Day Five - Death Valley/Vegas

Day five – 16th May - Feeling Hot Hot Hot 

PHEW. I think I’m in love with aircon. My dearly beloved readers, if you’re going through death valley stock up a cooler with water because it’s drier than smoke in Death Valley, and if you can put your paws on that instant water cool spray, bring it with you. If you want to climb the dunes wear proper SHOES none of that flipflop nonsense because your feet will BURN from the sands if you’re not careful. Maggie had a stroke of genius and secreted a water melon for us for lunch (food won’t occur to you unless it’s waterbased out there) which seemed a mini-miracle when it was revealed to us. Best watermelon I’ve ever had. We took photos, saw the salt flats then sped towards the cool, wonderful Las Vegas strip.

Staying in the Stratosphere, I’m determined to do the Sky Jump from the top of the building. It’s a controlled jump instead of a bungee but it gives you a great view of the strip and everyone I know recommends it. It seems I’m the only keen bean though so it’s time to put these boys to shame! It’s also Tom’s Birthday today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!!! He turned 26 and what better place to have a birthday than Vegas!

Having arrived, we had the biggest buffet (which for me was just wonderful sushi and tonnes of fish) at the Rio Hotel, we then unloaded, spent a good fourty-five minutes checking-in and then it was hot, lovely showers, nice clothes and a brilliant Party Bus Tour of Vegas. We hit the Freemont Street, had birthday shots with the birthday boy (12 for price of 5!!), took obnoxious photos by the Vegas Sign and then headed for The Bellagio for the 11.55 Fountain Show. It was so much fun! Liam set the trend making the most of the stripper poles, Tom finding joy in the ice buckets, Maggie playing a little too much with the music system (bring your own ipod if you want your own music!!) – even Janice started her own dance off with Jon!

The Bellagio really is like you see in Oceans Eleven and we attempted to figure out who was who but everyone wanted the main characters or the British explosives expert. Decorated like the Ritz and with the fountain show over, we trawled along the Strip and ended up in The Cosmopolitan. For those of you that know The Crazy Bear in Amersham (or Covent Garden) then you’ll have a vague idea of what this hotel is like – over the top lights and wide leather sofas although of course distinguished by the repeated bing bing bing of casino bells.

Robert won nearly $200, I put my paws on $40 and most of the others lost-some-won-some at roulette. It turns out I do owe that nice fellow who sat next to me on the LAS-San Fran flight for teaching me a few tricks at blackjack. On the other hand, Maggie and I were increasingly merry and the boys were wonderfully funny and I think everyone had fun whether it was winning or losing. Tomorrow I gamble my life at 10pm for the skyjump but ciao for now - it's time to hit the floor once more.

Je serai poète et toi poésie, 
SCRIBBLER

Day Four - Bishop

Day Four - May 15th - Water, Water, Water and Bishop

Yes we jumped into the glacial Tenaya lake 

Hello my brilliant compadres! If you’re just joining in on the adventure then welcome! If you’re a loyalist then I hope you realise how exciting it is to finally have reached Bishop.

Bishop is a straight drive down the Tioga Pass from our campsite in Yosemite. You actually drive through the parkland and high into the mountains when you take the Tioga Pass. As you rise along the track, you ears pop and that odd feeling in your head accentuates the sudden sense of space and distance between yourself and the natural world around you. Maggie was pretty much bouncing in her seat with excitement as she described the lakes we were going to pass and the Hot Springs that would meet us at the end.

Driving the roads that coil about the mountainsides, we could see snow banks against the spring greens and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to be astonished by the fact that it could be so cold when yesterday we were just hiking in shorts and t-shirts. In fact from what I can tell most of us are still wearing just shorts and tshirts.

