- Quick breakfast at hotel.
- Went to the Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center at 8:30 to make reservations for Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours for 9:30.
- 9:00 : Went to check in for the tour. Delayed : too cloudy. Had to go back at 10 for news. 10:00 : delayed again. News coming at 11. We cancelled and went to get the next best thing: the IMAX movie of Grand Canyon. Bought tickets for 10:30. Lasted 35 minutes. Pretty nice movie, but too much emphasis was put on the Colorado River and not enough on the cliffs.
- Drove to Yavapai Point. Took photos.
- Decided to walk from Yavapai Point to El Tovar Hotel. One point seven miles, took 25 minutes. Got caught in the snowstorm halfway there.
- Took the shuttle from El Tovar back to Yavapai Point. Arrived at our rental car at 1:30.
- Left the National Park. Headed to Holbrook. About 2 hours and 50 minutes to get there, according to the GPS.
- Snowstorm raging as we approached Flagstaff. Driving very slowly and carefully... Apparently we're near Snow Bowl at that point. Very appropriate name. Altitude: about 8000 feet. Lowered to 6909 as we reached Flagstaff, then 6000 later.
- No more snow as exited Flagstaff. Joy.
- Heavy rain and high winds as we approached our destination.
- 5:06 : Finally reached Holbrook. Altitude: 5000 feet.
- 6:00 : Checked in at Super 8. US$65 for the night (a lot better than the US$128 the Holiday Inn nearby charges), breakfast included.
- 6:30 : Dinner at Pizza Hut, right next to the hotel.
- 8:00 : Back to hotel. Found a computer with Internet access. Logged on my LJ account.
- 9:30 : Got back to room to rest.
Day 5 : Heading to Petrified Forest, try to pass by Route 66, head back to Flagstaff.
Day 3
- Got up at 6:10.
- Stared in awe as the sun rose through Monument Valley.
- Went to the hotel gift shop. Was surprised that they didn't sell that DVD of Monument Valley that we got at Goulding's Lodge giftshop.
- Heading to South Rim Grand Canyon. According to our GPS, it's a 3 hour 15 minute ride from where we are.
- Saw a donkey running near the road. Took a picture.
- Stopped by McDonald's at Kayenta for breakfast. A dog was hanging around the door. Took a photo. The dog wanted me to pet it, so I wholeheartedly did.
- Stopped at a gas station at 10:55. Found out that Coconut Flavored M&M's exist. Took a bag even though I hate coconut; I was curious. (never found any anywhere else)
- Stopped by Tuba to see dinosaur tracks. Spent 10 minutes there. Costs whatever you want it to (donation).
- 12:30 : Stopped by Cameron Trading Post. Bought some more souvenirs.
- Stopped for a scenic view of Little Colorado.
- When we got back to the car a black stray dog was laid down in front of it. Took a picture, petted the dog, then left.
- Entered the Grand Canyon National Park (from the South Rim of course) at 2:40. Paid passage of US$25.
- Drove through the park. Stopped at various scenic views. Those ravens are pretty photogenic. Not only do they land really close, they stand still for hours and even seem to strike poses for the cameras.
- Reached Tusayan at 6. Altitude: 6540 feet. Checked in at Holiday Inn.
- Went to Yippie-ei-O! Steakhouse for dinner. Ordered a Tusayan Tenderfoot (8 once sirloin steak on a bun with fries). Came with a sharable salad too. All the waiters were dressed as cowboys. Our waiter even agreed to be photographed. Good thing I hadn't eaten much during the day!
- Got to hotel at 8. Chilled out.
Day 4
- Got up at 6:45.
- Quick breakfast at hotel.
- Went to the Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center at 8:30 to make reservations for Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours for 9:30.
- 9:00 : Went to check in for the tour. Delayed : too cloudy. Had to go back at 10 for news. 10:00 : delayed again. News coming at 11. We cancelled and went to get the next best thing: the IMAX movie of Grand Canyon. Bought tickets for 10:30. Lasted 35 minutes. Pretty nice movie, but too much emphasis was put on the Colorado River and not enough on the cliffs.
- Drove to Yavapai Point. Took photos.
- Decided to walk from Yavapai Point to El Tovar Hotel. One point seven miles, took 25 minutes. Got caught in the snowstorm halfway there.
- Took the shuttle from El Tovar back to Yavapai Point. Arrived at our rental car at 1:30.
- Left the National Park. Headed to Holbrook. About 2 hours and 50 minutes to get there, according to the GPS.
- Snowstorm raging as we approached Flagstaff. Driving very slowly and carefully... Apparently we're near Snow Bowl at that point. Very appropriate name. Altitude: about 8000 feet. Lowered to 6909 as we reached Flagstaff, then 6000 later.
- No more snow as exited Flagstaff. Joy.
- Heavy rain and high winds as we approached our destination.
- 5:06 : Finally reached Holbrook. Altitude: 5000 feet.
- 6:00 : Checked in at Super 8. US$65 for the night (a lot better than the US$128 the Holiday Inn nearby charges), breakfast included.
- 6:30 : Dinner at Pizza Hut, right next to the hotel.
- 8:00 : Back to hotel. Found a computer with Internet access. Logged on my LJ account.
- 9:30 : Got back to room to rest.
Day 5 : Heading to Petrified Forest, try to pass by Route 66, head back to Flagstaff.