We've been to the Grand Canyon today. We'd spent a while deciding when to go, and which part of the canyon we were going to visit. In the end, the decision was made easy for us as the roads to the northern rim are closed until summer (due to snow). So we decided to visit the western rim which Google said was only a couple of hours drive from Vegas.
The couple of hours was somewhat optimistic, as after leaving the freeway, the road turned into a dusty, bumpy track, which went on for 15 miles. Eventually, we emerged back onto tarmaced road and were directed onto a big car park.
We were starting to get a but suspicious by this point. We had been expecting to have to pay a small entrance fee to the national park, but it turned out that the western rim is not actually part of the national park, as the land is owned by a native American Indian tribe called the Hualapai. Roughly translated, I think that means "rip off the tourists".
If we wanted to see the Grand Canyon, then we had to pay to go on a shuttle bus to the viewpoints. And that was at the princely sum of $44 each. They had us over a barrel really, as we'd just driven all the way from Vegas, down a horrible road, and weren't going to turn back without seeing the canyon.
So we paid up, and stomped onto the shuttle bus.
Now, I'm sure you're thinking by now that we're right cheapskates and whingers. We're not really, we just don't like being ripped off. We'd have preferred to have just been able to come across the canyon ourselves without the aid of car parks and shuttle buses.
Anyway, we had a good look, and were suitably impressed, although our enthusiasm was dampened slightly by the fee and the heat. At one point the temperature reached 91 degrees. Don't know how they can have snow the other side of the canyon.
It was a bit surreal because, once we got off the bus, there was nothing between us and the canyon. No fence or warning signs etc. Just a 4,000 foot drop. Claire didn't like it at all but I couldn't resist peering over the edge, which made me dizzy. I couldn't help wondering how many suicides they get.
We watched a traditional native Indian dance at one of the viewpoints, although I was more interested in all the ravens flying round the cliffs. They were putting on quite a show and the only thing that stopped me watching was the fear of getting pooed on from above
The Grand Canyon is very much like Las Vegas in it's own way. It's incredibly grand and impressive, but to be honest, I probably wouldn't bother visiting it again. There's not much to do once you're here unless you like spending a lot of money on helicopter rides etc.
We're staying in a hotel called the Hacienda tonight. It's a very strange place. It's a small casino and hotel complex right next to the Hoover dam, miles from anywhere. It's right by the freeway. The rooms are good and cheap. It seems to be popular with truckers, which is good, as that means a truckers menu in the restaurant. We had enormous burgers this evening for $5 each and I'm looking forward to the truckers breakfast.
Tomorrow we're heading over to Utah. We're going to spend a couple of days visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks. We're hoping it will be a less commercial experience than the last few days.
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Love what you've done with your hair xxx
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