Visiting Grand Canyon West

After we left the Hoover Dam, drove for 2 hours,
we arrived at the west side of the Grand Canyon.

That’s the location of The Hualapai Tribe and Skywalk,
which is located outside of Grand Canyon National Park.

Because we spend a little too much time at the Hoover Dam,
it was a race against the clock again.

Normally we had a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon at 4PM.
But when we arrived at the desk, at 4.02PM they told us we were too late.

First I thought it was a joke,
but those Indians don’t joke about those kinds of things.

The only option we had left,
was to take a bus into the Grand Canyon.

They told us that there were no other options available anymore
too see it that day.

After that news I tried to stay optimistic
and bought 2 (in my opinion) heavily overprized bus tickets.

What a tourist trap!!

When you get on the bus,
they first take you to what they cal a “typical Indian Village”.

From the moment Marlise saw the village,she got really excited.
Doesn’t she look excited?

 

Happy Marlise
Happy Marlise

We got off the bus and spend some time in the village.

But it was sooo fake!!

Walking around in the Indian Village
Walking around in the Indian Village
Telegraph
Telegraph
Trading Post
Trading Post
Assay Office
Assay Office
The bank
The bank

I saw a mine and I thought you could enter it and have a look inside.

So I told Marlise let’s have a look inside and then we’ll leave this village.

Marlise told me that she was going to wait outside, because she wasn’t interested.

The mine
The mine

But when I entered the mine, I could immediately see it was just a decor.

That was quite disappointing!

Inside the mine
Inside the mine

But luckily, they also had some nice viewpoints.

Carriage
Carriage
What a view
What a view
Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon

So one tip, in case you ever take the bus tour in the Grand Canyon,
just skip this touristic stop!

After seeing all of this, we went back on the bus.
The Next stop was at the Grand Canyon, Eagle Point.

Eagle Point
Eagle Point

On next stop you have the possibility, to get on the Skywalk and look down in the Grand Canyon.
But you can’t take any pictures on the skywalk.

So the only possibility you have,
is to take pictures of the Grand Canyon, on the left side of the Skywalk.

The skywalk
The skywalk

 

The Skywalk
The Skywalk

But what an impressive view.
It looks surreal!

The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon

There are also some Indians doing there typical dances,
while they make special noises.

I don’t know how to describe it,
but I think you know which sound they produce.

Dancing Indian at The Grand Canyon
Dancing Indian at The Grand Canyon
Relaxing at The Grand Canyon
Relaxing at The Grand Canyon

Because we didn’t want to rush anymore,
we took the time to sit down and enjoy all of its beauty.

Relaxing at The Grand Canyon
Relaxing at The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon

On this stop you also have the possibility, to view different kinds of Indian tents, logdes and shacks.

Indian Shack
Indian Shack
Indian tent
Indian tent
A sweat
A sweat
Sweat lodge
Sweat lodge
Sweat lodge
Sweat lodge
Natural tent
Natural tent

While I was checking out all the tents lodges and shacks,
I saw another path to another viewpoint of the Grand Canyon.

My instinct told me to have a look over there,
so I walked towards it and check it out.

The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon Desert
The Grand Canyon Desert

But while I was making pictures over there,
Security almost immediately came over to tell me it wasn’t possible to walk there.

So I had to go back to the tourist part.

When I found Marlise again,
it was time for some “selfies” at the Grand Canyon.

Selfie time
Selfie time
Selfie time
Selfie time

After we took our desired pictures
and after we memorized that viewpoint of the Grand Canyon,
we took the bus again, to the last checkpoint.

It was another viewpoint over the Grand Canyon.

But I personally liked this viewpoint much more,
because there were several viewpoints of the Grand Canyon, instead of one like the previous stop.

The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon

Because we saw a big flat rock, it was time to strike a pose,
with the Grand Canyon on the background.

Strike a pose
Strike a pose
Colorado river
Colorado river
Colorado river
Colorado river

 

When you look down, into the grand canyon (4000 feet down)
it’s quite impressive.

DSC_0634

The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon

Here’s a picture of me taking a picture.

Taking pictures of the Grand Canyon
Taking pictures of the Grand Canyon
The Colorado River
The Colorado River

After a while, we decided to go.
So we looked one last time in the Grand Canyon, took one last pictures and left.

The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon

 

Because we saw enough of Las Vegas for one weekend,
and there was so much more, I wanted to show Marlise in LA,
I suggested to drive directly to Los Angeles from the Grand Canyon.

She liked the idea, so after 6 hours of driving,
we were back in Los Angeles.

Ready for a new excursion.

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Visiting the Hoover Dam

A new morning, a new day!

Because we were not sure if we would drive back to LA
after seeing the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon,
so we didn’t book an extra night in that hotel and we had to check out.

This time it was a quick check out, because you could do it over the TV.

TV Check-out
TV Check-out

After we checked-out, grabbed our luggage and drove to the Hoover Dam.

Before you can enter the Hoover Dam,
you have to go through a Police Check Point.

But I can’t understand why, b
ecause they don’t even look at you, they just give a signal/gesture you can drive along.

Once we were in, we saw the Hoover Dam and it’s quite an impressive dam!

The Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam

It’s huge and Vegas is almost completely relying on that dam, to get their power.

Electrical power station
Electrical power station
Hoover Dam Bridge
Hoover Dam Bridge

After we parked our car, some luxury cars were passing us.
I can admit the sound was awesome, because of the echo the dam created.

Sport cars at the Hoover Dam
Sport cars at the Hoover Dam

When the guy in the Lamborghini saw I was making pictures,
he gave me the thumbs up and made some extra noise.

Good guy in a Lamborghini
Good guy in a Lamborghini

After they passed us, we had a look at the Hoover Dam again and its surroundings.

The Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam

There are a lot of people trying to throw money in to the dam for good luck,

but a lot of the money doesn’t even get in to the water.

So it’s a funny sight too see it lying around on those rocks.

Good-luck Money
Good-luck Money

After that, we walked towards the Hoover Dam,
to have a look on both sides.

The Colorado River
The Colorado River
Looking down in the Hoover Dam
Looking down in the Hoover Dam

After an hour or more, we decided we also wanted to see it from the bridge.

So we had to drive towards an other parking, where you could take some stairs to get onto the bridge.

Once your parked and walked all the stairs,
the first thing you see, is that it is an Memorial Bridge.

Memorial Bridge
Memorial Bridge

After that you see, your going to enter Arizona, by walking over the bridge.
And of course if you walk the opposite way, back to the car, that you will enter Nevada.

Welcome to Nevada
Welcome to Nevada

Here I am, walking over the Hoover Dam Bridge.

Walking on the Hoover Dam Bridge
Walking on the Hoover Dam Bridge

Here it is, the view you’ll get, when you are in the middle of the bridge.

The view from the bridge over Hoover Dam
The view from the bridge over Hoover Dam

Once we had enough of the Hoover Dam,
we went to a viewpoint, to see the Colorado River.

The Colorado River
The Colorado River
Colorado River
Colorado River
Colorado River
Colorado River

After we had a late lunch with a view over the Colorade River,
it was time to continue our trip towards the Grand Canyon.

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