Joshua Tree National Park June 06

the lobby


flowery cactus


Joshua Tree


commercial?


Can you spot the rabbit?


Speed limit 55 mph Yeaaah right

How do you like your waterfalls?

No, it’s not another cocktail. I am talking about the river flows over the step of rocks. At first place I had never thought they come in one shape and size, but the more I visited the more I realized that human intervention can have a big effect in the experience of visiting one.

If you ask me I like them raw :-)



From top left: Niagara, Yosemite, btw Rudy Mount and Yellowstone, Yellowstone, Jenny lake, Mexico close to Huatulco

City hoping or Cruising the fields?

You can do both in East Canada. Actually you have to do both in East Canada if you are like me with a sensitive nose for the smell of the airplane's close cabin. On the other hand if you enjoy driving through a constantly changing scenery (rich in vegetation) or clubbing with one of the most laid back nations of the northern hemisphere, then pack your hiking gear & a set of clothes for a night out and off you go. If your starting point is Boston then greyhound is your only option as Amtrak is not running to Montreal.

The following itinerary is not worth more than 5days unless you want to add Quebec city and Halifax.

From Boston to Montreal - You will fall in love with nature. Passing through the sparsely populated New Hampshire and Vermont you'll see numerous different trees, rivers and the cows producing the milk for Ben and Jerry's. Once you get in Canada a 3 meters tall wave of calmness will hit you. There isn't that many rivers and thus less flora. Houses are far from each other and most of them have a swimming pool in the back yard!


Montreal - The city has a very strong French character, 7 museums which I would highly advise in NOT to visit, tones of bars carrying something from the early 90's (the French early 90's), 3 after hour clubs (not serving booze) and immigrants from the Caribbean, Africa, Greece, Italy each of them creating a small neighborhood. In the city you can get easily access to w**d, strip clubs and prostit** all looking of low quality. People will speak to you in French for the first minute of each conversation indifferent of what language you speak to them. For some reason I didn't find that rude at all. At the moment it seemed normal; probably because I knew that they would soon switch to English and be helpful.

Toronto - Here you can expect more class. The financial capital of Canada is cleaner, more interesting architectural-wise, with a fantastic nightlife scene and an improvising club called "second city" (close to CN tower) which will make you laugh your socks off.

Niagara Falls - Not far from Toronto, NF is worth visiting (especially from the Canadian side which provides a better view) maybe for an overnight stay. The Hard Rock café, the casinos, the tours to the falls and the butterfly conservatory will fill a day's schedule.

You are visiting San Francisco

it's mid-day and the sun is dazzling above your head. Feels as if it's been following you for the last two blocks; but who cares? The city's chilled out vibe has overwhelmed you. It may be the 5th time you are in the city and you've already been to Alcatraz, the rather small museum of African Diaspora www.moadsf.org and crossed the Golden Gate bridge in a cabriolet but still,... something's telling you San Fran's got another hidden gem waiting for you to discover. At the moment though all you care is where you can have lunch. The Northern beach with the posh Italian district is probably far from where you are and at least one hilltop away to hike. What about Chinatown?

From Seattle all the way down route 99 to San Diego generations after generations of Asians have arrived creating small communities in most major cities. Well in San Fran they probably took a step further by establishing their own gangs on the west end; but as you are hungry at the moment all you care about is a decent place to eat not really caring what side-hobbies the restaurant owner may have. Your two options sit next two each other. "House of Nanking" & "Chef Jia" on Kearuy st near the intersection with Pacific Ave. The former having been voted for a sequel of years as THE place to eat Chinese food in the city is a bit more pricey and the atmosphere a bit more hippie. If you choose the later you won't be let down either; the plates are probably not of porcelain but the food will leave you wondering how much better can the food be next door and people have been queuing for half an hour.

