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After enjoying the spectacular view of the Grand Canyon, it was time to head back on the train. On the way to the Grand Canyon the host in our car gave us a lot of interesting details about the history of the train. On the ride back, however, we got a touch of the old and wild West!

All of a sudden, our host told us that we were being attacked by train robbers. Sure enough, two men on horseback, shooting their pistols, overtook the train. You can spot one of them through the train window on the next picture!

And before we “terrified” passengers knew it, they were inside the train, “forcing” us to hand over one dollar or ??! Well, we didn’t wait for the “or.”

Here they are, those railway robbers!

Finally, the Sheriff shows up–too late as usual.

They escaped with our dollars–but the whole excitement was worth it.

Back in Williams, we admired one more time the loyal old train engine. It was a wonderful experience!

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This promises to be a jam-packed, exciting day for us. I visited the Grand Canyon in the seventies, but for Diane, it was a first. I remember, walking to the rim of this amazing gorge and stopping in awe, completely overwhelmed with what I saw.

The history of this natural wonder is described here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_National_Park

This time around, we decided to take the train, in other words, we returned to the “Old West via the Grand Canyon Railway.” It was a blast, a true time travel experience. If you ever decide to forego the car and parking problems and embark on a true adventure, here is the information:

https://www.thecanyon.com/grand-canyon-railway

We started the journey from the town of Williams in Arizona.

The ride to the Grand Canyon was an adventure in itself with all kinds of entertainment and interesting information about the history of the train.

After an almost three hour ride, we arrived at Grand Canyon Village where we hiked a small path to the rim of the canyon. I still remember the first impression of this miraculous gorge back in 1971. I was simply overwhelmed and couldn’t believe my eyes. When I saw it again on this trip, the breathtaking view was as powerful as the first time. The photos give an idea of the vastness and beauty of the canyon but they can’t convey the full impact of standing there in person.

For those interested in the formation and history of the Grand Canyon, this article about a new groundbreaking discovery by the geologist Allan Krill is fascinating. Enjoy the amazing photos:

A Big Boulder Holds a Grand Canyon Secret – Past Chronicles

Since we had to get up at the crack of dawn to catch the train, I was ready for a cup of coffee and so were a lot of other people, which meant standing in line for a while. We were lucky though to secure a pleasant spot in a restaurant for lunch. After walking along the rim, taking pictures, and browsing through the souvenir shops, it was time to catch the train back. We had three hours to explore this wonderful place. It would be great to spend the night in one of the few lodges and experience the rising and setting sun. Perhaps next time!

If the train ride to the Canyon had been interesting, the ride back was a  true “Wild West adventure”! Stay tuned for the next blog post!

If you want to stay in touch with me, sign up for my mailing list. I send out occasional emails about my writing and other fun stuff. Just click on the Monkey icon in the right panel and fill out a short form. Don’t worry, I won’t overwhelm you with mail. And you can always unsubscribe.

Now, that my friend, Diane, and her five Chihuahuas are settled in their new home in Sun City, Arizona, it was time for another trip there. We had plans to celebrate my birthday in Sedona.

I’ve read and heard so much about this place, made famous by the New Age crowd and spiritual seekers in general that I wanted to experience it myself. Sedona is famous for its natural beauty, the amazing rock formations, and the vortexes of energy, one the main attractions during the sixties and seventies.

We started out on a sunny but slightly cool day. Sedona is higher than Sun City. The average altitude is around 5000 ft. or 1500 meters. We definitely felt our ears pop as we drove there. The first view of the rock foundations from the Ranger station at the beginning of the town was breathtaking and the closer we got, the more overwhelming it became. The best way to show this is through pictures, although the don’t full justice to the live experience. But here are a few.

Courthouse Butte

Bell Rock

I have to admit I forgot the names of some of the rocks. This was, however, an introductory exploration of this fascinating piece of earth. We’ll be back to explore it in more detail.

Wishing you all Happy Holidays. Stay safe, stay positive, and enjoy the small treasures of life!