So on the road the jokes have begun, I guess we’re settling into a rhythm! Essentially, our aussie (John) is a bit of a pun master (they call him the mushroom because he’s a fun-gi) and he saw opportunity in the name of Hugh. Hugh let the dogs out. Hugh’s been framed. Hughmongous etc etc. There’s also the hilarity of Robert’s continued search for a comb. We’ll have to buy him one somewhere. The characters of this trip are certainly coming to life and I’m glad we’ve skipped over the awkwardness that could ensue. The boys are, of course, already cracking comments about their ‘frustration’ and Angela’s vehemently trying to resist becoming ‘Ange’. Plus we’re learning a bit more about each other. Adam works in insurance but he used to do security at Gatwick. Robert’s a 22 year old creative writing student from Leicester and physically cannot talk loudly. Tom’s waiting for the penny to drop before he makes any plans to settle into a job but is really incredibly passionate about information (by that I mean he likes to know ‘why’ or ‘what’ about things). Liam’s actually not the mild-mannered chap he initially appeared but a little bit of a lad. I’ll add them to a character list soon.

Anyway, we reached the first lake we came to was Tenaya. With snow drifts on its banks the boys all wimped about of jumping in leaving Maggie and I to do the honours. Diving into the freezing water from a flat rock, we shrieked in the water then almost flew out. It was icy. Unbelievably frozen and cold – if anything lives in there it’s a determined sob. Yet the tingling alive energy that overwhelmed us afterwards was incredible. We were fully awake and vibrant and couldn’t stop giggling even as we shivered in the nippy breeze. Of  course, after sitting in our damp clothes in the bus we were slightly less exuberant but we had Mono Lake to look forward to.

Mono Lake is a huge salt lake that’s supposedly really good for your skin and hair. Telling us about it, Maggie was telling us about how you cannot sink in the water because it’s so intensely salty and when you come out of the water your skin turns a strange shade of white for the same reason. The lake has an interesting background – when Vegas was being built, they siphoned off a lot of the water so it rapidly began to diminish. Now, they’re trying to restore the lake to nearly its old levels but it still has aways to go. When we arrived, everyone was ready to run in, only it was still pretty rocky and cold so we more like staggered in, floundered and then sprinted out. Liam managed to make a brilliant video with my own aborted entry attempt. Tom and Adam rumbled in the water before they fled – only Jon was really brave enough to go all the way in.

Now, with all of us quivering in the cold we trekked the last little bit to Bishop. After sausages and buns and ice cream for dinner, it was time for the Keogh Hot Springs – the definite highlight of the day!! Dark, perfectly warm, reed-rounded water, a frog muttering nearby, the stars dazzling overhead. It was wonderful. We ‘re pddling, sinking into the water, not sure what to make of the brush and push of small fish against our bodies when there’s mention of eels and leeches and snakes and something slithered across the backs of our legs. Screaming, Angela and I clutch at each other only... what’s this? Paul has snapped off a five foot branch and is strategically stroking the ankles and calves of his victims. He got us good.

As I finish this off, we're curled up around the campfire, planning on sleeping outside so we can stargaze. I’m in as many layers as I can possibly wear because my sleepingbag has turned out to be a pathetic light thing that’s suitable for 55F and no lower. It’s ok though because we’re all in a bundle and the smoke smell is lovely wafting across us with a memory of heat. 

Je serai poète et toi poésie, 
SCRIBBLER

Day Three - Climbing the Mountain

Day three – 14^th May – Climbing the Mountain

Good morning wonderful readers! Sorry for the delay but as you probably can figure out, there's limited wifi when you're crossing the desert. Anyway, this post was written just after we left our first big stop and my god, I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired and so happy at the same time. 

I feel like I conquered the world today and maybe saw why people like the teleological argument so much. Yosemite’s landscape is a myriad of greens with the soft smell of damp and grass as you hike the trails. Dappling the ground, the sun blinks between the leaves and casts luminescent shadows on the grey-boulder rocks. They’re as big as me, bigger even and we clambered up and down them for twenty minutes for the view (and photos of course!) Maggie’s enthusiasm was catching and we all found ourselves startling at the natural beauty all around us.

I could split the experience into three sections – up to the bridge where we first saw the Vernall Falls; up to the top of Vernall Falls and then up to Nevada Falls. Trekking to the Bridge wasn’t hard at all, steep but not too much so, the trail lead you round the edge of the mountain, opening up across the valley and hinting at the things to come. Somehow, because of the sheer enormity of the view, it’s almost impossible to take it what you’re seeing. The world around you hardly seems tangible, becoming 2-D at times as your brain can’t process how high or how low or how huge the things around you are. Then you begin the route to the top of Vernall.

