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:: TRAVEL USA::
:: HA - DEN ::
DEN - SF ::
SF - LA ::
GC & LV ::
LA - NOL ::
NOL - CHI ::
CHI - HA ::
17.02.02
The train was a little bit delayed, so I could sleep half an hour more, but finally
at 6:30 am I had to leave the train. The hostel opens at 7 am, so I used the
time to look in the tourist information (located in the station with opening hours
like the station) for some flyers. And I was lucky, I found a coupon for my hostel:-)
Grand Canyon International Hostel it's just one block far away and I got a great
welcome. The manager put me in a room, wich was still totaly free, so I could put
my backpack in and showed me the house. After two nights in stations and train
I enjoyed the warm shower and the free breakfast. I was not the only person,
who just arrived, so the manager was asking for people going to the
Grand Canyon and I was lucky: another 5 persons were found and the hostel
offers a tour. It's not only half the prize but also offers the opportunity to walk
in the Canyon. So I cancel my reservation at American Dream Tours.
At 9 am we were leaving the hostel and did a short stop at a grocery
outside of Flagstaff. The prices were less than in San Francisco, but
still very high. Then we were driven almost one hour through a kind
of desert. The first stop was at a small canyon, a branch of the Grand
Canyon. Tom, the guide, promised to spend 50 dollars if one of us
would succeed to throw a stone in the river. Nobody get it, but he was
also sure never to pay, because even if you would reach the river
you could not see it, because it's too far away;-) Then we are entering
the national park. Nobody of us (3 english, 2 from new zeeland and me)
were at the Grand Canyon before. So Tom asked us to close the eyes
and positions us at the rim. After opening the eyes it was an impressing
feeling. You drove so far on a plane and suddenly there is a deep
colorfull hole.
A watchtower offers a great view in all directions: on one side the
desert and on the other the canyon. At lunch we were visited by the
ravens.
With the van we are following the route along the south rim and were
stopping at every important sightseeing point and museum. At 2 pm
we reach the south kaibab trail, wich is leading to the colorado river.
We are following the trail to the first picknick area. It might have been
a quarter of the whole way down. We were on a big plateau and it
was not possible to see the river anymore. It has to be an amazing
feeling down at the river, even here at the plateau you cannot imagine
what is happening on the rim. In the morning the sun was shining, but
at that time clouds were appearing and heavy wind started. Tom
told me, that the weather report announced snow for the night. I
thought he did a joke.... On the way up again I could imagine, why
it isn't adviced to walk all the way down and up on one day, the
trail is realy steep.
Again we drove along the rim and a short distance from the Grand Canyon Village
Tom let us out of the car and told, that he would waiting for us in the village at a
fireplace. The walk along the rim was nice, but due to the heavy wind really cold.
We didn't stop too much, but try to hurry up to the village and were glad to
stay at the fire half an hour later. The village was our last stop, it was already 5 pm
and we would have to go the 80 miles back to Flagstaff. And at that moment I saw,
that the weather report was right. It started to snow in such a way, that it was hard
to see the road. Even Tom drove slowlier than and we need more than 2 hours back to
the hostel.
18.02.02
My bus to Las Vegas should have left at 8 am. It was written sth. about Greyhound
on my ticket of Amtrak, so I went to the station to ensure, that my bus is leaving
at the Greyhound depot. Instead of answering yes or no, the officer is ordering
me a cab and told me, that he will manage the payment. So even it was
a distance of half a mile I've got a lift by Amtrak:-) That's what I like at Amtrak,
they really cares about you. As I told the taxi driver, that
I'm german he enumerates all the medalls germany already won at the olympic
games.
Entering the greyhound depot I was shocked: I had the feeling to be among only
homeless persons. All people are looking a little bit strange. I just wanted to
asked at the counter if my Amtrak ticket is already valid for the train at 8 am or
if I have to change it with a greyhound ticket. But then the officer told me, that
there will be no bus at 8 am, it was canceled a long time ago. The next one
was leaving at 11 am:-( But I was lucky, that greyhound changed my ticket to
the later bus, even I only had a ticket of Amtrak.
