Yes - we really love Utah
Following in the trailblazing footsteps of Falstaff and fingeek, I just got back from a wonderful trip to southwest Utah. Traveling within the US reminds me each time how beautiful and geographically diverse this country is - while I wouldn’t live in any place other than a big city, there’s nothing like visiting a state where you can see a fiery red canyon (Bryce) within a 100 miles of a serene yet majestic national park (Zion). Other key learnings from the trip:
- Do not have a double shot capuccino at 11pm, even if the barista adds the second shot for free (my charm and sex appeal at work yet again). You will regret it, and so will those you are sharing a room with, assuming you’re not more considerate than I am.
- In Las Vegas, there is a hotel (just one, I believe) without any neon lights whatsoever. While you will feel suitably proud for finding that one hotel, you might be a little upset by the fact that it looks like a cross between a mansion from a ghost story and a middle-eastern harem. Not to mention the fact that they have a replica of the Scream thrown next to a Monet … apart from the couple of thousand other art replicas thrown together on the walls and the ceilings.
- Do not rent a convertible Jeep Wrangler. When they say ‘convertible’, they mean you need only an hour to disassemble and ‘convert’ it. Not only does it look suitably macho, it actually requires you to be macho enough to do the said task.
- Do not be snobbish about restaurants in small towns. Discovered this amazing little cafe in a town called Kanab, UT - topped off a day spent hiking with a nice filet mignon and a slice of double chocolate cake.
- Plan a little - if you do, you could stay in a park lodge and catch a supposedly amazing astronomy lecture, as opposed to staying in yet another Best Western. Do this even if you think your travel companion is more of a control freak than you are, and you expect him to take care of things that need to be taken care of.
- When a hike has a certain elevation, check to see how many times you cover it - did a hike in Bryce where we touched the bottom of the canyon some three times - so though the map said it involved climbing 900 feet, it neglected to mention you were going to climb 900 feet 3 times.
- If you like nice restaurants, remember that they won’t like you as much if you intend to walk in wearing shorts and hiking boots - getting some nice sushi at the Bellagio looked like it would have been an embarassing experience - we didn’t want to confirm that, so didn’t try.
- Soak in the beauty … and enjoy!!!
Will put up pics when I figure out how.
btw, a warning to my dear friends - any inappropriate comments will be censored 
Links:
Interesting how he goes from being person you’re sharing room with to travelling companion to simply a part of ‘we’. So happy for you.
(Will not make jokes about a) middle-eastern harems b) people regretting keeping you awake at night - don’t want to be censored)
Also typical - you go to one of the most beautiful parts of the country and 37.5% of your comments are about food / beverages / eating places; another 25% are about hotels and another 12.5% are about cars. Sigh!
Comment by The Beard of Avon — September 30, 2005 @ 11:54 am
:)
!
this reminds me of a comment some tortured soul made after road-tripping with our lady last year…
“when everyone else was asking “where are we going next?”, MR was
asking “where are we eating next?”"
in this ever changing world, atleast smthngs a constant eh
Comment by clueless — September 30, 2005 @ 4:48 pm
Beard - Right, can’t you see the relationship moving forward at a blistering pace
Also, don’t really know how to describe the beauty of the place - think pics will be more efficient. Plus, thought the link would help. I’m all about being practical…
Clueless - now now, don’t you go torturing my friends
Comment by Administrator — September 30, 2005 @ 5:34 pm
Yes. On the last road trip, the Lady was all about food. Have breakfast at I-Hop and by the time we were back in the car, the lady was talking about food. Between that, and snuggling up to Mr. ‘Ooh I love him, He’s an old movie companion of mine’, she hardly had time to do anything else.
Comment by Flord of the lies — September 30, 2005 @ 9:11 pm
hmm … re ‘do anything else’ - glad you’re so sure … thought you would make insinuations about my activities with said movie companion .. esp given your ideas on the purpose of movie watching
And at least I wasn’t picky (about the food) …
Comment by Administrator — September 30, 2005 @ 10:42 pm
well, i know you are not picky, my dear. as long as its edible, you will eat it, no?
But but.. this coming from someone who happily eats grits at a Jack in the Box, is not saying much.
Comment by Flord of the lies — September 30, 2005 @ 11:02 pm
yuck yuck … I think where we differ is our definitions of edible …
Comment by Administrator — September 30, 2005 @ 11:09 pm
Flord: I think you exaggerate. I personally would not go so far as to call her a Lady.
Am trying to decide which is worse - eating grits or watching movies with the companion in question. On the whole I think I’d prefer grits. It’s dog puke, but at least it doesn’t follow you around and insist on making conversation about its (supposed) prowess with women.
Comment by The Beard of Avon — October 1, 2005 @ 2:20 am
your movie-lover is an even bigger loser because he lies. no idea why, but on this matter i trust ’someone’, and not your movie lover.
Comment by Thou shalt burn in Hell — October 1, 2005 @ 5:09 am