This was the most incredible thing I’ve done in a very very very long time. Pacing it up the mountain, Tom and I took the lead at first (well, behind Paul who launched into aggressive climbers mode before we could blink) and we took the Summer Path, definitely the one I would recommend to anyone else wanting to do this route. Also known as the John Muir Mist Trail, the route twists along the side of the waterfall itself. It was at this point that I think we all felt a touch of something extraordinary. Spritzing from the waterfall itself, a rush of coolness, the breath of a deity flushing round the edge of the rock. Water trickled down the stone trail as it turned into loosely designed steps. Then suddenly, much to our bemused amusement we see people donning brightly coloured ponchos as they pause on the side before rounding the next bend. As we followed we quickly realised why. The vague mist was now a full shower of shimmering water. Rainbows curved from one side to the other: double complete rainbow turning into a circular band of paints. Soaked and smiling we continued the increasingly strenuous ascent. Rising, rising up to the very summit and finally bursting out of the silvery mist into the bright morning sun. It was ten thirty and we were immersed in a scenery that took our breath away.

When you look out across the Vernall Falls, you can see the sprawl of forest, the rocky peaks, the effects of tectonic movement. So, of course, with hearts pounding with electric exuberance we decide to go even higher, to make our way to the highest point below Half Dome.

I won’t lie and say that the climb to Nevada Falls was as easy/moderate a climb as the one to Vernall.  In fact all of us struggled except Jordan who bounded like a mountain goat up the path. For the rest of us, the route was tough – steep and constant, zig-zagging at almost vertical inclines at points. I don’t know how Robert did it in jeans but some how he and I were next behind Jordan with John following with Liam and then Tom and Adam bringing up the end. The top is a flat rock. Barren and golden brown, you can bask like a snake in the sun up there, watching for bluejays and listening to the roaring river.

It was the noise that made everything seem so vital: that bursting, crashing, crushing, snarling waterfall and the constant babbling, bubbling, rushing river above and below. There’s nothing quite like it.

I don’t quite know what else to say – a lot of the experience here is completely ineluctable. You’d need to go Joyce to capture all the running strands of my thoughts as I muse on what we did. Beautiful and exhausting, well worth it and I’d recommend it to anyone and everyone who has a little determination to clamber to the top. 

THINGS TO DO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CLIMB:

1. You can actually ride a mule to the top of the mountian if you're feeling sore or just not inclined to do it yourself. You can't do the Mist Trail but you can go up the Winter Trail to the top of Nevada Falls.
2. There's Rafting! If I'd had more time the water looks incredible here. 
3. Bicycles - you can take out a bike for $5/hr and cycle round the lower lakes and even do some of the non-uphill routes down at the base, including one to the base of Yosemite Falls.
4. The Curry Village is at the bottom of the Mist Trail (shuttle stop 13b, 14 or 20 will drop you here if you're parked elsewhere) and it's complete with a coffee shop, ice cream option, pizza, Mexican restaurent and other eateries. It's also easy enough to find the tourist information station from here. Plus there's a nifty documentary about the history of Yosemite and the National Park system here. 
5. The Lodge and The Awahane Hotel are also very beautiful. You can stay there all year round and we even saw some almost-tame deer stalking around the grounds.

The area is so wonderful and you could definitely spend weeks, months, years, exploring its forests and climbing the mountains. Remember, you need a permit if you're an avid hiker and want to go all the way to Half Dome. But if you don't see yourself as the next John Muir or Ansel Adams then don't worry - you can enjoy the outstanding natural beauty without climbing to the highest peaks.

Je serai poète et toi poésie,

SCRIBBLER

Day Two - Off to Yosemite

Day two – 13^th May -  Off to Yosemite

The adventure begins properly today – after a whirlwind tour of San Fran with the group (classic photo opportunities of course) and then it was off and away to go to Yosemite (YO-SEM-IT-EE not YOZ-I-MITE). We travelled the four hours from San Fran to our campsite just outside the official National Park. It was lovely albeit a hard, rocky, dusty ground to pitch up on. However, the scenery around us was exquisite. Mountains surround us, pine forest and rivers. Maggie cooked dinner for us when we arrived and we all puttered about doing round about things – playing pool (which I suck at by the way) and dipping our toes in the water.

