I have since replaced the tea with a couple shots of tequila. taste is gone.....

let me rephrase.

ALL taste is now gone. I think my tastebuds are on strike

Then I hope you're not drinking the good stuff. What a waste.

Has a coyote started talking to you yet?

Some of you will see this elsewhere, but here's my report on how I spent my Christmas Vacation:

Somewhat spur of the moment (none of the plans were made more than three days before we left) we decided to go to the Grand Canyon over the long weekend. Somehow, we've never been there yet, even though we've been all around it.

So on Christmas day we drove to Williams, Arizona, just barely beating an unusual (according to Williams' locals, I would have assumed it standard weather) winter storm. Fortunately the predictions of 2 feet of snow weren't born out and it was more like three or four inches.


Really the first snow driving I've done in more than a decade so that was fun. Lani, needless to say, isn't fond of cold but she took it pretty well.

Rather than driving up to the canyon (and I'm not sure if the road was open anyway, it was closed at one point earlier in the week), we took the Grand Canyon Railroad from Williams. Using the train for a day trip means only getting a few hours there but it was more about the experience and riding the train sounded fun.


This is not the engine we were pulled by, they only use the steam engine in summer months.

It was expensive but we splurged for the "dome" seating which gave us great 360-degree views. The terrain getting to the canyon isn't particularly interesting but it was still worth the money. We were extra fortunate in that we got the front row of the car so had the best views. The bad part of that was that the musical entertainment was about 18 inches from me but that was a hokey but kind of fun 20 minute thing out of a 2.5 hour ride (each way).


The "dome car"


Quaint! A scene in Williams from the train.


This is why happy cows come from California.


The view of the train from the train.

The train arrived about 20 minutes late so that cut our 3.25 hours before return departure down to about 2:45. We had lunch at the El Tazor hotel then took in the view from the South Rim, walked around a bit, took a loop on the shuttle and then it was time to get back to the depot.



Yes, that means we did a ridiculous amount of driving and spent a ridiculous amount of money for three hours at our destination. But I viewed it as a bit of a survey course. I know I want to go back and I have a better sense of how I want to do it. Plus it was fun. And we're DINKs and must do something to live up to the image since our apartment and car don't.


Killer icicles on the train depot


Proof that we were actually there and that I'm not posting photos I stole from Flickr.

After leaving Williams, we spent two nights in Vegas. Stayed at the Monte Carlo for the first time. It was fine but it is on the edge of a massive construction site which limits some of the amenities and is ugly (parking is massively reduced).

We saw Blue Man Group for the first time. If I saw it as street theater it would be awesome. If I paid $30 to see the show it would be great. Paying $100, however, means it was merely ok. I was amused, and some things were really clever but I can't think of one time I laughed but the people around us were all in convulsions so obviously I'm missing something.

On the way to Vegas, a very brief stop at the Hoover Dam to check the progress of the new bridge.


The dam looks pretty much the same as it always does.


The new bridge is progressing nicely.


Water levels are low.

Now for a lot of fun, you need THIS Lens.... :snap:

Cool report Alex - thanks for sharing

Did you stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel too? You haven't experienced life until you eat at the great Max and Thelma's Restaurant ;)

Max and Thelma's was closed while we were there. But no, we didn't stay at the hotel too, I am almost completely indifferent to hotel accommodations (despite what I said about the Monte Carlo) so spending more than Holiday Inn money when on a road trip is simply wasted.