Monument Valley - Page

  Page, Arizona, United States
Monday, July 14, 2008

14 July, from Monument Valley to Page
3
0°C/86°F partly clouded in monument Valley to 35°C/95°F in sunny Page

We have slept late, till 08.00. At this hotel a warm breakfast is inclusive. This is for the first time that we experience that during this vacation. So far we have skipped all complimentary breakfast, but here they serve small omelets and little burgers, very good to eat. 

Monument Valley 1

At 09.00 we drive for a short while, approximately 20 minutes, before we arrive at Monument Valley. There are many tours offered in 4x4 cars, but we decide to drive the unpaved road ourselves. It is strange to drive here. This landscape is so familiar from movies and ads, the scenes, but driving between the mittens is so much more impressive and more beautiful. We drive the route and stop at places to enjoy the views and have our photographs taken.

Monument Valley 2

At one of these stops we get companionship of small mouse-like creatures. They are extremely busy and run from bush to bush, in the meantime jumping and hopping. They are so small and light that they can stand on the top of a little bush to look around if there is any danger threatening them. 2 and a half hour later we plough through loose sand and stones to leave Monument Valley and return to Kayenta.

There we made time for a lunch, a Mc-lunch to be specific and then continue with high speed to Page, at least according to the terms of officer J. Cirosen and he is right. We drove 72 where we only were allowed 65 mh. Frans, for all clarity, the driver at that moment, tried to talk a few miles of but the result remains the same: an official written warning for violating speed limits. Within the permitted speed limit we now drive the remaining miles to Page. Here we found the Antelope Canyons. 

Entrance Lower Antilope Canyon

We can choose from a quiet walk through Upper Canyon or a wilder trip through Lower Canyon. Given our driving style we choose what suites us, the little more adventures Lower Canyon. We pay $ 26pp and disappear under the ground. Through a narrow gap in the ground we reach several stairs that lead further and further into the gap, it is really breathtaking beautiful! As we go deeper it becomes narrower. On some spots the sun reaches the floor and lights up the colors of the red/orange walls which are sharpened by water and wind. It is absolutely a wonderful spot that cannot be skipped when you are in the area ! About an hour and a half later we climb out of this slot canyon and continued further to Page. 

Antilope Canyon 1

Antilope Canyon 2

In Page we visit a supermarket, we want to do some shopping like water and wine. At the entrance of this supermarket is a Starbucks where I ordered one cold and one hot WCM. Really pleasant and very kind people here; whatever I say, whatever I try,  they let me just pay for 1 coffee, even though we really had two. We bought the water, took along some wine, vanilla coffee beans and vanilla creamer (unfortunately I haven't found vanilla coffee cream in the Netherlands) and went to our hotel.

It is a Best Western, Arizona Inn, but it is the least good Best Western hotel that we have seen so far. The rooms are clean and there is a bed, but that is everything there is to be said about it. Positive is that the washing and drying machines in this hotel don't have a line of people waiting for it! So in the time we took the shower, our shirts, socks and underwear get clean and dry. After this necessary non-vacation-like action it is time for diner.

The staff of our hotel recommended Ken's Steakhouse and they were very right to do so. The fillet mignon and after wards the cheesecake are delicious. Only the tipping system in America is still very strange to us. Unasked for, the bill was including a 18% tip and as a result of a counting error, the total amount of the food was also $15 too high....In our country the customer decides how much tip is given, depending on the provided service and quality of the food. But, fair is fair, the diner was very good and again,we had a lovely day.

Nice distance driven: 172 miles.