United States > View over the Grand Canyon

In the morning, Las Vegas looks a bit sad without all the neon lights and flashing LED signs. Perhaps this is also due to the numerous homeless people and beggars. Dozens of people lie along the promenades sleeping, sometimes with a cardboard sign reading, “I’m hungry, please feed me.” Others try to earn a little money through entertainment. A man walks around in a worn-out Elmo costume, asking for money for a photo. The Spider-Man suit is torn and badly in need of a wash. On the street corner, Elvis is singing, and you can take photos with scantily dressed girls for money. Street performers often add charm to a city, but not here.

United States - Snorkeling near the coral reef

It looks more like despair. The only successful street vendors last night were those selling water and beer. The famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign is not in the central part of the Strip but several kilometers outside downtown. We drive there by car. A photo of this famous sign from 1956 is a must when visiting Las Vegas. Then we head toward Kingman. Just outside Las Vegas lies the Hoover Dam, a massive structure built in 1931. At the time, dozens of construction workers died from the extreme heat around the dam. Today, it is also hot. Police randomly check cars that want to drive over the dam, but we are allowed to pass without extra inspection. From the Arizona side of the dam, we have a great view of the structure. We have now reached the third state of our trip: Arizona. Kingman is also located here. In this town, we reconnect with the original Route 66. Between Kingman and Seligman lies the longest remaining original stretch of the road. In Kingman, across from the museum, we order something to eat. The Route 66 Diner restaurant is completely decorated in 1950s style, like you see in Happy Days. On the way to Seligman, you see the historical Route 66 emblem everywhere. As a business owner, you’d be crazy not to display the symbol on your façade.

United States - The Route 66 Diner Restaurant in Kingman

In Hackberry, there is an old gas station in 1950s style, surrounded by several vintage cars, some in poor condition. Seligman radiates the Route 66 atmosphere. Two brothers were the driving force behind it. One of them has recently passed away, but his sons have taken over his Route 66 restaurant. We take the highway toward Flagstaff. Just before Flagstaff, we turn toward Grand Canyon National Park. At the entrance, we buy a park ticket. As we drive away, we hear a strange noise coming from under the car—metal on metal by the right front wheel. What now? We pull over but find nothing unusual. When we rented the car, we could have paid extra for roadside assistance. We thought it wasn’t necessary, but now it seems we do need it. We decide to drive back to the park entrance. The man who sold us the ticket tells us there is a garage in the park. It is closed now, but we can come back tomorrow morning. He advises us to drive to the lodge for now. With the rattling noise coming from the front right, we carefully drive the last eight kilometers to the lodge. We check the garage location. It is indeed closed, but a light is on. A mechanic comes to look. “Something is probably caught in the brake disc,” he says. Just as we are about to demonstrate the sound, it stops.

United States - Simple huts used by local fishermen

“The little stone probably fell out, but if not, come by tomorrow morning,” he adds. We thank him. When we drive away, the noise comes back. He hears it too. With a screwdriver, he pushes against the disc, and a small stone falls out. The problem is solved. The lodge is very close to the Grand Canyon itself. At the viewpoint, we gaze into the depth of the canyon. Wow! One and a half kilometers below, the river flows through the gorge. Using the park shuttle, we go to the west side, where the sunset is most beautiful. The last rays of today’s sun illuminate the canyon—a breathtaking sight. The shuttle drops us off at the amphitheater. At eight o’clock, a “Trees, Trees, Trees” show begins. At our hotel, they couldn’t explain exactly what it was, so we go on a whim. The show turns out to be a presentation by Ranger Ron. He shows photos of the park’s flora and fauna and humorously talks about human impact on nature, the necessity of regular forest fires for the tall pine trees, and the challenges posed by new animal species, such as elk, bison, and squirrels. It is an enjoyable presentation, but the temperature drops considerably. We are at over 2,100 meters altitude and are feeling cold. We hadn’t thought to bring extra clothing. We quickly return to the lodge by shuttle. In the pizza pub, we order a few slices and a drink. Then we go to our room, where it is warm.