The Joy Of Touring 01of13 Southwestern USA
so today the joy of touring will take you on a trip through the american west an area of vast wild landscapes that will bring john wayne to mind as well as the fierce and brave geronimo but the wild west is no longer the sole domain of cowboys and indians the west has entered the 21st century and while it has a rich history it is also one of the most modern cutting-edge places on the planet just think of the flashing lights of hollywood in las vegas it's easy to see that what was once thought to be eldorado has turned into a highly coveted vacation spot that has something to interest everyone our itinerary will take us to three of the largest states on the west coast california nevada and arizona on the way we'll visit the region's most fascinating attractions including death valley the grand canyon las vegas and of course hollywood for some the southwest is a symbol of showbiz for others it's about cowboys and indians whatever interests you come along and join us on our all-inclusive tour through the southwestern united states on the joy of touring upon arriving on american soil we immediately jump onto our bus to begin our exploration our first stop will be los angeles the second most populous city in the u.s after new york today the city is a magnet attracting people from all over the country in the world with a population of over 10 million one thing the city is famous for is its thousands of kilometers of road our initiation to the city of angels starts with the compulsory drive through the city's winding system of freeways fortunately lanes reserved for high occupancy vehicles allow us to move smoothly through the freeway we soon arrive in the city's historical district los angeles started off as a small village made up of 44 families of spanish colonists who founded el pueblo de la zena de los angeles the town of our lady queen of the angels on the porchenkula river in less than two centuries that village of a few hundred has become a bustling mega city in the old plaza of the historic district statues of king carlos iii of spain and felipe de neve first governor of the californias remind us of the area's spanish roots that are still visibly strong in the surrounding area we can visit various historical sites including the nuestra senora rena mission found at the same time as the city by spanish franciscan monks and also have a look at the oldest house in the city called avila adobe built in 1818 by don francisco avila who was then mayor of la the house has been maintained as close to the original as possible in order to give us an idea of the living conditions in california at that time the house sustained severe damage from an earthquake in 1971. fortunately for us it has been completely restored our next stop in l.a is less than two kilometers away from the historic district
the los angeles music center is a complex composed of several buildings dedicated to music first we'll check out the walt disney concert hall home to the los angeles philharmonic orchestra designed by frank gehry the hall is an ultra-modern avant-garde structure featuring curved external walls clad in stainless steel inside the auditorium is renowned for having perfect acoustics since its inauguration in 1999 this magnificent cultural complex has hosted concerts by the biggest names and music of all different jars right next to the walt disney concert hall we find the dorothy chandler pavilion it's where the los angeles opera performs under its director none other than the legendary placido domingo let's get back on the bus and we'll take the santa monica freeway towards beverly hills this celebrated neighborhood is one of california's stargazing meccas this is the natural habitat of the gods and goddesses of the screen of course it's impossible to visit the luxurious homes of the celebrities but there's nothing stopping us from having a look around made famous in the movie pretty woman rodeo drive is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world luxury boutiques designer clothes jewelry art galleries everything around here points to affluence it's a good idea to have your camera at the ready when walking off rodeo drive with a little luck we'll spot at least a few movie stars doing some shopping now let's set our course for the famed sunset boulevard which stretches from the city center all the way to the pacific ocean hollywood here we come a name that embodies the california dream since the early 1900s hollywood has been the hub of the american movie machine drawing crowds of star seekers and hopeful actors and fascinating the whole world on hollywood boulevard movies are king its most famous institutions are grauman's chinese theater in the dolby theater formerly known as the kodak theater these are where the major hollywood pictures premiere and where the oscars are given out every year whether they win one of the coveted little gold statues or not many actors can take comfort in another popular mark of recognition a star on the walk of fame over the past 50 years these stars have been awarded by the hollywood chamber of commerce to celebrities of the entertainment industry who have contributed to the development of their art today the famous sidewalk includes over 2 500 stars shining in the firmament of glory and tens of thousands who dream of being added we'll wind down our day in the city of angels at our hotel the hacienda located close to the pacific ocean we're sure to have a good night's sleep here before continuing our tour of the american west another beautiful day