Dinner was hilarious.

There were several benches around our campground when we arrived and as we set up it was absolutely fine, pulling two together so we could all sit together. Only, one bench didn’t like it when one person sat down without anyone else to balance out the other side. So, of course, after failing to learn our lesson the first time, we managed to upturn the thing four times (meaning my wine was pretty much nourishing the ground rather than me and I’m fairly certain the boys lost a beer or two.

Not a lot to do though, even though seeing the stars like this is wonderful and the rush of the nearby river lulls you into a sense of calm. This is nice, even though the ground is hard as anything and the mats do little to help.

Tomorrow we’re hiking up to the Vernall Falls (3miles) and then maybe up to the top of Nevada Falls (7hours). I’m a little concerned that I’m not as fit as I was but I’m determined to do this. It’s going to be great!

Je serai poète et toi poésie,
SCRIBBLER

Day One - San Francisco

Day one – 12^th May – San Francisco

Today I moved from the USAhostel round the corner to the Adante Hotel. It was literally down Post Street, turn right, down the hill and then up on Geary St. The Adante is a funny little place with a dinky Chinese man on the checkin. His English is dubious but his smile is polite and he gave me a ticket to put my overly heavy bag into the luggage room. I’ll finally be meeting people tonight after three days mooching around the city. I thought I’d be more nervous, this is a huge trip and I’m on my own but I’m not really. The sun is so bright and that makes me happy.

San Francisco is a funny city. With the steep hills and plush green squares, there’s something Mediterranean about the way its set up: like one of the coastal ports along the south of France or Corsica. You could call it beautiful – it’s bright sun right now but the Pacific brings a cool breeze ashore to swirl through the buildings. However, there’s also a seedy underbelly to the place: hundreds of homeless trawling for any small favour the unsuspecting tourist will give them. Some of them are very funny – there’s a guy that’s made a drum kit out of variously sized bins and bottles (he’s really very good!) and there are singers/other street performers. On the docks by Pier 39 there’s a guy in a faux leather jacket, jeans and shirt, his hair is long and dark brown and he’s wearing those sporty sunglasses that shimmer iridescently in the light. He holds a sign: not going to lie, I need a beer. We actually chipped into his fund. Yet some are incredibly rude – yelling and swearing at you when you pass by without giving them anything. A gap-toothed creature with ochre skin and scraggly, prematurely grey hair followed one girl I met in the hostel, calling her all sorts of horrible names because she walked on by without sparing him a glance. If you gave a dollar for every time you were stopped though, you’d lose as much as you do on a casino table in Vegas.

Saying that, I think San Fran could be my perfect city and if I could ever think to afford American health insurance I’d love to live there for a couple of years. It’s not too hot but it’s bright and for early May it’s exactly how we Brits want our summers to be. Furthermore, the ocean is right there, volcanic coastline transforming the landscape so that it recalls the BIVs. An eerie mist lingers over the natural harbour, making the Golden Gate and Bay bridges transform in ghostly apparitions at each end. The Rock sits in the middle, a dismal fortification in the middle of the riptide waters. Even when the wind is missing you can see the churning currents tugging at the surface.

Having met a fellow Brit on my first day at the hostel (we bonded whilst waiting for the kettle to boil as we were the only two determined enough to tap toes for our tea), I’d spent the first day replacing the jeans I ripped whilst fence hoping in Carolina and the doing the touristy walk of the Piers. Leigh, Greg and I hopped onto a Street Car and clung desperately to the bars as we were propelled up the hills and ended up by the Ghirodelli factory.

Here are some tips:

1.       When riding the street car – take the red one (NOT the yellow) and it takes you on the more scenic route whilst also dropping you off right on the pier. If you take the yellow you end up on a shorter, less pretty tour and you still have to walk at the end to actually make it to the end. ALSO you want the red ticket not the yellow (it’s about $5 and so worth it).

2.       There are loads of hostels but USA was really great and well-worth the slightly more expensive price because you’re not in the Tenderloin and you’re really close to Union Square. Plus paid $40 less than for one night in adante over the three days I was there. There are cheaper ones but be careful they’re not in the slightly terrifying Tenderloin.

