Yosemite National Park

The natural beauty of the Yosemite Valley is a delight, a u-shaped glacial valley at the heart of the national park. 

The Merced River at times a pool and in some place a rapid; the gentle meadows; the ever present pines; the massive El Capitan cliff face 3593' from base to summit; extraordinary granite rock forms of Half Dome; snow capped peaks in the far distance; snow melt waterfalls including the tallest plunging waterfall in the US, the Yosemite Falls; people walking, hiking, climbing, bouldering, on horseback, in the water -swimming, tubing, canoeing, fishing, camping, lodging...

We loved our first exploratory day in the valley.

Merced River Valley and a new bird for the trip, American Dipper!

The monolithic El Capitan

Merced River, gentle meanders along the Valley bed

Upper Yosemite Falls 

Half Dome looms over the valley

Meadows of Yosemite Valley

Foodie Interlude: fine dining with Maya

I met Maya in Morocco last March. We were on a cooking adventure with Peggy Markel and met on the taxi ride from Marrakech to Jnane Tamsna. 

And here we are meeting up in Oakhurst, California.

I love how travel creates intersections with special people. Maya called with a dinner date at the gracious Erna's Elderberry House, she came up from Fresno and we had a lovely evening catching up, sharing stories from around the world and reveling in fabulous food.

Our trip in numbers...

We have been on the road for 4 weeks here in the US:

•  travelled 3887 miles, (6255 km)

•  been in 3 US states – California, Arizona, Nevada

•  explored 3 National Parks - Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon, Death Valley

•  visited 6 State Parks - Big Sur, Salton Sea, San Jacinto Mountain, Hearst Castle, Red Rock, Red Rock Canyon

•  National Forests; 1 Sequoia

•  slept in 10 beds; 3 hotels, 4 motels and 3 timeshare unit (make it 16 with Bahamas)

•  ate Ben & Jerry ice-cream, 2, Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey

•  added 31 birds to my US bird list which is now 195 and my world list is 1478, top bird Roadrunner

•  popped into 1 museum

•  decaprio 3 movie catch-up, Aviator, Gatsby and Departed

•  relished organic extra virgin olive oil, 2 farms 

•  walked 76 miles; beach, mountain trails, coastal meadow, high altitude lake, golf courses, climbing red rocks, canyon rim, valley trail, desert paths, Las Vegas Strip

•  walking on schedule, (for each 50 miles driven we want to walk 1 mile)

•  watched 7 episodes of Game of Thrones, season 4

•  got cold at the lowest temperature below 40 degrees F in Tehachapi (3 degrees C)

•  was hot at the highest temperature of 115 degrees F while walking in Death Valley (46 degrees C). Car registered 125 degrees F at one point – over 50 degrees C

•  wine tasting, 2 at Tablas Winery, Paso Robles and Souza Family Vineyard

•  1 new mode of transport, helicopter over the Grand Canyon

•  show, 1 in Las Vegas, O Cirque du Soleil

Crazy world of the Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas, the Bellagio

Could not say it better than Liberace!

I can watch films and get house envy, I now have hotel envy.

Fell in love with the Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip. Everything I loved about this weekend was embodied in the hotel.

Quixotic, colourful, generous, expensive, free, energy, larger than life, world class, artistic, sculpted, eclectic...

The flowers were spectacular

Hermes scarf as a window treatment

The creative glass work of the Bellagio

Larger than life displays

Fresh flowers in the Conservatory

The magical Cirque du Soleil's O

Bellagio, Las Vegas Strip

And the Bellagio fountains, my favorite stop along the Strip

Foodie Interlude: Las Vegas

'The artistic genius of Chef, Jean-Philippe Maury is displayed daily at Las Vegas' first truly European-style pastry shop.'

 Afternoon bliss while walking around the gorgeous Bellagio Hotel, people watching and a delicious sorbet.

Shawni sent me a Facebook link for the best burgers in each state and the lister in me got happy - so collecting burgers now.

The Nevada pick was Gordon Ramsey's BurGR on the Las Vegas Strip and specifically The Hog Burger. After the fabulous Cirque du Soleil's O at the Bellagio we walked across to Planet Hollywood, queued for half an hour, then devoured this burger. Best burger of the trip by far.

From the website: 
Already receiving rave reviews, the Hog Burger at Gordon Ramsay BurGR features a special grind Mangalista patty, perfectly grilled over oak, apple and alder woods, basted with maple butter and served with melted English sharp cheddar and arugula on a signature Brioche bun made fresh daily and topped with black and white sesame seeds.

Death Valley National Park, California

No research prepared me for Death Valley.

The access through the passes falling into the desolate vast valleys below sea level are remarkable drives.

The scenic beauty hits you around every bend. 

We could not get enough and have dropped in lots of photos to share this fantastic day with us.

Pass on the Golf! temperatures getting to 120 degrees F!

Death Valley National Park: Artist Drive

Artist Drive, Death Valley National Park 

The temperature kept leaping up as we drove along the Artist Drive. We were stunned by the spectacular color in the rock formation. Greens, pinks, purples, mustards, blacks, browns, blues.

Beyond belief. 

A wondrous place.