Day 11 Cross Country Adventure

Ilana and I didn't really hang around LA. It decided to be disgusting and rainy. We came in the dark I thought maybe we'd get to see what it looked like during the day. But no:

To my left

Straight ahead

...And to my right.

  It was a bit like driving into a great white abyss. Anyway, our drive was fairly uneventful with the exception that Californians seem to like to change lanes even when there isn't room for their car. They just do this slow, "hey, I'm coming in, make room!!" Fun. Also, they don't seem to understand the concept of driving at a constant speed on the highway. Every once in a while we'd all slow down. No reason for it. It was like leapfrogging, getting around these people.

Funny thing though, even though I for some reason could not get a picture of it, though there were many of them- signs saying the speed is enforced by aircraft. I would pay to see that happen. Not to me of course.

Also, many many of these:

Last fun thing:

The puppy (alright not exactly a puppy) looked at me! Could not have been more perfect.

Now though, we are in Sacramento and thus draws an end to the great cross country trip. I hope you all have enjoyed my entries as much as I have had experiencing them. Tomorrow, move-in to the new apartment!!!

Day 10 Cross Country Adventure

Today we woke up "later". I think Ilana woke up around 8, myself around 8:30. Had a later breakfast. We were going to do the Bell Rock Trail right by the hotel, but latest checkout was 11:30 and we wouldn't be able to have a shower after the climb. Which would not feel so great when we would drive from Sedona to LA. We had also heard about rain. Which ended up not happening while we were there. It was quite beautiful out actually. We ended up walking around downtown Sedona some more. Ilana finished buying her gifts for family. I got my fudge from their awesome awesome fudge shop. Three words- Dark Chocolate Mint. Does not get any better.
Today's drive went well. No real traffic of which to speak.
Since we were leaving from downtown Sedona my GPS gave us directions that we wouldn't have used if we had left from the town the hotel was in. Turns out it was a good choice. There's a nice scenic view point looking back at Oak Creek Canyon, which we drove through:

Part of the winding road that took us up to the scenic view.

Once again dealt with driving west straight into the sunset. When I wasn't being blinded this was probably one of the most beautiful drives. California when you first enter it in the Mohave Desert area is gorgeous. With the colors from the sunset, I really wish I could have gotten more pictures. Ilana did me the favor and took a few while I drove.

 By the time we checked into our hotel we were starving. I had basically advertised to Ilana that Pico was this paradise of kosher restaurants. I must have oriented myself wrong because I managed to drive the wrong way on Pico to find said restaurants. We finally made it and had delicious kosher Chinese food. Go meat!! We even took the leftovers since we have a fridge and microwave in the room. Can you say tomorrow's lunch?

Anyway, tomorrow we'll find something to do for the morning and then head out for the final leg of this cross country trip out to Sacramento.

PS- reread old entries to finally get some pictures.

Day 9 Cross Country Adventure

Boy, did I pick a day to have our Grand Canyon hike. Yesterday was awesome. Sunny, not too freezing. I'm sure it was cooler at the Canyon, but, it still would have been sunny at least. It was god awful cold today. And cloudy. Windy. Very windy. Glad for the many layers we wore. At one point we stopped for lunch (eating outside. We had our chance to eat at the Bright Angel Lodge, but noooo, we weren't hungry yet, we could totally go further first). The five seconds I had my gloves off to unwrap my food, the tips of my fingers got so cold, it hurt down to the bone. Ilana suffered the same. Once we got back to moving around again, our hands returned to normal.
But seriously, it hurt. The views were totally worth it though. We hiked the South Rim trail. After lunch we turned back around and returned to where we parked. The guide said in total it was a 7-8 mile hike. In the summer, I would probably call the trail more of a walk than a hike. But, what with the snow-packed and iced over pathways, it made it a challenge. We might have done the Bright Angel Trail if there weren't all that snow and ice. The trail is super narrow at times, and you have to let mules get past you along the way. And there's no divider or something in case you slip. You fall, you die. So, not too upset that we didn't get to hike down into the Canyon at this point in time.

On the way to Flagstaff. The taller more snow covered peak is Mt. Humphrey.

Yeah, it was cold. Really, really cold.

 

Woo, panorama!! Yes, there is a stranger in the photo, but I kind of like his solitude in the photo. Really gives a sense of magnitude to how awesome the Grand Canyon really is.

Mandatory humorous pic: I like how one can "possibly suffer death."  Like it's a symptom or something.

You need to click on this one to see better. In the center are the mules I was talking about. That was the trail we would have walked on...

...again, click to see better. This illustrates a little more fully the possible fall-y to death-iness of this trail.

Anyway, it was a long day for Ilana and I- 6:45 AM wake-up, met up with the guide at 9 in Flagstaff. Finally got to the Canyon and started hiking probably a little after 11. Back in the truck around 3:15, made it back to the hotel a little before 6. We thought we might see a movie, stay up a little later so we don't wake up again at midnight thinking it's 5 AM from going to sleep so early.
But, exhaustion, full stomachs, and laundry called.
Tomorrow, LA!