3.       No matter what people say – the Tenderloin IS scary, particularly if you’re a single traveller. You can walk from one end of the street to the other and go from lovely and populated and wealthy to poor, unclean and uncomfortable. Make sure you know where you should try to avoid – there are some good websites for this so google it before you leave.

And here are some places to see!

Lombard Street – it may not actually be the wiggliest road in America but it’s a pretty close second. The real crookedest road is in . This one however is very pretty deep greens and flowers and the prettiest houses. There was one I was just in love with – a gorgeous Carolina blue.

Pier 39 – it’s a hubbub of touristy things but you can find some great clam chowder in sourdough breadbowls (NOM!). There are seals and sea lions to see there too as long as you don’t mind the overwhelming smell of fish.

Johnny Rocket Diner – if you use the jukebox you might be in luck! The waiters/waitresses here dance and sing for you and the food isn’t bad either.

Alcatraz – It costs about $28 to go across including the ferry and all the tours once you’re on the island. Either book in advance or turn up for the 9.10am – you need to be there AT LEAST 30minutes before departure to complete security etc so realistically arrive around 820/30am if you haven’t a ticket in order to buy one. I was obsessed with the prison even before I arrived – it’s so strange and sinister and isolated. If you arrive in the morning you can do the garden tour (they tell you about all the plant life and the birds because it’s a national park remember not just a cold historical prison). I spent about three hours there wondering around and I’d definitely recommend the audio tour. The audio itself is the real voices of prisoners and guards that used to work/live on the island. Also on Fridays they have a special guest author – when I was there it was Ernie, a SF lawyer whose dad had worked on the island as a guard and was actually one of the eight hostages involved in the shooting. You can see the isolation cells, the D-Block high-security cells, of course you can walked down ‘seedy C-D street’. It was fascinating how they named the blocks to make it more like a home. There are also a number of really great views of the city from The Rock, as well as the Golden Gate Bridge.

Obviously The Golden Gate Bridge is a must see too and actually I loved the fact that it was so misty and grey when we went – the distance seemed exacerbated by the fog. It’s free too and it’s fun to walk out along the bridge to take a shot or two of the rest of the harbour.

There’s also a Segway Tour that I desperately wanted to do but t was fully booked by the time I called up. It’s $70 but you can go up and down the hills and see all the sights from the odd little machines. Admittedly having clung to the rail on the outside of a streetcar I was slightly nervous about trying the things but when in Rome.

Coit Tower is apparently incredible – you can pay $7 and climb to the top for a spectacular view – it comes highly recommended from John (to be introduced).

The Ghirodelli Factory does give out free chocolate but I’d recommend the Wattle Creek Winery’s Wine-tasting Bar in the lower square. When you walk up the stairs there’s a funny fellow who raps and plays the guitar for you, making up songs about what you’re wearing. Give him a dollar and he’ll keep going for a while about how you’re a ‘sweet (blond) angel’. The wine-tasting starts at $10 for the Central Menu and $15 for the Sonoma Menu. If I remember rightly we actually preferred the drier, less expensive menu but the experience with Leigh was great!!

Anyway, that was San Fran – I’ve now met up with the crew and after a delayed beginning (our CEO was late due to trailer issues) we went out to a diner (Louis?) which was great fun. The group is mostly guys and mostly single traveller Brits. There’s Jon and Paul who are Aussies (John is teaching at a summer camp near NY afterwards and Paul is about to retire). Janice, my Canadian room-mate who has family in Wales. There’s Hugh and Angela, a married couple from London and then there’s Tom, Adam, Liam, Jordan and Robert. At first I thought Tom/Adam were travelling together because they seemed to know each other and they’re both skipping out at NOLA but they’re not. Jordan’s a gap-kid, came from Fiji and he’s 18 which is sometime tricky. Liam’s a techno and ‘gardening’ I suppose, changing jobs and travelling in between. I’ll let you know more as I do.

All in all – EXCITED. But then when am I not?

Je serai poète et toi poésie, 
SCRIBBLER

Gap Tours - Adventure Time!

