AZ Recap: Part II

Day 5: Grand Canyon Part 1.  Got an early start on our journey.  On the drive up I was already in awe.  The scenery was incredible and driving thru the mountains was definitely engaging.  I'm not going to lie.. I was pretending like I was playing Mario Kart, you know the mountain level.  Around every corner there was a new warning sign for falling rocks, elk, cows, or a crazy decline.  To add to it, there were splattered bugs and mud all over the windshield like the MK "ghost" came and spat on me.  We drove upward some 8,000 feet of elevation.  My ears were popping.  

When we finally found somewhere to park, I ran like a giddy school girl to the rim and gasped at its pure beauty.  It was everything you couldn't imagine it being.  Note: The pictures I post will not do it justice so you MUST see it for yourself.  



Bright Angel Trail



We hiked down 3 miles on the Bright Angel Trail.  It's a pretty populated trail with all different ages, shapes, and sizes along the trail (including Mules).  Some people had camped by the river or the Indian Gardens and were on their way back up. 

 

Around every turn you can't help but revel in what's before you.  Every turn brings a new magnificent view.  

When we finished our tiring 6 mile trek, we were ravenous.  But we couldn't miss this.



The sun setting on the canyon.



Somehow there was a 45 minute to an hour wait at all the restaurants in the village, but luckily too. As we're sitting outside on a bench looking into the dark, vast, canyon, we see a comet!  So bright and so close and burned long enough that you could have taken a picture.  Simply amazing.  

Day 6: We got up for sunrise, but didn't have much of a picture-esk view.  For future reference, if you go to the GC-- Mohave Point would have had some pretty incredible views for a sunrise/sunset.  At somewhere near 24 degrees, we packed up and got ready for our day's hike.  We went west to Hermits Rest and started are 3 mile, 1400 ft descend to the Dripping Springs.  



My front row seat to the sunrise.


The first part of the trail was cold and rocky.  After about an hour into it, the sun started to do its thing and warm us up.  After passing the campground, the road got less rocky and more like red dirt.. and whole lot scarier.  I cannot express to you how terrified I was on the second leg of this trail.  The trail was about 2 feet wide and on the edge of the canyon.  

Below is a short video of one of the scarier parts of the trail.

 

There was one moment of mental weakness when I wanted to turn back, but so thankful I didn't.  Doesn't seem like much, but it was just perfect.  

So at the bottom of our hike, 78 degrees and sunny, we had our lunch on 3 rocks.  Rice cakes and Sunflower Seed Butter (heavenly) and just some okay scenery.  


This spot was actually terrifying.



 

We went from the "YOU ARE HERE" to Dripping Springs!



A few hiking tips I picked up:  Camelbacks are a necessity-- easy, accessible, abundance of water. Eat filling meals.  People who hike in jeans are ridiculous. Bring your boyfriend so he can rub your feet when you finish!



Day 7: Back to the pool.  88 degrees in the desert.  After some serious sun time, Sara, Jake and I went to the Tempe Art Fest.  It was great walking around and of course topped of with some Sangria on a patio.  After dinner, we had every intention of going to the casino before my redeye flight, but the thought of smoke smelling hair on an airplane just didn't seem right.  So instead, we picked up a bottle of Sangria, and climbed to the top of A mountain for. 

Of course, I had to make a dramatic exit by losing my wallet from the car to right inside the airport doors.  But blonde luck prevailed and I found it in time to catch my flight with Joan Rivers.

 

Final Thoughts on the trip:  Reverse happy hour is legit. Chips n salsa are an appetizer, not a meal. Everything is out to get you in the desert. Try something new everyday, even if it scares you! Must buy Sunflower Seed Butter.  G and Sara are pretty cool too. I think I'll be back.





AZ Recap: Part I

Here's all things Arizona about my trip.  

For starters, I walked thru O'hare airport from the front doors to my gate in 15 minutes.  Tell me you're not impressed.  

Day 1 (which is really just 10pm at night):  Greg, Sara & Jake picked me up from the airport and took me onto Mill Ave in Tempe (which is where Sara & Greg live) and checked out an outdoor bar followed by some late night outdoor Mexican.  The streets were very lively and there were street performers everywhere.  I really felt like I was back in Barca.  Very cool.

Day 2: You already saw pictures from my amazing hike.  After the hike, we watched some NCAA games and had drinks & lunch (outdoors!!)  It wasn't until 3:00pm that they finally took me to pool.  Greg played some water polo and I passed out in the heavenly bliss of the sun.  Later that night we went to Four Peaks Brewery which is the largest brewery in AZ.  Of course, I tried one of every kind of beer they offered ;)  After lots of chips n salsa, I was pretty satisfied and tired, but couldn't resist ordering when we went to G & Sara's fav restaurant, The Pita Jungle. It's a VEGAN restaurant so naturally I could eat most anything.. so sad I wasn't hungrier.

Greg & I at the top of Camelback Mountain.

Day 3: Finally a pool day! See, it took me 3 days to get to the pool.. I'm not a sun worshiper. Being on the ASU campus at the pool made me wonder why I didn't go away to a warm state school.  Probably because every day would be spring break and I'd have failed out of college.  We went to a late dinner (of course, with an in between course of chips n salsa at Boulders on Broadway.  Let me tell you what Tempe does.. Reverse Happy Hour.  That's right.. from 10pm to close bars have deals on all drinks and food items.  If this happened in Chicago, all establishments would be out of business.  While we waited for Sara for dinner, we played bags where G & I ran the boards winning somewhere between 9 and 12 games straight.  (These randoms thought I was God's gift to the game because I had a couple good rounds, but G was really equally dominate if not better.)

As you can see.. thus far in the trip I had been slacking on my picture taking.  I start to show a little improvement here! 

Day 4:  Pool. Happy Girl.  Champagne.  Happier Girl.  Took the Light Rail (electric train) to the Suns Game. in Phoenix. 

Tickets for the Light Rail

Here I had my first ticket scalping experience. (And by me, of course I mean Greg & Jake negotiated and I watched) These scalpers are cut throat.  We ended up getting 3 tickets for $50 and sitting in whatever seats and section we wanted.  That would definitely not happen at the United Center.  I also walked in unsearched and my purse unchecked.  I don't know if I felt safer or not.  It wasn't until inside the stadium that they actually served Stoli vodka.  Win!  The Suns lost, but we got to see Shannon Brown light it up with 32 points & who could forget the World's Limbo Queen.  I thought I could limbo. She went under a pole on top of two beer bottles with two trays of drinks in her hands.  Impressed is an understatement. 

Scene of the Scalp: Outside the stadium

We met up with Sara and a couple of their friends at District in the Sheraton in downtown Phoenix for some more reverse happy hour.  

Sneak Peak of tomorrow's post:

My very first look at the Grand Canyon. (The picture isn't nearly as good as the real thing.)