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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Night shoot Down Town Los Angeles

We did a night shoot in Down Town Los Angeles.

We did it because it was the last night for Filip Grossard in LA.
During his road trip through California he met some guys, who wanted to show us some good spots in LA to take some nice pictures.
AND INDEED, they knew where to go!!

Here’s the result:

Immediately after work we went to Down Town LA, so we could still see the sunset.

Taking pictures during sunset
Taking pictures during sunset
Skyscrapers
Skyscrapers
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles

But because of the LA traffic, we couldn’t see much of the sunset anymore.
So we had to take all the pictures at “nightlight”.

In the middle of the road
In the middle of the road

Because we had to wait for the friends of Filip to arrive, we searched something to eat.
And like always, we couldn’t decide, so we used Yelp to pick our restaurant.
This was the location Yelp Advised :D.

The food wasn’t bad, but the accommodation itself was a little weird, especially the hyper active waitress.
She was jumping around when we ordered, and used A LOT of hand expressions to explain all the kinds of dishes.

Having dinner in a weird place
Having dinner in a weird place

After dinner, we went to the US Bank tower, because we agreed on meeting the other guys there.

US Bank Tower
US Bank Tower

Because we had to wait for several hours, we played with our camera settings, took some pictures
had some recaps about some great nights and laughed a lot.

Playing with the settings
Playing with the settings
Water pressure
Water pressure

Then the friends of Filip arrived.
Really nice guys and they advised us, to climb onto the roof of the Millennium Biltmore hotel.
Because it was a nice old hotel, it was still possible to use the fire stairs to get onto the roof of the hotel.

The hallway in the millennium biltmore hotel
The hallway in the millennium biltmore hotel
Reception of the millennium biltmore hotel
Reception of the millennium biltmore hotel
Bar of the millennium biltmore hotel
Bar of the millennium biltmore hotel

Once arrived on the roof, the views were breathtaking!!!
You where still between some other skyscrapers but high in the sky :).

To give you an impression, where we took pictures, I added a photo from Google Earth.

Roof Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Roof Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles

Here are some of the pictures, I took on the roof.

On the edge
On the edge
Park
Park
Skyscrapers
Skyscrapers
Standing on the edge
Standing on the edge
What a view
What a view
Lying down on the rooftop to take pictures
Lying down on the rooftop to take pictures
Skyscrapers
Skyscrapers
Rooftop vieuws
Rooftop vieuws

Running and climbing ladders.
Trying not to get caught, on the security camera’s.

On the roof of the millennium biltmore hotel
On the roof of the millennium biltmore hotel
On the roof of the millennium biltmore hotel
On the roof of the millennium biltmore hotel

If we just went to that bar to take some pictures, it would saved us from some crazy stunts.
But still, this was more exiting because it had the feeling of an adventure.
Getting in the hotel, getting to the top floor, take fire stairs, climbs ladders, not get caught on the security camera’s and so on.

Nice patio on the roof
Nice patio on the roof

 

After everybody, was satisfied with the pictures they made, we went to a bridge located over the highway.

Taking some pictures
Taking some pictures
Highway Down Town
Highway Down Town
Spectacular View
Spectacular View
In the middle of the highway
In the middle of the highway
Highway through Down Town
Highway through Down Town

After those pictures, we called it a night and drove back to Marina Del Rey.

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A Night out with Vlad

I went a night out with Vladimir Karetnikov, an affiliate from Adsimilis.

First I went to his apartment in Marina Del Rey, a beautiful place in Los Angeles.

We started of with some beers, but then I told him what I usually drank during my student years.
A great starter/aperitif, before you go to the clubs or bars.
Vodka – Champagne/Prosecco/Cava, in my opinion a great combination.

He gave it a try, and he liked it :).

Decks on the wall
Decks on the wall

After some drinks, Vlad showed me his view.
Damn if that was my view, I would constantly sit outside!!

Vlad's view
Vlad’s view

Then we went to a bar in Venice to have supper and some beers.

Beer tasting
Beer tasting

I think we were a little too early at the bar.
But we had a good time so we didn’t mind.

Calm before the storm
Calm before the storm

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