Day 8 Cross Country Adventure

We came into Sedona in the dark. Waking up to today was awesome. Very beautiful out. Sunny, not too freezing. I wore a sweater and a scarf around my neck, but that was it.

View of the area from downtown Sedona.

We decided to walk around Downtown Sedona for a little during the late morning. While Ilana bought gifts for her family, the woman who sold them to her went from totally normal, to crazy hippy cat lady in about 5 seconds flat. She chewed our ear off for about twenty minutes about Ilana's name and how it sounded like the name her sister picked for her cat. They're into the whole mixing Judaism and Buddhism, and New Age all into one spiritual package, so they picked the word Aliya. Because it had something to do with the kedusha, and then she got into saying how she was in a robbery at a jewelry store she worked in years ago, and how she repeated the kedusha in her head over and over, and "it saved her life! It was a miracle." For real, where do these people come from.

On the way from Sedona back to the hotel. Moon is already showing at 4 pm.

Anyway, Ilana's relatives came in from Scottsdale and very nicely took us to lunch. Then we walked around this art village thing called Tlaquepaque (pronounced telakepakee by the locals). By the time they left it was a little after 4. Ilana and I sort of hung around until dinner time. Went to this awesome pizza and salad Italian family restaurant. Delicious. And we also had locally brewed beer- she the amber and me the nut brown.
We're packing it in early because tomorrow we get up super early to meet up with our guide in Flagstaff who will take us to the Grand Canyon for our day hike. There will be many pictures. I promise. Sorry for no pictures today either. Internet connection in this hotel is too damn slow. Sooo, perhaps when we get to LA, I can finally post some more.

Day 7 Cross Country Adventure

Again, I know it's shabbat and everything, but, Ilana and I checked out of the wonderful hotel we were staying at in Santa Fe. Before we left though, we took a drive into downtown old Santa Fe, and walked around. Lots of craftsy stores and jewelry. One of the first things I came upon that was awesome was an artist working on a clay "pattern" for a new sculpture- it will probably be a bronze:

Old Santa Fe

I do not have too many photos today because I did the day's driving from Santa Fe to Sedona, AZ. Ilana nicely took some photos of the scenery on my camera while I drove.

EEEEExhausted now, so, early to bed, and getting to sleep a little later.

Day 6 Cross Country Adventure

Ok, so, I know religion isn't something I should just suspend when I feel like it, but, this is vacation, and Ilana and I wanted to use up every second of it.
Aaaaanyway, today Ilana and I went on a hike! Twas awesome. This was the sign that greeted us when we got to where the trail started:

Fun, right? No, really, it was. The trail starts off and then loops around and then meets back up where you started. Looks kind of like a lasso on the map. Of course, Ilana and I managed to get off the trail. I'll show you how-

The "fork in the road"

Up to the left:

 

Yes, the loop trail sign is pointing up this way, but there was no obvious trail. PS, it's the groove in the rocks at the top center of the photo. OR

Straight to the right:

And follow the massive amounts of footprints. We chose the footprints. Which was wrong. When we got to a point and realized we could climb no further. So we backtracked a little. Noticed some people climbing up to our left so we found ourselves a way to the path. Then we walked it backwards, the markers going in descending order, as opposed to what we were supposed to have done.

BUT, we totally would have missed some cool caves that the ancients dug into the rock:

Here's a pretty cactus type plant at the very top:

Here's a view from the top:

I took some video clips demonstrating the vastness of the area, but I'm not sure that I can post video to this blog, or if I can, I just haven't figured out how to. I'll post everything to facebook eventually.
So, this hike was about 2.5 hours. We went back to the hotel, rested a little. Had some dinner and then went to see The Princess and the Frog, which was very enjoyable. Anywho, time to pass out.

PS

We decided to use the kitchen to make dinner. Apparently they scour and sanitize all the dishes, cooking utensils, etc. We ended up finding kosher chicken at TJ's, bought some frozen mixed veggies and planned to do a chicken veggie stir-fry. About an hour after getting back I realized we had no oil to cook with.
The main lobby has a tiny little "shop". They sell some drinks, some instant foods, some toiletries, etc. I went to check if maybe they sold a tiny bottle of oil to cook with. Couldn't find any. I asked the lady at the desk if they had any cooking oil that maybe was not on the shelf for me to buy, and her response:
"No, we don't have anything, but the kitchen might have something. Either that or a spray for the pan. Let's go check."
She takes me to the kitchen (where they make breakfast and such). Finds some oil, pours some in a cup. I notice there are spices too, and ask if I can borrow some. There was only one giant garlic powder, so we put some in a cup as well. I took a paprika and some chicken seasoning. I just had to return those two by 11 when the lady at the desk would leave. I came back upstairs announcing that I brought awesomeness with me.
Talk about your customer service! This place just keeps getting more !!!! everyday.
PPS- the stir-fry was yummy. And protein-tastic. Hooray for non-beany, non-cheesy protein! I love meat.