A View from the South Rim

Today we headed back to the Grand Canyon but this time to the South Rim.  While yesterday we saw a few other travelers, today we saw a lot of tourists and tour buses.  In spite of the crowds, the views were breathtaking.

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner tonight came with a view of the South Rim as the sun was setting.  El Tovar Hotel is at the top of the South Rim and provides great views with average food and service.  We head to Vegas tomorrow so tonight is all about packing up.

Hit the ground running

Thanks to Dorian, our Wild Wild West Adventure was a day late getting started.  Julie was able to get to Rapid City, South Dakota on Thursday as planned and picked me up Friday at 5:00 pm.  As we had a lot of time to make up, we went straight to Custer State Park as we heard there was a good chance to see buffalo roaming the roads.  No buffalo but we did see some deer.

En route to our next stop, Crazy Horse Memorial, we drove through the cute little town of Custer.  Definitely wish we had some time to walk around as it looks so charming.  We did see a lot of bison in town...painted ones but bison nonetheless.  Also, all the little shops had hanging baskets of impatiens.

Rushmore 2.0 en route to Crazy Horse

Next stop was Crazy Horse Memorial.  As we arrived close to dusk and the start of their laser show, we had to park in a field and take a school bus to the foot of the mountain.  Try as we might, we couldn't get the parking attendant to understand we were not staying for the show...we only wanted to get close enough to take a few pics.  If we had not lost a day, we would have definitely stayed for the show as it is supposed to be quite good.

On the door heading out of the visitor center.
A good reminder for us all.

Our goal for the evening was to get to Mount Rushmore for the light show.  We made it with 5 minutes to spare...once we finally figured out the parking situation.  At night, there are no attendants in the garage nor is the mountain illuminated (until the show) so we had no clue as to where we were going.  The show as very tastefully done...it began with the crowd singing the National Anthem and then they told a little story about each of the 4 presidents on the memorial. And finally, the lights come on to show the sculpture.  It really was pretty cool and sadly pictures do not do it much justice.

Appropriate sign at Mount Rushmore
given it was drizzling and lightning

By now, we're both starving as it is 8:30 so we headed back towards the hotel and had some bison satay and walleye fish sticks.  In 3.5 hours, we covered 105 miles...way more than we would typically do but we have to keep to a schedule until we get to Yellowstone where we've got a cute cabin booked through AirBnB.

Galway to Dublin

Time to head back to Dublin as I leave tomorrow for home.  Once again my ride was entertaining thanks to Miriam and Johnny sitting in the seats next to me.  After the 2.5 hours, I still don't know if they were husband & wife, brother & sister or mother & son...turns out I wasn't the only one as my seat mate (on a two year work assignment in Dublin) and I smiled at each other and once Miriam and Johnny got up, we said the same thing to each other. 

It was a hoot listening to them.  Throughout the ride, I heard Miriam tell Johnny how he needs to be careful in Dublin and not talk to strangers as he is easily taken. When the food and beverage cart came by, the poor server had no idea what was in store for him.  Miriam asked about all the different things he had on the cart and explained why she didn't like each item.  She finally settled on the lemon cake and some black tea...though she would really prefer green tea.  

And then it was time for Miriam to call her niece Mary Hughes.  According to the message Miriam left, she is Mary Hughes' favorite aunt.  Mary Hughes is named after her mother don't you know.  Johnny dialed the number so Miriam said to him, after she left the message mind you, "Hope you are ringing her mobile as she doesn’t have a machine on her land line"...in my mind I'm thinking "bless your heart, what difference does it make because you're leaving her a message."  They were hoping to meet Mary at the pub this evening...of course assuming Johnny didn't put them in the cab of one of those shysters that takes them the long way to get more money.  Oh Johnny, this is going to be a long couple of days for ye!

After checking in to my room at The Shelbourne, I did a little walking around Dublin.  First stop was O'Donoghues for a pint and bowl of beef stew...and of course brown bread.  

When I was last in Dublin, I drove by the Oscar Wilde and Molly Malone statues so decided to make my way to them and see them up close and person.

Oscar Wilde in Merrion Square

In Dublin's fair city
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheeelbarrow
Through the streets broad and narrow
Crying "cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying "cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

Today was a pretty cold and misty so I decided to head back to the hotel and check out the sleep system at The Shelbourne (aka bed).  En route along Grafton Street, I saw a sign for St. Teresa Carmelite Church and thought I'd pop in.  It was quiet and beautiful and nice escape for the hustle and bustle of the city.

 

After a very long 10 days, I just wanted to go back and relax in a nice comfy bed (did I mentioned the 2 hotels so far were like sleeping on rocks).  The bed did not disappoint...it was heavenly (oh what that's  what the Westin calls their beds...hazard of the job).  By dinner time, it was pouring out and I really didn't want to leave the warmth of the hotel so I had dinner at the hotel bar.  It was a very fancy fish n' chips...and oh so good. 

As always, my time in Ireland was fabulous.  I do love this country and look forward to returning again as there is so much more to explore.

Slainte!