Sorry, a Smore is “a traditional nighttime campfire treat popular consisting of a roasted marshmellow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.
Extremely delicious!
Over the last week, we’ve seen four of America’s claims to fame. The Rockies - Monument Valley - the Grand Canyon - and a Smore (I’ll explain the fourth one later).
The Rockies, Colorado - Here we spent four days in Estes Park, just outside the national park. It’s a beautiful little town ad home to The Stanley Hotel - the inspiration behind Stephen King’s horror, The Shining. Apparently it’ an extremely haunted hotel. We got to do two big walks through the Rockies, one which took us up 11 000 feet. We then drove over the top through the tundra environment (the place where it’s too high for trees to grow) to our next destination.
Monument Valley, Utah - It was a two day trip from The Rockies to Monument Valley. We stayed in two tiny towns on the way; Gunnison - where we met a Texan family getting ready for the famous Gunnison River Festival which was to be held the next day. basically you dress like an idiot, hop on a make shift raft, and float for an hour down a near freezing stream. The second town we stayed in was Bluff. We were a little nervous as we were the only ones in the campsite along with a single, middle aged man who looked like he was out of the movie, Wolf Creek - and our campsite was about 10 metres from his. It was a restless night’s sleep, hoping he wasn’t going to come tap on our window with a hand gun. But it was fine. I had a chat to him in the morning and he turned out to be a primary school teacher who travelled to the area during summer to look at rock paintings.
Monument Valley is by far the coolest place I’ve been. I can’t describe the feeling of slowly driving through the massive rock formations. They’re so formidable, yet the area is so silent. I think this is the place to check out if you come to the States. The Navajo culture and art is very interesting also.
The Grand Canyon, Arizona - We arrived in Williams, Arizona two days ago (45 mins south of the canyon). We consider it our biggest mistake booking for a week here. Arizona is as hot as hell and the campsite has minimal shade. Liz tans well so she now looks like a Navajo woman. Me on the other hand, not so well. I look like one of the red indians on the side of a red skins packet. we checked out the Grand Canyon yesterday - hired bikes and cycled a bit of it. As Grand as it is, the heat, the haze and the exhaustion dampened our experience a little. I think the best time to check it out would be early morning or evening so there’s less heat and more shadowing across the Canyon. We think we’ll book a helicopter ride over it for Thursday evening.
Yesterday we left Liz’s auntie and uncle’s place in Kansas. After 3 weeks of the most generous hospitality, Overland Park, Kansas City really feels like a second home and we’ll be heading back there for Christmas. Thanks to Liz’s uncle, Jim for building us the most awesome 5 ply wooden bed for the back of our van. And thanks to her auntie, Lois for the 21 day Scrabble Competition - we’ll need to get that 50 year old dictionary updated before the 2010 Christmas Scrabble Major League kicks off. (AKA the 2010 CSML)
From Kansas City we headed to Boulder, Colorado - about 45 mins NW of Denver (at the bottom of The Rockies). The trip took us across the entire state of Kansas. Don’t get me wrong, Kansas is a beautiful place but once you’ve seen 2 miles of prairies, the other 600 are a big of a grind. There’s one interesting stop along the way though; the world’s largest prairie dog. Liz and I never had the pleasure of checking it out, but apparently it’s a 15 foot statue of a prairie dog. You can also go out there to check out rattle snakes, baby pigs, the six legged steer (that’s right - 6 legs; the same as a bumble bee), and a whole eclectic mix of farm animal mutants. As you can imagine, Liz and I were devastated that we didn’t have time to make the detour.
Once crossing the border into Colorado the scenery doesn’t change much; that’s until The Rockies emerge from the horizon in all their grandeur. I can’t explain how huge they are compared to that speed hump in Australia, Mt Kosciuszko. They go on forever, each one higher that the other, and snow capped even in the height of summer.
We’re staying in a hostel in Boulder, which is a university town. It’s probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Our hostel sits among the frat. houses of rich university kids who drive around in their parents’ Audis and range Rovers. The main street is a bustle of bars, restaurants, street performers, and music. For a town so abundant in wealth, there is a massive homeless population which I found both strange and sad.
Today Liz and I took the bus from Boulder into Denver. We checked out the art gallery, the famous 16th St Mall, and the Museum of Nature and Science. They had that Body Worlds display on, where all the human bodies are dissected and pulled apart. Definitely worth the look. Another interesting thing that was happening in Denver this weekend was the Denver Pride Festival - support and advocacy for Colorado’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population. I saw lots of interesting stores and received lots of curious pamphlets. I wish I had a camera because there was one guy sitting cross legged in the park, who was the spitting image of Elton John, and was eating a sausage - no bun, no sauce, just one big, plain sausage. I think a photo of him would have wrapped up what the day was all about. I would have put his photo up with the caption, “Denver Pride Festival” and there would be no need for questioning.
Denver is a great place, and I’m so glad we stopped here.
Tomorrow liz and I head bush!!…….for a bush walk. That’s not still talking about the Pride festival. The day after we head into the mountains to Estes Park. This is the next leg of our trip.
