Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion

Over the past 3 days I went on a tour of the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion.  On the first day I had to get up at 6AM.  I set my alarm for 5:30 and managed to get up and have everything ready for when I was supposed to be picked up.  It took me a while to find the place where I was to be picked up but eventually I worked it out and found the vehicle that I had to get into.  After everyone had been picked up from various locations around vegas we headed out to the Hoover Dam.  We had a quick look by going up on the bypass bridge.

We then followed on to the Grand Canyon.  This was a couple of hour drive, and eventually got driven to various lookout points along the edge of the canyon.  One of the places we had a look at was a tower on the edge of the Grand Canyon.  This had some Indian art on the walls.

Along the way at many of the stops Indians had tables out with a large selection of jewellary and other objects that they had made for sale.  I was amazed by the amount of the product that they had there, as it must have taken a very long time to make it all.   Some of those places get 50 buses coming through every day, and so they must make a good turnover.

After we had finished looking at the Grand Canyon we continued onto a small town called Page.  At Page we booked into a Motel, and a little while later went to a nearby Grill house.  I ordered a Prime Rib Steak.  When this came out it was at least 10x15cm.  After a good effort I managed to finish at least 3 quarters of it.  I could have eaten more of it but I didn't want to feel sick after the meal. 

The next day we started of and Antelope Canyon.  I nearly missed this part of the tour because I was using my mobile phone as an alarm clock and while I had changed my watch when we passed into Arizona (1 hour ahead), I didn't change my mobile phone. The main tour guide Jason, ended up coming back for me and speeding for me to get to the location, which we managed to get to the rest of the tour, just before the gates on the Indian reservation. This very narrow canyon that changes colour as the the sun moves across the sky.  It was a bit disapointing though because a lot of the canyon was quite dark, as it was early in the morning and because the days are still quite short.

Next the tour went onto Hourseshoe Bend.  This is a bend in a river that is in the shape of a horseshoe. The river has cut 350+ metre cliff face - the river is a long way below.  You could go right up to the edge and look right over.

Next we went onto Monument Valley.  The tour was meant to start at 1PM but they didn't have a driver so we had to wait until 2PM.  While we waited we had a look around the area, which had a muesum and had John Waynes cabin that he lived in when he was making movies.  There are many movies that have been filmed in Monument valley like "Stage Coach", "Forest Gump", Back To The Future - Part 3" and many others, especially old westerns.  I had a look for the Delorean time machine from Back to the Future, but failed to find it!  This was obvously a huge disappointment to me.  At the last photo stop on the tour, my camera battery went flat.  It also was one of the more recognisable places in the valley.  So I had to use my mobile phone to take a couple of pictures instead of my other camera.

On the third day we went to Bryce Canyon.  This was the highest part of the trip being slightly more than 2500 metres above sea level.

 

 Finally we visited Zion. To get right into Zion we had to pass through a approximately 2km tunnel that was made in the late 1920's.

On the way back to Las Vegas my ears were messed up from the altitude.  So far my ears are still not right, with things sounding a bit quiet.

Tomorrow I fly to Houston.