The day in Page starts fine. The children begin to gradually re-tolerate each other, and we try, given the breakfast prices at the Marriott, a breakfast at McDonalds.
It is not necessarily continental European eating habits to start the day with mashed potatoes, a meatloaf and Scrambled Eggs, but with the use of additional tea bags and two Cinnamon Melts, we have breakfast out passable.
As our water supplies are again running low, we look in briefly at the nearby Wal-Mart and get out two hours later with several T-shirts by 5 to $ 7, a Wrangler Jeans for $ 15.50, a rich food supply and many new impressions. The tires, the garden swing and the DVD player we have left for this time.
Given the loss of time we skip Antelope Canyon, because it, according to the kind Bavarian from Grand Canyon, makes sense only at noon with the sun at the zenith. But Lake Powell calls again, and we willingly follow the call. The beach at Lone Rock (the ticket per car of yesterday is still valid) is as breathtakingly beautiful as yesterday´s scenery, apart from the lack of evening light. Despite nonexistent shade we attach a Wal-Mart's picnic and enjoy the view again.
The trip to the small collection of houses and hotels called Kayenta (it is not even a registered address in the navigation device) does not take too long and we decide to check in briefly and visit Monument Valley in the afternoon sun. An incorrect assumption and a correct decision, as will be.
As we were already warned by our guide, check-in at the Holiday Inn takes more than 20 minutes because the Navajo at the desk offers only a four-bed room - because she has receibed only one and not two reservations. Hugh!
Nevertheless, timing still fits reasonably and we - more and more amazed - begin the 20 kilometer-long tour of Monument Valley. It must be understood that driving is not the correct expression trip for moving on these rumbling rock path. Likely the Navajo always dig fresh holes to motivate the tourists to book their guided jeep tours, because otherwise there is no explanation for the state of this pathway. We are grateful for involuntary Alamo upgrade to an SUV (at home on the Internet I realize that the Dodge Journey is not recognized as a SUV but as a minivan, so both dicussion at Alamo in LA was inappropriate and that I put the car pretty well through its paces).
The single sandstone rocks in the warm sun light are in any case breathtakingly beautiful and the deep blue sky with picturesque clouds make the images perfect. An absolute highlight of this trip! We return to Visitor´s Center exactly at sunset, dusty and deeply moved. I know now why I always wanted to make this trip since 18 years. Although the Grand Canyon has not fully redeemed its promises, the following two days were so full of magnificent landscapes that I am sure these memories will accompany all my rest of life.
Mia slowly gets the dust from her contact lenses and we check out the culinary offerings in Kayenta. The Blue Rock Cafe shines with its "Open" sign, but despite some guests inside it is closed. Remain McDonalds, Burger King, a dirty pizza drive-thru and a tiny Chinese. To be exact the place is tiny, the Chinese is normally large and exceptionally funny. He praises the beauty of my daughter (of course not funny), explaines to me, I still need to gain weight (moderately funny) and joking with Lisa, tells her that never a young woman has voluntarily chosen his extra spicy chicken dish. Especially not when she has tried before (funny). Well, now he has to tell this story differently. My daughter rinses with chili sauce after brushing her teeth.
As his two small tables do not look very inviting, and he has already closed the kitchen, we select Take Away and enjoying a bottle of red wine and a pretty decent Chinese food the day ends nicely and cosy. Since the Navajo have not decided for DST change (for which they find quite my understanding), it is 23.00 clock until we go to bed. At this moment I am not aware that it is one of these short American nights with tour diary-writing in the bathroom.
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