Select a day to view | | 
This varmint was exploring our windshield as we were leaving Sedona. Click the image to see an enlarged image. Zdenka has volunteered to be the blogger (web logger)- so here it goes... Day 1 – SundayWe left home early in the morning, Took I-5 through Bakersfield. At the town of Mojave in the Mojave Desert our new air conditioning compressor died when it was 110 degrees. It was a “hot” journey. We stayed at a great room at the Venetian. And in the evening even got out to the show Jubilee at Bally's. Las Vegas is amazing with the glitz and lights and ever pulsing life. Day 2 – Monday Dave’s BirthdayStill in Las Vegas we took the car to the dealer and after that we toured New York, Monte Carlo, Bellagio and Paris. In the evening we saw Legends in Concert at the Imperial Palace. Day 3 - TuesdayLeaving Las Vegas we arrived at Zion's and stayed at the Pioneer Lodge. We had a dinner at Switchbacks. Day 4 - WednesdayExploring Zion's we visited Overlook Point, River Trail and Weeping Rock. We had a dinner at Flannigan’s. Day 5 – ThursdayWe left Zion and drove to Bryce Canyon. Ruby’s Inn was our base. We had a great room with Jacuzzi. Our first impressions of Bryce were WOW. We explored it in the afternoon, we visited the amphitheatre, hiked on Navajo Trail and Dave took many beautiful pictures. We had dinner at our lodge, since there was no other restaurant anywhere in the sight and we dined on fantastic ribs. We booked helicopter ride for Saturday 7:00 am. Day 6 – FridayWe got up early to catch a sunrise and see if we really want to fly that early the next day. It was a magical sunrise over the Bryce, but it was pretty could. We got back to the inn and went for a hardy country breakfast with eggs, ham, biscuits you name it. After lunch we went on ATVs in Red Canyon. That was a lot of fun. Later in the afternoon we drove to lookout points and saw the natural bridge. Dinner was again in the lodge, this time Prime Rib. Day 7 – SaturdayFirst thing in the morning we did the helicopter flight. If was incredible. We saw Bryce Canyon and forming of another canyon. It was fascinating. After breakfast we packed up and took off for Arches. We got there at 2 pm and started looking around. We saw Balancing rock, Window’s Trail with South and North Window and Turrett Arch, Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch. It was almost dark when we left and got settled at Moab at Archway Inn. For dinner the receptionist recommended Moab Brewery where Zd drank her first glass of beer in her life and we had a wonderful salmon. Day 8 – SundayWe ate breakfast at the inn and went back to Arches. It is one of the most beautiful parks. The colors are awesome. We saw Double Arch, Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch in Devil’s Garden. After getting groceries in the Moab we left for Mesa Verde. We arrived at 2 pm and took a guided tour of Cliff Palace and Balcony House, museum and pit houses. The cliff dwellings were amazing. We had a burger at Burger King and slept in Blanding at Super *. Day 9 – MondayLeft Blanding (not very memorable) and continued to Natural Bridges. There are three bridges. We went on two lookouts and walked to the last one Owapuhi Bridge. It was a short walk full of beautiful views. We saw more cliff dwellings and left for Grand Canyon. On the way we drove through Monument Valley and many unbelievable sights in the Utah which we reminded us a quarry. We arrived at the Grand Canyon at 5 pm and got at Bright Angel Lodge. It was a historical cabin, which was rather hysterical, because you could wash your hands while sitting on the toilet. But the views were spectacular. We ate dinner at the Arizona restaurant. Day 10 – TuesdayWe are at Grand Canyon. We got our names on the waiting list of a mule ride and went to look at lookout points and checked to Yavapai Lodge. We had dinner at El Tovar Restaurant. It was fancy. Dave had pasta, I had fillet mignon. We read and went to bed very late. When we got back to the room we got a fax to make reservations for the mule ride, but it was too late. Day 11 – WednesdaySince we were not taking the ride we slept late , checked out , did grocery shopping and hiked around the South Rim all the way to Hopi Point. We had a lunch at the Hermit Point and took shuttle back. We left for Sedona. The ride was pretty and Sedona was beautiful. We got room at Los Abrigados and had dinner at Oaxaca Mexican Restaurant. Food was good. Day 12 – ThursdayWe are still at Sedona. We took it easy. Exploring the town, signed for a helicopter and Jeep combo ride in the afternoon, but had to move it to Friday morning b4ecause of a storm. This was a first time we didn’t have a beautiful sunny sky. So we walked through many jewelry stores and galleries. We loved glass sculptures by Susan Gott at Hillside Center. Zd got beautiful bracelet with Kokopali at the same shopping area at Blue Eyed Bear store. We went back to the hotel to refresh and after intense search we found L’Auberge Restaurant. We ordered split pre-set dinner with wine paring we enjoyed fantastic scallop cannelloni and excellent halibut with red beat and cabbage tartar. The desert was a gramagnac soufflés. The wine paring was good. Day 13 – FridayIt was a fantastic day. We were picked up at the hotel by Randy from Red Rock Jeep at 9:30. He drove us to the airport for the helicopter ride. It was the best flight. He took us over the ledges and right next to the rocks. Jeep ride followed and was really rugged. We went to Boyton Canyon, Devil’s sink hole and Randy suggested for us to have a lunch at the Enchanted Resort (you have to make reservations ahead, or they will not let you on the property) It was great. Later in the afternoon Zd had an exfoliation and hot rock massage. Dinner at Rene ended quite a special day. The food was fantastic – Spinach with wild mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes mozzarella, pesto and olives appetizer, venison with mashed potatoes, carrots, beans was outstanding. Dinner was accompanied with St. Frances Zinfandel 2000. Desert fudge chocolate cake with vanilla cream and strawberries. What a day! Day 14 – SaturdayWe packed up and checked out. Took the hummer ride that picked us up at the hotel. It was cloudy, but nice. The ride was fun, but it was hard to see out. Dave is cured of Hummer craze. Before we left the hotel we went to look at the shopping area at Tequepaque. They had Indian festival there. We had lunch at Secret Garden salmon sandwich and potato salad. It started raining, we left for Lake Havasu. We got there about at 6pm. And we got some great views of London Bridge in the setting sun. We stopped for a slurpy and a shrimp cocktail and took off for Las Vegas. No rooms were available in the Venetian, so we stayed at Flamingo. Just OK. We had a late dinner at Cheescake Factory. Day 15 – SundayAfter packing up and checking out we browsed around, had brunch at the Paris and took off for Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam was very interesting and impressive. | | Select a day to view |
