Wednesday 7 May 2008
The wild west
What a great trip, probably the last time I'll be holidaying in the US for a while, but full of great experiences and plenty for me to write about soon.
We drove just shy of 1,000 miles from San Diego to Las Vegas via Palm Springs (desert life for the rich and famous), the Joshua Tree National Park (stunning trees older than anything that surrounds them), Sedona in Arizona (a wild west cowboy & indian town known for it’s spirituality and sat amongst the most glorious red rocks), the Grand Canyon (one of the greatest natural wonders of the world), the Hoover Dam (an engineering marvel) and Las Vegas (a marvel of gambling, drinking, eating, boobs and sun).
If any of you are ever thinking about coming on holiday to the US, then please consider this trip to explore the west. It is an amazing part of the world, and Vegas will certainly fill any shopping or late night desires. Death Valley, Yosemite National Park or Albuquergue the other way could all be added for a wonderful experience of the American wild west.
The day at the Grand Canyon will long live in the memory, being allowed to co-pilot the little 7-seater Cessna back the 100 miles to Sedona airport was an absolute thrill, even though for the last 20 minutes I thought I was going to be sick. We were so lucky that just the two of us had booked the trip for that day, and I will be forever grateful to our superb guide and pilot (and flying instructor) Chris for allowing me the chance of a free lesson.
The Grand Canyon is awe-inspiring and after being snowed out last time I was there with my brother in 1994, I was so glad I got another chance to see a place of such magnificent natural beauty.
Back in Chicago now though and with so much to do. A flurry of e-mails this morning resulted in no one seeming to know the status of my immigration application to Bermuda. My current work permit here in the US does run out on July 5th, which cannot be exceeded without an extension that has not for obvious reasons been applied for.
I expect to be in Bermuda by July but if not, it will mean that I'll go and stay at my parents in Eastbourne for a while until I can move to Bermuda (you are not allowed to visit the island, whilst the immigration application is being reviewed). I'd actually quite like that, but we will have to wait and see. Meanwhile there's a lot to do in my final weeks in Chicago. ¶ 14:55
We drove just shy of 1,000 miles from San Diego to Las Vegas via Palm Springs (desert life for the rich and famous), the Joshua Tree National Park (stunning trees older than anything that surrounds them), Sedona in Arizona (a wild west cowboy & indian town known for it’s spirituality and sat amongst the most glorious red rocks), the Grand Canyon (one of the greatest natural wonders of the world), the Hoover Dam (an engineering marvel) and Las Vegas (a marvel of gambling, drinking, eating, boobs and sun).
If any of you are ever thinking about coming on holiday to the US, then please consider this trip to explore the west. It is an amazing part of the world, and Vegas will certainly fill any shopping or late night desires. Death Valley, Yosemite National Park or Albuquergue the other way could all be added for a wonderful experience of the American wild west.
The day at the Grand Canyon will long live in the memory, being allowed to co-pilot the little 7-seater Cessna back the 100 miles to Sedona airport was an absolute thrill, even though for the last 20 minutes I thought I was going to be sick. We were so lucky that just the two of us had booked the trip for that day, and I will be forever grateful to our superb guide and pilot (and flying instructor) Chris for allowing me the chance of a free lesson.
The Grand Canyon is awe-inspiring and after being snowed out last time I was there with my brother in 1994, I was so glad I got another chance to see a place of such magnificent natural beauty.
Back in Chicago now though and with so much to do. A flurry of e-mails this morning resulted in no one seeming to know the status of my immigration application to Bermuda. My current work permit here in the US does run out on July 5th, which cannot be exceeded without an extension that has not for obvious reasons been applied for.
I expect to be in Bermuda by July but if not, it will mean that I'll go and stay at my parents in Eastbourne for a while until I can move to Bermuda (you are not allowed to visit the island, whilst the immigration application is being reviewed). I'd actually quite like that, but we will have to wait and see. Meanwhile there's a lot to do in my final weeks in Chicago. ¶ 14:55