GAP ADVENTURE ITINERARY 

Day 1 San Francisco

Arrive to our joining hotel at any time. Welcome meeting in the evening. 

Now, I'm writing this first post from the Adante Hotel - the 'joining hotel' that we start from. I've been in San Fran for three days now and love it but I'll be updating you on that next!!!

Day 2 San Francisco/Yosemite NP 

Guided Tour of one of the greatest cities in the world: San Francisco! Discover some of the most iconic attractions such as bustling Fisherman's Wharf or the stately Golden Gate Bridge, a marvel of engineering and art deco design. Admire spectacular views of Yosemite National Park's magnificent peaks and granite domes. Take short hikes to majestic waterfalls, clear lakes, beautiful meadows and walk amongst giant sequoias. With a keen eye, you may be lucky enough to spot black bears, deer or coyotes. 

(Mountain) Lions and (metaphorical) tigers and Bears OH MY - I met a lovely fellow on the plane from RDU to LAS who told me all about how his wife went for a dip in a river only to come back and find a big black bear going through her rucksack!! Guess I'd better be careful!!

Day 3 Yosemite NP 

Full day to explore Yosemite National Park. Hike the many trails Yosemite has to offer and be inspired by this beautiful and amazing landscape. Option to rent bikes in Yosemite Valley.

I'm so excited for this - everyone has told me it's absolutely gorgeous and I HOPE HOPE HOPE that it's even half so nice as they say. Apparently the thing to do is to hike up to Half Dome (tbc?!) and look down at the thousands of feet that drop down below. 

Day 4 Yosemite NP/Bishop 

Marvel at the spectacular views of Yosemite National Park's magnificent peaks and granite domes as you enjoy one of most scenic areas in California. Surrounded by peaks which soar to over 14,000 feet in elevation, Bishop, one of "America's Coolest Mountain Towns" sits directly in the center of an incredible area of natural beauty. Enjoy secluded hot springs where star gazing is amazing. 

NB. We intend on using the Tioga Pass, a scenic a route through the Sierra Nevada mountain range that connects Yosemite NP with Bishop. 

I have no idea what this will be like but I'm excited anyway!!

Day 5 Death Valley NP/Las Vegas 

Visit one of the country's most rugged landscapes, the legendary Death Valley, the hottest and driest spot and home to the lowest point in North America. In the evening arrive in the city of lights, Las Vegas! Take a guided Tour of the famous "Las Vegas" strip and experience this unique city with an optional Limo VIP tour! Try your hand with gambling at giant-mega casinos or visit one of the numerous shows offered on the strip(optional). 

For our two nights in Las Vegas, we stay close to the action in a hotel in the city center. 

Day 6 Las Vegas

Free day to explore Las Vegas!

Day 7 Las Vegas/Grand Canyon NP 

Considered among nature's most spectacular offerings, the Grand Canyon provides spectacular opportunities for you to explore. Wander along a trail and feel the sunshine and wind on your face as you admire awe-inspiring views. Sit and watch the changing play of light and shadows. With numerous viewpoints, the Grand Canyon will never look the same! In the afternoon enjoy a bird's eye view of the Grand Canyon with an optional helicopter flight or watch the most spectacular IMAX Adventure of all, the Grand Canyon Movie. Return to your campsite and enjoy a BBQ around the campfire to recapture the experiences from this memorable day! 

Day 8 Grand Canyon NP/Monument Valley 

Discover one of the most majestic places on earth: Monument Valley! Magnificent colors, miles of mesas, buttes and pinnacles make Monument Valley a truly wondrous experience. Learn about the Navajo culture that has been passed on through generations in order to keep the sacred traditions, beliefs and ceremonies alive. Take an optional jeep tour led by a Navajo guide through Monument Valley and be inspired by a night under the stars as you camp in this magnificent atmosphere. See the sun rise from a perspective very few ever experience! 

Day 9 Monument Valley/Mesa Verde NP/Durango 

Drive to Mesa Verde National Park which offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo-ans. Take a guided hike through history as you explore the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, some of the most notable and best preserved in North America. 

