I never thought I would see the Grand Canyon

One of the natural wonders of the world 

It is the third largest canyon in the world

Its base is about 1/3 of the Earth's age 

Scientist's take an educated guess that it took 3- 6 million years to form 

At 446km long it is thought to be carved by the Colorado River 

3028 million litres of water flow through it every year

It is 548m wide at its narrowest and 29km at its widest

On average its only 16km from rim to rim

It is essentially tilted with the Northern Rim being higher than the Southern Rim. 

But beyond all of these facts the Grand Canyon when standing looking out over it 

stretches out so far that even the imagination wonders if it realises how big it really is 

or how many mysteries these rocks capturing a timeline of the Earth's history could be holding. 

Some times it is hard to believe that you are doing things that you only ever dreamt about doing. I never thought I would see the Grand Canyon. It was just one of the many places and things on my bucket list, but not only have I biked along parts of the rim of the Grand Canyon but I even did a helicopter ride over it.

It was one of the ME Time Optionals on the Contiki Holidays tour that I did and it was the one that I was most looking forward too.  It did not disappoint! I was blown away by its sheer size, colour and ability to appear barren when in fact on the base it is very much alive.

I got to sit on the edge and look out over a natural wonder of this world. I even had to pinch myself to make sure it was real. Just goes to show sometimes you do get to do the things you never thought you would. 

Dawn is coming so open your eyes in the Monument Valley

The three Mittens in Monument Valley are part of the Colorado Plateau and is located on the Arizona-Utah state line. The valley lies within the Navajo Nation Reservation. 

Ever been somewhere that instantly reminds you of lyrics to a song? Well that is what happened to me when I visited Monument Valley. For those that know me this won't be strange as you have no doubt been around when something you have said has sparked me to start singing some lyrics from a song, in a not at all good singing voice.

Monument Valley with is magnificently red and orange coloured soil and rocks instantly had me humbling this little gem called Stay Alive by Jose Gonzalez. If you have never heard the song give it a try because in the words of Jose the dawn is coming so open your eyes and look into the sun as a new days rise!

There's a rhythm in rush these days 

Where the lights don't move and the colours don't fade 

Leaves you empty with nothing but dreams 

In a world gone shallow 

In a world gone mean 

Sometimes there's things a man cannot know 

Gears won't turn and the leaves won't grow 

There's no place to run and no gasoline 

Engine won't turn 

And the train won't leave 

Engine won't turn 

And the train won't leave 

I will stay with you tonight 

Hold you close till the morning light 

In the morning watch a new day rise 

We'll do whatever just to stay alive 

We'll do whatever just to stay alive 

Well the way I feel is the way I write 

It isn't like the thoughts of the man who lies 

There is a truth and it's on our side 

Dawn is coming 

Open your eyes 

Look into the sun as the new days rise 

And I will wait for you tonight 

You're here forever and you're by my side 

I've been waiting all my life 

To feel your heart as it's keeping time 

We'll do whatever just to stay alive 

Dawn is coming 

Open your eyes 

Dawn is coming 

Open your eyes 

Dawn is coming 

Open your eyes 

Dawn is coming 

Open your eyes 

Look into the sun as the new days rise 

There's a rhythm in rush these days 

Where the lights don't move and the colours don't fade

Leave you empty with nothing but dreams

In a world gone shallow

In a world gone mean 

But there is a truth and it's on our side 

Dawn is coming open your eyes

Look into the sun as a new days rise 

Up, UP and AWAY!!

Never, ever, ever say no to a hot air balloon ride. Why would you? 

At the end of last year I made the trip across the Atlantic Ocean to a not so little country called the United States of America. Bound for a Contiki Holidays tour called the Grand Southern. The tour was going to go for 26 days starting in Los Angeles and ending in the big apple, New York city.

I have travelled quite a lot over the last few years (and that is definitely putting it mildly) but I really didn't know what to expect from the USA. It had been a while since I had been travelling in a country where they actually spoke English.

What did I find? Well I was amazed at the diversity of the USA. It was one of the things that I loved the most. Not only did the landscape change but the people completely changed with it. It was like you were crossing into different countries every time you entered a different state.

Over the next few weeks I am going to be posting some of my favourite photos and memories from the trip. Please excuse the fact that they won't be in any order besides which photos I wanted to go through first :)

Hot air ballooning was one of the best things that I did in the USA. It was on our last morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and those of us doing the ballooning had to get up very early even before the sun to get picked up and taken out to a big open area where we watched as our balloons began to be put up. Growing like something straight out of Alice in Wonderland the balloon or should I say envelope (yes no lies that is the proper name for the big bag that traps the hot air) rose into the dusk air. The gondola or wicker basket was made ready and we were asked to jump in...a leap of faith on our part that all was good and that this the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology was going to live up to its reputation.

And man did it ever! We slowly started ascending into the just starting to lighten sky. The sun rounded and rose from behind the foothills of the Sandia Mountains and coated the trees and us in the beautiful morning light filled with golden hues. If there is ever a good time to go on a hot air balloon ride here I would highly recommend October time as it is autumn and all the trees are showing off their best yellows, oranges, reds and greens. Add that golden morning light and you have pure visual magic.

Cruising over Albuquerque with its exotic river the Rio Grande (so exotic because like the Nile it flows through a desert) below and watching the town awaken was a fantastic way to spend my last day there and if ever someone offers me a hot air balloon ride I will never, ever, ever say no.