Last October, B and I spent a fortnight on a coach tour of California and Arizona, popping into Nevada (Las Vegas). We started in Los Angeles and ended in San Francisco.....
It was an action-packed 14 days, and I’m not even going to attempt to describe the full trip in any detail here. Instead, here's a list of the best moments and most extreme experiences:
Hottest place: Scottsdale, Arizona (near Phoenix)...we spent a relaxing day and two nights in the resort, enjoyed free evening cocktails in our hotel and a 'Wild West Night' at the 'Rustlers Rooste', complete with honkey-tonk band, appalling line dancing and general 'hee hawing'. Good steaks and an interesting entrance... a slide into the dining room.
Coldest place: Flagstaff, on Route 66...we spent the night here, the day before visiting the Grand Canyon....it was about 4°C when we arrived that evening, a huge shock after the sweltering 30's we'd encountered in Scottsdale. Best dinner of the trip in the hotel's Japanese restaurant, Teppanyaki-style eating...we shared a table with other guests surrounding a large hot plate, while our theatrical chef whirled, twirled, juggled, flipped and flamed raw ingredients into a delectable meal.
Driest place: The Mojave Desert, home to Death Valley...we drove through it after leaving Las Vegas, stopping at Calico ghost town...don't remember much as I was recovering from sensory overload and sleep deprivation in Vegas.
Wettest place: Sea World, San Diego...especially the front rows at the Shamu (performing killer whale) show.
Steepest place: the streets of San Francisco....they make the roads around Kloof Nek, Cape Town look like a gentle hill.
Brightest place by night: Las Vegas of course (also the sleeziest place, not enhanced by the 'Hot Babes Direct To You' billboards everywhere).
Spookiest place: Alcatraz Island....we did the evening tour of 'The Rock', so had spectacular sunset views of the Golden Gate from the boat over and the night city skyline of San Francisco from Alcatraz, but the jail itself was creepy! Felt a lot of suppressed souls there....maybe just my vivid imagination....
Scariest moment: The 'Revenge of the Mummy' ride at Universal Studios, Hollywood...you're plunged into total darkness as you face fireballs, scarab beetles and an army of warrior mummies...you're hurtled backwards and forwards and then thrown violently to a stop.
Reddest place: the stunning, red sandstone Red Rocks of Sedona, also the scene for the bumpiest (but greatest fun!) time on the trip....a jeep ride to get up close to the rocky formations.
Greenest place: Yosemite National Park...spectacular scenery, snow on the ground.
Tallest trees: the majestic redwoods of the Muir Woods, of the Golden Gate Recreational Park.
Smokiest place: Las Vegas...smoking is permitted in the casinos and although they pump them with oxygen, you reek when you get outside.
Most awesome sight: The green Colorado River snaking through the reddish brown chasm of the Grand Canyon, seen from a helicopter.
Star-struck moment: Hollywood boulevard
Best beach: Santa Monica
No comments:
Post a Comment