The Grand Circle

One evening as the sun went down and the jungle fire was burning - Down the track came a hobo hiking and he said boys I'm not turning - I'm headin for a land that's far away beside the crystal fountains - So come with me we'll go and see the ... Grand Circle

While Harry McClintock was heading for the Big Rock Candy Mountains, we shall try to make our way from San Fran down to L.A. and from there to the Grand Circle with an overnight stop in Vegas.

http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/grandcircle.htm

San Fran

Santa Cruz - Even though the center of the city is very close to the beach I'd rather spend my time around the funfair and the pier. With a a bit of luck you'll come across sea whales, surfers and snow plover birds. Before you leave read the plates at the entrance of the beach advising you what you are not allowed to do...

Monterrey - The aquarium there is really impressive but if you are not into watching enslaved animals then probably there isn't much for you there.

Santa Barbara - Even if you were not a fan of Baywatch, Santa Barbara is still an interesting small town to visit. Around the shopping center you can find places to dine. I didn't manage to discover much of the night life there but there might be more than meets the eye.

Joshua Tree national Park - There you can expect Big rocks (with smooth surfaces), Cactus, Joshua trees, Snakes & Scorpios (if you are sweet-blooded)

Mitchell Caverns - The place (like many others mentioned in this trip) is related to the Indian tribes. At least that's what we were told :-)

Las Vegas -

Bright light city gonna set my soul
Gonna set my soul on fire
Got a whole lot of money thats ready to burn,
So get those stakes up higher
Theres a thousand pretty women waitin out there
And theyre all livin devil may care
And Im just the devil with love to spare
Viva las vegas, viva las vegas


Zion National Park - You can choose between three trails with Angel's Landing the toughest and thus the most rewarding one. When you are back down you can jump in the river to cool your legs.

Bryce Canyon - You are still in Utah but here the scenery resembles more of a desert. the trails here are easy enough to do in slip-flops!

Arches National Park - The place was inhabited by native Americans for years. The trails are easy to hike.

Monument Valley - If in the previous stops you were just hearing about the Indians here you will feel their presence. The energy of the area is amazing while the red rocks make it one of the most scenic place I've ever been.

Grand Canyon - I'll try not to discourage you from going there but if you've been to all the previous places mentioned the only thing that Grand Canyon has to offer is the size. Well, if size matters then Grand Canyon is big enough to worth a visit. Half way down are the Indian gardens. That's almost 4.5 khm and you can expect water every 1.5 khm. At the Indian gardens you can camp if you booked months in advance a spot. the remaining of the trail to the bottom is with no access to water. I went all the way down and up on the same day (loaded with enough things to camp) even though the rangers advise visitors against that. I am proud I made it but still consider Grand Canyon not that great :-). There is also the 3 day hiking option where you enter the canyon from one end and exit the other.

From Grand Canyon you should be able to get back to San Fran within a day and a half. Or maybe a bit more if Vegas has another big show on.

When are the saints go marching in?

According to Louis Armstrong "when the sun refuse to shine". In New Orleans though the sun is a common visitor.

Arriving a week after the Mardi Gras, the city was still recovering from the 2005 Celebrations. You could see the colorful beads hanging from fences, or thrown in the corners of Bourbon St. The women were tired to raise their sleeveless shirts for another set of beads and the men content from having seen so many breasts would take it easy in one of the numerous bars of the city. Well at least this was the case in the french quarter. I trust you know already that city of New Orleans is split in two quarters, the French (the touristic) and the American (the rough).

On the left at bar Utopia minutes before the AA meeting.





So what is the city's color? What color do the 100$ chips have in Harrah's casino? Purple of course from the LSU Tigers.

As for bar suggestions don't expect any. The night we went to Snug Harbor two of the guys fell asleep during the performance (for a good reason).



We are traveling in the footsteps
Of those who've gone before
But we'll all be reunited (but if we stand reunited)
On a new and sunlit shore (then a new world is in store)

1896 by Katharine Purvis (lyrics) and James Milton Black (music)

on a Sunday night

Let's hope that the coming week will help us see the paths of glory. Till then have a good time.

On the picture I am on Angel's Landing trail (June 2006)