Day 10 Taos/Santa Fe 

Taos Plaza is undeniably the main focal point of the Town of Taos. Strolling around its compact, peaceful downtown area is a real pleasure. Relax at the Kit Carson Park. Optional visit to the historical site of Taos Pueblo. Continue your journey back in time and explore one of America's oldest and most beautiful cities, Santa Fe. 

Day 11 Santa Fe 

Free day to explore Santa Fe, take a stroll downtown and visit art galeries, or enjoy some world famous roasted green chilies.

Day 12 Carlsbad 

On the night of July 2nd in 1947 something (or someone) crashed into the desert outside of Roswell, New Mexico. Was it a balloon, or really extra-terrestrial life? Find out what all the hype is about as we pass through this funky town. 

Then visit Carlsbad Caverns, one of the oldest and most famous cave systems in the world. Explore the cave on a guided tour and be fascinated by the largest underground chambers and countless formations. In the evening witness the stunning spectacle as nearly 400,000 Mexican free-tail bats exit Carlsbad Cavern. 

Day 13 Fort Stockton/San Antonio 

Consisting of original and reconstructed military buildings, historic Fort Stockton in Texas is an exciting place for you to discover. Learn how this Fort protected travelers and settlers in the 1850's and explore why this place was almost abandoned. Cool off in the clear and intense blue-green waters of Paradise Canyon before we continue to San Antonio in the evening. 

Day 14 The Alamo/Houston 

Deep in the heart of Texas, historic San Antonio has a lot offer. Discover the battle of Alamo in the 18th century while you walk amongst the largest concentration of missions remaining in North America. Continue your journey back in time on the San Antonio River Walk, winding along the San Antonio River or just relax before it's time say goodbye! 

Day 15 Lafayette/New Orleans 

En route we stop in Lafayette, a historic Acadian settlement. Take a walk around the old town, or even take an optional visit to Acadian Village in Lafayette, where you can visit authentic homes that were moved from various other locations piece by piece and carefully restored. Discover the techniques of the early Acadian home builders using wooden pegs, mud walls and high-peaked roofs. 

Our Journey ends in fabulous New Orleans! Enjoy a guided city tour, or choose to visit a nearby plantation. Experience New Orleans at its best. Party in the French Quarter till the early hours, dance to great jazz bands and try out delicious Creole food. Take an optional swamp tour or a steam boat ride on the Mississippi. 

For our two nights in New Orleans, we stay close to the action in a hotel in the city center. 

Day 16 New Orleans

Free day to explore New Orleans! You guys have NO IDEA how excited I am to be going back to this city. It's already claimed my heart and I cannae wait to be back even though this time I'll have to provide for myself!!! (ps. THANK YOU DADDY!!)

Day 17 Memphis  

Hear the beat in Memphis, Tennessee! Explore the birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll, Home of Blues and the starting point of soul. Music Legends including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and B.B.King made their marks on Memphis. Relive history at the National Civil Rights Museum, located where the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr took place in 1968. Enjoy another must-see attraction, "The Peabody Hotel" with the now famous Peabody Duck March! In the evening stroll one of America's most famous streets: Beale Street with it's live entertainment! 

Day 18 Memphis/Nashville

In the morning walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland (optional). See how the legend lived and discover videos, pictures, stage costumes and much more. If this is not your cup of tea, go to the most famous recording studio in the world, Sun Studio! Visit Grand Ole Opry, the show that made country music famous and where unforgettable moments happen! Check out the nightlife and visit real country cowboy bars. 

Day 19 Wytheville 

Experience America's favorite drive: The Blue Ridge Parkway through the Appalachian Mountains! See remains of the settlements along the Parkway, learn their history as we take our time exploring this fabulous drive! The Mountains are a perfect place to relax and to enjoy the fresh, clean air and see the true beauty of North America! Optional short hikes on the many trails throughout the park. 

Day 20 Shenandoah NP/Washington DC   

Continuing on the Blue Ridge Parkway we are passing through Shenandoah National Park, a truly beautiful, historic national treasure. Standing on top of the peaks of Shenandoah National Park, gazing across the silent mountains, it's hard to believe we are just a short distance away from Washington DC. Take a moment of silence as you gaze into the eternal flame of John F Kennedy's grave at the Arlington Cemetery and pay respect to the many other fallen soldiers around you. 