rises on the west coast of the united states we'll start our day with a visit to two spots that are extremely popular among sun seekers santa monica and venice beach surrounded by the vast sprawling city of la these two small municipalities are located right next to each other on the pacific coast and have magnificent beaches lapped by the waves of santa monica bay it's only a short drive from our hotel to santa monica on arrival we're immediately confronted with a postcard perfect scene magnificent beaches towering palm trees and surfers riding the waves what more could you ask for but the undisputed star of this beach is the celebrated santa monica pier an immense dock that stretches far into the pacific ocean built at the beginning of the 20th century the pier is home to pacific park an amusement park with an enormous ferris wheel carnival rides shops and even a trapeze school this pier is a symbolic spot for many americans not only does it mark the end of the celebrated route 66 it also features prominently in pop culture turning up frequently in films videos and tv series the wooden structure and amusement park were set locations for titanic and south park as well as the incomparable forest gump winner of six academy awards the robert zemeckis film has left its mark here on the pier in santa monica we're lucky the pier is still here it was almost demolished in the 1970s due to deterioration caused over time by storms rolling in from the pacific rebuilt and totally renovated during the 80s it is now considered by the u.s government to be a historic landmark and receives over 3 million visitors every year just a few minutes walk or an even shorter ride on the bike path takes us to the legendary venice beach the city has a motto that describes it perfectly another day in paradise this is a land of liberty and free expression a perfect place for people watching and exploring the charming shops that line the beachfront the four kilometer stretch of oceanfront at venice beach is reserved for pedestrians it's a constant party 24 hours a day venice california is also known as the birthplace of the modern skateboard california experienced a long drought during the late 1970s the empty pools were transformed into skate parks for people looking to hone their skills on a skateboard over the next 30 years the sport has developed into a real institution and the skate parks attract crowds of skaters from all over the world like santa monica venice beach is a famous film and tv set that's right this beach was the set for the cult 90 series baywatch after spending some time feeling the warm sand between our toes we'll head back to the bus and get back on the road tonight we'll stay in the town of laughlin located where the nevada arizona and california borders meet laughlin is the halfway point between the coast and the grand canyon in mere minutes even as we merge onto the interstate we observe a radical change in scenery no more skyscrapers and traffic jams in their place are the sweeping landscapes of the mojave desert an arid region covering an area 40 000 square kilometers we take a pit stop at a roadside cafe and get a nice surprise newberry springs is the desert town where the film baghdad cafe was shot in the mid-80s when the film was made this establishment was called the sidewinder cafe it was renamed in honor of the critically acclaimed movie almost nothing has changed since then we'll continue our trip as the sun sets behind us over the pacific ocean we arrive in laughlin as night falls we'll stay the night at the abbey resort and casino a hotel complex that is typical of nevada with its live country music and its vlts we're in one of the few states where gambling is completely legal so let's make the most of it the sun is rising over the small town of laughlin in nevada after a generous breakfast we're ready to get going just a few kilometers on the road we cross the state line into arizona our course is set for grand canyon national park the grand canyon is surely one of the most iconic locations in the united states but the highway we drive on to get there is equally celebrated that's right we're rolling on route 66 route 66 has been sung and written about countless times and has become more than just a highway it has become part of our collective imagination a page out of the american history books the first ever transcontinental highway route 66 was established in 1926 when the department of transportation united a system of existing roads into a single cross-country highway it went into decline decades later with the construction of the u.s interstate highway system a few segments of the legendary highway remain today small towns like seligman still champion the images of their glorious past filled with souvenir shops antiques and vintage cars this region is steeped in nostalgia for an era in which america was a prosperous rising power but people don't take themselves too seriously what's your specialty chicken dead chicken egg everything seems to be just a little laid back we get back on route 66 on our way out of town we haven't forgotten about our destination grand canyon national park and let me tell you we're pulling out all the stops touring the grand canyon in style we leave our bus behind to climb into a helicopter that will really let us take a good look at this incredible natural phenomenon in just a few minutes the grand canyon is in sight the sheer enormity of the landscape is awe-inspiring we are moved by this humbling display of nature's power the grand canyon national park covers an area of