If I would have known this before I could had enjoy my nice breakfast at the
hostel... But so I used the 3 hours to stroll around in Flagstaff. Due to the
snow fall of the last evening it was really cold outside. Running around without
a hat I was asked if I prefere to travel without a hat or if I don't have one. The
americans always surprise me. On my way back to the greyhound depot
the taxi driver overtakes me and asked me really shocked, what the hell
I would do outside. I told him, that my bus was canceled and he calmed down.
Finally I learned the american way of building a queue and I put my
backpack in front of the right door in the greyhound depot. So I was
one of the first for check in. But before the reboarder are getting in the
bus and therefore the bus was already filled. Nevertheless I found two
seats for me alone. After one hour we stopped the first time, anywhere
at the highway, behind Mc Donalds - not to board new passengers but
to offer the possibility to get lunch and to smoke.
Instead of the direct bus in the morning I had to change with this connection
in Kingsman. The greyhound stations was far out of the town, behind Mc Donalds.
Only a small building was showing, that there was a greyhound stop. One bus
was stopping next to another and the drivers were loading the luggage from one
in the other. Everybody was paying very much attention if also his own bag
was changed. The driver of the second bus didn't hurry up, so we were staying
around in the front of the bus for almost half an hour. Luckily it was sunny weather.
Finally I arrived in Las Vegas at 4:30 pm, 4 hours later than I planned to.
The hostel was not far away, so I let my backpack there and start to walk along
the boulevard. Las Vegas was the only town in US, in wich I underestimante the
distances (now I know, that you were right, Tom!).
So walking along the whole boulevard I tooks me from 5 to 10 pm,
including some casinos and lightshows. It's impressing how they tried (and succeed!)
to rebuiled hotels in the style of Venice, Paris, New York, Cesar, egypt and so on.
I don't know how much money the spend performing all this lightshows outside,
exploding vulcanos, the battle between ships, fontaines etc.
The way back to the hostel was faster, but I also was fed up with all the casinos.
Right in time I was at midnight in the old part of Las Vegas, the fremont street.
Few years ago they build a light show. My hostel was just few blocks away, but
it was in an awefull area of Las Vegas. The persons gambling in the casinos there
were really looking poor. At that evening it was also the first and last time in the US,
that I had problems to walk alone, several persons wanted to accompany me.
19.02.02
Arriving late at the hostel had the consequence that I was sleeping longer
on that morning. Then I checked out the all you can eat pancake breakfast,
wich means, that they offer the batter and I had to put it in a pan.
At the greyhound depot I understood the difference in the service of Amtrak and
greyhound. The staff at Amtrak was always very friendly and couteous. At
greyhound I only get short answers. I only open my mouth and then I was told,
that I have to go to another counter, because I already had my ticket and on
that counter nobody was looking at me, but after I asked I get the words
"gate 2". In that queue I was standing next to an older man who was
almost falling on me, so I felt a little bit uncomfortable. Later he told me, that
he's a retired german professor...
In Las Vegas was a lot of security personals. At the door for check in behind each
driver was standing a security, who was paying attention, that the driver
didn't make to much jokes but was checking the tickets. Some persons even
where checked with a metal detector. What do they expect?
The bus to Los Angeles was an express bus, so it stops just two times: behind
Mc Donalds, what else. It was an Amtrak throughway bus and therefore it
was not only stopping at the greyhound depot in LA but also at the union station.
Arriving there at 4 pm I took a bus to the coast. Passing the public libery I saw
some New York taxi cabs, the universial studios were casting. The drive tooks
more than one hour, mostly over the highway filled with cars, it was rush hour.
The driver was really nice and helpfull, when I was the only passenger at the end
he starts to talk with me, he driving and I sitting at the far end of the bus...
I was just right in time for the sunset in Santa Monica and Venice Beach. Along
the beach I saw a lot of joggers, inline-skaters, cyclist, dog leaders and so on.
Everybody was sportive.
For diner I try the extra large menu at Mc Donalds, because I didn't found
anything else. (I was hoping so much to get fish and chips.) But I was very
surprised by the size of the meal, I didn't expect to get a one liter drink.
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