06/08/10
Yesterday Liz and I bought our car! A 1999 Toyta Sienna. Such a relief. Tourists are given so many hurdles to jump if wanting to buy a car in the US. I wouldn’t want to do it again. I’m feel like a soccer mum driving it round.
Today we went out on a day trip to one of the biggest Amish communities in Missouri. It was an experience seeing how they live. I have mixed thoughts on the religion and their way of life. There are benefits to living such a slow, simple life. They’re highly focused on family. They’re craftsmanship (especially woodwork) is amazing and I’m sure their slow way of life and high levels of physical labour lead to much lower cholesterol rates than other citizens of the Missouri. However, I empathize with the kids of the faith. I’m sure they’re brought up in a more wholesome way than other kids of this day and age, however they finish school in Grade 8 and don’t seem to have the opportunity or access to any higher education. (This is a very outsider view). It makes you wonder how any freakishly smart kids can be satisfied living an Amish life.
The essentiasl part of the Amish culture is that they don’t use modern day technology. So the main question I have is, at what year did they decide there was too much technology and would not utilise anymore inventions or innovations?? Did someone on December 31st 1901 say. I’m pretty sure most of their tools are pre WW2. However they use plumbing and flushing toilets. So why is plastic plumbing okay, but not an iPhone. I laughed to myself when I saw one of the teenage girls. She was dressed in the normal Amish clothing - a long, plain dress and a bonnet head piece, however what was on her feet? A pair of Crocs. Probably some of the ugliest footwear ever invented, but the none the less, a modern technology.
06/01/10
On Sunday night the people of America celebrated Memorial Day. And when they celebrate, they really celebrate. Kansas City has puts on one of the bigger shows across the country, which we lucky enough to attend. Around 40 000 people set up deck chairs and blankets on a huge grass area at Unity station. From 7 30 to 9 30 they watch speaches, clips from war and enjoy the music of the Kansas City Synphony. At 9:30, every one turns their chairs around and face the other direction towards the Liberty Memorial statue. The orchestra the plays Beethoven’s 1812 overture while canons fire. This is followed by a massive fireworks display (nothing like Sydney on New Year’s but still pretty good). The whole event is actually quite moving and the perfect tribute to their soldiers.
Now to more pressing news - there is no good coffee in the States!!!! Don’t take Australian cafes for granted because there’s no such thing as a cafe over here, meaning no good coffee! I could be jumping the gun a bit quick as I’m basing this opinion on only 1 of the 52 states I’ve visited, but I’m pretty sure it’s the same across the board. Americans are served coffee in diners where the waitress comes around and continually fills their cup as they eat. Coffe in America - “quantity, not quality.” However, we here Seattle is the place for good coffee; Starbucks originated there. So we’re thinking of taking a small detour to the city to pick up a much overdue regular skinny cap.
Looks like we’ll be in Kansas for another week or so before we buy a car and head off. Denver will be next for a few days. Then head south west to the Grand Canyon. Afterwhich we drive west to Las Vegas and then head north through Utah to Yellowstine National Park. We then do a 500 mile detour to Seattle for a coffee, and then up to CANADA.
05/26/10 (Notice the American date)
Flew into LAX yesterday. From the sky, it is amazing. The place is massive. Got to my hotel and then went straight down the street for my first American Big Mac. Australia’s Maccas has all over America’s - I wasn’t too impressed. Although the argument between two of the clientele in the restaurant made the trip worthwhile. Two guys up in each others faces over something ridiculous. Inmy thoughts, I was instantly transported back to the age of 15 playing Grand Theft Auto. I felt like I needed to press R1 and grab my baseball bat for defence.
Tipping’s already become a bother. You have to tip for everything. Sorry I thought this was a “courtesy” bus. I’m sure I’ll get used to it.
Today I flew into Kansas. Wizard of Oz country. Awesome place. Staying in a suburban home with a big backyard. Even saw a squirrel. I really feel like I’m in America. And on top of that, Liz’s uncle’s cooking us burgers tonight.
A tour in Kansas City tomorrow. So much to do. Think we’re going to a theme mark too. We’ve got two weeks here so can’t do it all at once.
24/05/10
For my own amusement, and to improve my writing skills, I have decided to start a blog of our trip to the U.S. Thank you to all our friends who all bought us travel diaries - I think we ended up with about three each. Unfortunately I won’t be using any of them due to the invention of “the blog.” I’m sure Liz will use my three anyway.
Today’s the day we leave, well tonight rather; at 8:30 pm. Liz and I had an unsettling night last night as we did not how we were to feel about leaving the country for the first time, and came up with the conclusion that our mixed emotions cancelled each other out, ultimately leaving us deprived of feeling anything at all. It was like there were tumble weeds blowing through my Temporal Lobe. Stress cancelled out the excitement, anticipation cancelled out missing loved ones, and fear of the unknown was cancelled out by the need for adventure.
My Olds are taking us up to Sydney early today to do a few things before we get to the airport at 5:30 where we meet Liz’s Olds. They are travelling over with us as they’re going to the same family wedding that we’re heading to in Kansas.
Hoping to keep this post up for as long as I can, making it a ritual rather than a novelty.