almost 5 000 square kilometers making it 85 times larger than manhattan island in new york carved out of rock by the colorado river the canyon is 450 kilometers long stretching from lake powell to lake mead in places it's 29 kilometers wide and almost two kilometers deep the layers of rock at the bottom of the canyon were formed one billion 80 million years ago while the rock at the peaks was formed only 270 million years ago but all these numbers mean nothing when you observe the sheer beauty and splendor of the place it's an experience that can change your view of the world witnessing the gargantuan forces of nature and time makes us realize how small we really are the story of the grand canyon began almost two billion years ago and many more chapters will be written after we're gone as long as the earth exists so as the sun sets on these majestic landscapes our driver brings us toward the town of flagstaff where we'll spend the night we leave our hotel in flagstaff early in the morning to get back on the road our destination monument valley located in the middle of navajo country before european colonists settled in the united states the navajo lived on an immense stretch of land that encompassed arizona utah and new mexico after numerous conflicts with the settlers more than 8 000 navajos were forcibly deported to new mexico many years later the tribe was able to reclaim part of their land which had been designated reservation land since 1964 monument valley navajo tribal park is under the navajo jurisdiction the landscapes of monument valley are some of the most iconic in the american west this is the wild west one imagines its red sandstone messes and buttes have been photographed millions of times and appear in dozens of films tv shows and videos it was here that john wayne was filmed in the iconic 1939 movie stagecoach from that day on monument valley has been the set location for many productions including once upon a time in the west and even 2001 a space odyssey to get a better understanding of the land and to grasp the history of the park nothing beats a tour by a navajo guide our guide tells us the difference between the two types of rock rises buttes and messes a butte is taller than it is wide while a messa is wider than it is tall each of these escarpments has a name and you can tell that people really use their imaginations to dream up these ones at what the tuaca and the submarines use your imagination further down the road we visit a hogan a traditional navajo house built of juniper and cedar branches covered with earth these traditional houses provide shelter over the chilly winters at the site of the hogan's our guide bursts into a traditional song in this unforgettable landscape we are again confronted by the incredible power of nature which sculpted these rocky peaks over millions of years at the foot of a mesa we have a break and stretch out our legs and try some of the local food after our meal we'll leave monument valley with our heads full of the magnificent landscape and the feeling of having experienced something truly special next destination kanab following our encounter with the gracious navajo in monument valley now we're going to spend some time with the cowboys of kanab the town of kanab is located around four hours away from the navajo reserve the drive is a blessing letting us catch up on our rest and daydream about the trip ahead the day is coming to an end when we arrive we'll drop off our bags at kanab shiloh inn where we'll spend the night and head to the chuck wagon cookout for supper in order to make a western movie we need a few actors actor and we'd really like you to do that the restaurant specializes in the traditional food of the american west but the thing that makes it famous is the surprise film set the restaurant has prepared for us choosing from a wide range of cowboy hats indian headdresses and military caps were all invited to take part we'll be recreating a scene in a movie under the direction of the friendly owner indians on one side cowboys on the other with a generous sprinkling of settlers and cavalry for extra flavor the storyline may not always be crystal clear but it's an excellent excuse to cut loose and a great time is had by all the customary cast photo our evening continues around the table which is laden with a well-deserved supper complete with musical entertainment having a wild time in the wild west another day dawns in the land of cowboys and indians today our journey will take us through beautiful countrysides national parks and hundreds of kilometers with some fascinating pit stops by the day's end we'll be kicking up our heels in the gambling capital of the world leaving kanab we'll head back into arizona for a few kilometers before crossing into the state of nevada where we'll set our course straight for las vegas our noses are glued to the windows our eyes wide open we don't want to miss the region's magnificent landscape welcome to bryce canyon our first stop despite its name bryce canyon is not a canyon but rather a collection of natural amphitheaters it's like a cathedral formed from rock that changes color depending on the angle of the sun throughout the site we can see thousands of peaks called hoodoos that have been carved out of the rock over millions of years by erosion the name hudu comes from voodoo a word associated with bad luck and sorcery the rock formations are also known as fairy chimneys or earth tents according to an aboriginal legend the hoodoos are an ancient race of people who were turned to stone hikers will be overjoyed