Grand Canyon National Park

Day 13 AZ

Grand Canyon National Park

I was very excited for today, but I was also strangely sad. When my parents got married, my Mom made my Dad promise he would take her to the Grand Canyon for their honeymoon. But he never did, so I've been hearing my Mom nag my Dad about it for all my life. Of course, he's taken her to countless beautiful places, but the Grand Canyon just didn't make this list yet. 

  So I've been wanting them to go there, and now, 18 years later, I'm the one to get there first. So I was missing my parents today. This place has been a major topic in our household all my life.

  We took a 2 hour drive to the National Park. When I first saw the view at the Bright Angel lodge, my breath was taken away. It was really beautiful. It was a little before noon, so the whole valley was covered with a purpleish color.

  If I think about it, it' just a huuuuge hole. The San Antonio Squad assembled again, and we took the rim trail for a while. We must have taken hundreds of pictures while walking. Even though my Dad told me not to, we went to the edge (very carefully!!), and we took some awesome pics! (sorry Dad!)

  We went back to the lodge after a smaller hike, and we had lunch in the restaurant. With 2 and a half hours to spare, we decided to get on one of the shuttle buses. We took the express bus to the Visitor's center, and there we went on the "orange" bus route. 

  The first stop we got off was beautiful, and quite far from anywhere we've been in the park. But when we got off at the second stop, my breath was taken away once again. Orange light covered the rocks on the other side of the valley, and it was just like people imagine it to be, but no picture could truly grab the beauty of it. 

  We got back to the Bright Angel Lodge the way we came, and by the time we got back, it wa time to get on the bus too. As the bus left the Grand Canyon, I took a final look at the valley I was just in. I felt kind of sad, I want my Mom and Dad to see this too. But I'm glad I got to experience this. I was tired from the walking and the heat, but I survived the Grand Canyon!!!

  The rest of the day, I was trying to upload my fabulous pictures to the Internet, but with little success with bad Internet. I got to however send some pics to my Mom, which she loved. One day, she'll send me her pictures!