Day 21 Washington DC 

Today is all about the Capitol of the United States. There is so much to see and do in Washington DC that you can't see it all in one day. Take your time as you spend a full day exploring this fascinating city. Tour the National Monuments and Memorials including the White House, Washington Monument, Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial. Visit the National Mall that includes 15 museums such as the Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of Natural History. Later take a walk through Georgetown. After the sun set over Washington DC experience a truly magnificent night as the Monuments illuminate over the National Mall.

Day 22 Philadelphia/New York City  

Discover the path of American History in Philadelphia. Visit Independence Hall and explore the facts and myth surrounding the Liberty Bell, the symbol of freedom. Last but not least enjoy the last afternoon with a city tour in New York City. Visit New York City's landmark, the see the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park, stand on top of the world of the Empire State Building and take a look back on 9/11 as you stand at Ground Zero. Enjoy a last dinner with your group before saying goodbye! 

Day 23 New York City

FARE THEE WELL

Je serai poète et toi poésie, 
SCRIBBLER

Half - A - Semester Later....

SORRY FOR THE WAIT LOVELY READERS!!!

This is brought to you from MIAMI. But it has NOTHING to do with Spring Break.

It's been a crazy half a semester complete with all the highs and lows of this study-abroad programme. In many ways, this semester has been a lot easier - I'm relaxing more because I've finally taken to heart that it's the experience and not the grades that matter here (I mean... it's pass/fail right?) and there's also the small fact that I don't need to strive with all my punitive might to make friends. No, the hard part, the settling in and finding you feet, the geography and the schematics... that's all done. The Safety Net and the Ways That Be, that's all figured out. 

Of course, some things have been very different from first semester. I'm attending entirely different classes, I've fallen in love with the cutest dog ever and my local haunt seems to have been overrun by new exchange types. I do love those new exchanges though - they're all real characters, especially the Aussies and the new Weegies.... and I've finally met the renown Aiden, befriending the plethora of Irish as we go. Furthermore, things are constantly metamorphosing. Fiona and John have both moved rooms, I'm down a room mate (yup, Andrea has gone home to bonnie auld England) and Alex is shacking up with a pretty Southern Belle.

I'm only just beginning to wrap my head around some of the stuff that's happened. It feels like the only reason I'm able to step back and think is because, right now, I'm sitting in Miami, sipping a hard lemonade, the 'Allner-glow' about my pinkish skin and loving the fact that whilst some people are being strange and evasive, this holiday is looking like a wonderful time to make new friends and reacquainting myself with others.  Not only are some of the Godstowe Girls here (namely Nnesochi and Jackie Mocatta) and tonnes of girls from ADPi Miami/Florida bound - but I met the author of Eve of the Gods yesterday! It was rather wonderful, though since then I've had an interesting time with 'the voices in my head' aka nom de plume M.

Thinking about it, I almost don't want to note down the banal, day-to-day activities of Chapel Hill. I've said it once and I've said it a hundred times: UNC is a tiny, blinking light on a billboard, or maybe just a photon floating along the light pathways given off by said billboard or... I don't know - the giant bowl of Mojito is going to my head. But yes - UNC is infinitesimally puny. I miss the city. I miss big, busy, pollution-filled streets, complete with high street shops and bizarre fashionistas and the muddling crowds. I like being one in a big ocean of people, where everyone makes an effort with how they look and yet people won't comment if you're having a frizz-off with a jew-fro; where everyone acknowledges each other with glances rather than with drawn out small-talk conversations; where dinner is had with a glass of wine and no one looks askance when you buy Ben&Jerry's alongside Pinot Grigio. Chapel Hill is sweet, friendly, you could sleep in the park without fear of lunatics there - in fact, some passerby is more likely to check you into a hotel than to steal your purse - but my god, it's wonderful to be out of the rhythms that harken back to the GCSEs and IBs. What a sweet, strange, nostalgia accompanies the international student at Chapel Hill. 

So instead I'll update you on.... something else. People maybe. Spring break, certainly. But for now, I can promise I'll be back writing in the next few days.

LOVE TO YOU ALL.

Je serai poète et toi poésie,
SCRIBBLER