to find over 80 kilometers of trails that can be explored by foot or on horseback from which an observant adventurer can identify over 100 species of birds and mammals as well as a wide variety of plants but our time is precious so after our stop we'll get back on the road to continue our discovery of the southwestern united states here we are approaching zion national park situated in a location where three geographical zones come together the colorado plateaus the great basin and the mojave desert until the 1920s the road running through this park was a dead end three years of digging and blasting resulted in this narrow tunnel which takes us an impressive 1.6 kilometers straight through the rock the tunnel is so narrow only one direction of traffic is allowed through at a time once we're out of the park we're only 250 kilometers away from the bright lights of las vegas this city is the epitome of excess everything is bigger more flamboyant more extravagant than anywhere else in the early 20th century las vegas was a sleepy little desert town then in 1931 gambling was legalized in nevada in order to fund the state's education system and the city's first casinos were built las vegas has certainly enjoyed a certain notoriety through the years one of its monikers is sin city but since the 1990s the city has been completely transformed in an effort to attract tourism and be more family friendly however even the best intentions can't change the fact that gambling is the main attraction for the millions of visitors who travel to this desert metropolis each year the infrastructure supporting the gambling industry is absolutely unbelievable all the extravagance of the city comes to a head on las vegas boulevard also known as the strip this is where we'll find many of the enormous hotel casinos each trying to outdo the others in luxury and flash the fremont street experience is an attraction built around las vegas two oldest casinos binion's horseshoe and the golden nugget over half a kilometer of the pedestrian street is covered with a giant vaulted screen that projects spectacular video images everywhere you turn there are magnificent fountains fireworks concerts and street performances each more daring and ingenious than the next this really is a city that never sleeps but las vegas is not just a gambler's den this city also has developed quite a reputation for its high caliber musical performances in boxing matches it also happens to be the marriage capital of the world with over 200 000 weddings a year the mirage this aptly named hotel in the middle of the desert was built in 1989 at a cost of 630 million dollars and helped kick start a new period of development here in las vegas across the street the venetian epitomizes las vegas extravagance why would anyone go to venice italy when we can recreate it right here in the middle of the desert the only thing missing is the pigeons of saint mark's square and for a truly romantic experience why not go for a ride in a venetian gondola and these are only a few of the delights that compose the recipe of las vegas success after a night in las vegas we leave nevada and cross back into california our destination today is the largest national park in the continental u.s death valley national park it's truly a park of extremes not only is it the biggest it also happens to be the driest and hottest and to be the location of the lowest point in the country temperatures of up to 57 degrees celsius have been recorded in the park death valley is known for the role that it played in the gold rush the discovery of large gold deposits in the area attracted tens of thousands of prospectors from all over the world one of the caravans coming to prospect for gold was lost in the desert for several months when the prospectors finally found their way out of the valley one of them baptized the area death valley a name that has been striking fear into the hearts of those who seek to cross it ever since at 85 meters below sea level death valley's badwater basin is the lowest point in the united states the basin is surrounded by desolate lunar landscape with no possibility of shade from the pitiless sun badwater basin is actually on the side of a former lake that has dried up at the bottom settlers found borax deposits the industry that sprung up around them allowed the region to prosper used in detergents and antiseptics the borax was mined here until the 1930s when the industry collapsed and the mines were closed the heart of the borax industry was found in furnace creek in the center of the valley today furnace creek is the location of the park's visitor center that recalls past days of prosperity when the mule trains cross the region these 20 mule trains haul tons of borax through 265 kilometers of scorching desert to the nearest railroad after the desert moonscapes of death valley were back on the road we're heading towards the pacific coast to the city of monterey monterey has always been a magnet for artists and writers including the renowned john steinbeck author of the grapes of wrath it is also the setting of another of his novels cannery row the title is a reference to the canning plants on the city's waterfront monterey has always depended on the sea for its economic development at one time there were 18 canning plants on ocean view avenue and the port bustled with activity overfishing resulted in the disappearance of this industry and the plants were abandoned the area is now completely restored and has been renamed cannery row in homage to the steinbeck novel back on the road we make a pit stop to have a look at an especially resilient tree the lone cypress of pebble beach has been withstanding the pacific wind and storms for over two and a half centuries once again we're on board the bus for the last few kilometers between us and san francisco we enter frisco as the locals know it at dusk to start our visit we'll head toward one of the most visited attractions in the city pier 39 like the santa monica pier pier 39 is home to an eclectic mix of shops amusements and restaurants one of them is bubba gump a chain that has over 35 restaurants all over the world this is where we'll eat tonight there's a wide range of choices on the menu including of course their amazing succulent shrimp and there's no shortage of paraphernalia from the movie that gave the restaurant its name the day dawns behind the oakland bay bridge over san francisco bay it's already our last day on this adventure through the american west we're getting ready to explore another legendary american city san francisco has had a turbulent history and has survived some real catastrophes including one of the most destructive urban fires ever recorded and a succession of earthquakes and yet it remains more lively and dynamic than ever as we finish our breakfast the streetcar starts circulating up and down the steep streets of san francisco in 1776 the city experienced a population explosion during the california gold rush in the late 1840s the thousands of prospectors who moved with their families to the west coast were called 49ers a statue stands in their honor in front of the san francisco city hall for a panoramic view of the city we'll climb to the top of a hill to the next stop on our tour alamo square a park surrounded by victorian row houses with their delicate wooden details a real treat for architecture enthusiasts then we'll get back on the road and have a look at the city the view from golden gate park is simply amazing the golden gate bridge alcatraz island the skyscrapers of the downtown area all the san francisco landmarks are visible in a single glance all around us local artists create their own version of the panorama golden gate park also contains the san francisco conservatory of flowers one of the oldest botanical gardens in the united states since it was founded in 1879 the magnificent victorian pavilion has been a destination for generations of plant lovers but the centerpiece of the park is of course golden gate bridge the most famous bridge in north america it connects san francisco with marin county and the cities of northern california when it was built in the 1930s it was a true technological marvel 2.7 kilometers long and 27 meters wide its suspension towers soar 230 meters above the water the idea to paint it bright orange wasn't only an aesthetic choice the orange paint makes the bridge easier to see in a bay that is often shrouded in fog from the lookout on the north shore we can see a different view of san francisco one that includes the next stop on our american adventure alcatraz island originally named isla de los alcatras island of pelicans this tiny island in san francisco bay occupies a special place in american prison history a military prison at the beginning of the 20th century it was transformed in 1933 into a high security federal penitentiary designed to hold the most dangerous and troublesome prisoners in the system its inmates included al capone mickey cohen and george machine gun kelly the island is a perfect location for a prisoner although it's just under two kilometers from the coast the nasty currents cold water and hungry sharks prevent any escape in addition alcatraz was equipped with a water heating system for the prisoners an uncommon and luxurious feature for a prison at that time this was to make the cold water of the bay even more unbearable we take a self-guided tour with an audio guide it's a perfect tool for our visit to the prison especially because the voice that guides us through the tour belongs to a former prisoner 29 escape attempts have been reported in the official records and every single one of them failed three inmates supposedly succeeded in escaping the prison walls in 1962 but they were never located and it's assumed that they drowned in the bay's icy water the following year the prison was officially closed the cost of operations and renovations were too high and the authorities decided to build a new prison on the mainland since its closure the prison has been made accessible to the public and receives over a million visitors every year the atmosphere is heavy with the memory of the hundreds of prisoners who serve their time alcatraz the island of the pelicans will forever overlook san francisco bay as the sun sets we return to the city center for the last step of our adventure through the american west for a strong finish to our trip we have a surprise waiting for us we'll go for one last tour through the city in a limousine over the oakland bay bridge to yerba buena island giving us a spectacular view of san francisco this all-inclusive tour through the southwestern united states was an incredible experience from los angeles to the grand canyon through death valley to las vegas and with a grand finale in san francisco we got to taste the true flavor of the american west the far west is such a fascinating and iconic region it's going to be tough to beat but don't put your suitcases into storage quite yet the world is full of travel opportunities just waiting to be discovered come along with us on our next trip on the joy of touring you
2021-06-19 21:02
