My Summer Vacation

I really meant to begin my travelogue at the beginning of our trip, but the internet wasn't working at the first couple of places we stayed.  Apart from not being able to blog, I went through serious communications withdrawal.

We left home on the morning of July 4th and headed to Las Vegas.  When we arrived, we were thrilled to be upgraded to a mini-suite.  I opened a door and found the bathroom; assuming the door across from it was a closet, I opened it, and discovered another bathroom! How very civilized.

That evening, we grabbed a quick dinner at the hotel buffet, and then slowly wandered over to the Bellagio to see O, the Cirque du Soleil show that takes place mostly in a pool.  I loved the show, but was really tired and looking forward to getting back to our room to do some reading, but we got caught up in a sea of people as we tried to exit the building.

Apparently, when the fireworks began, everyone tried to crowd into the same spot to watch them.  This was made difficult by the fact that there were approximately 5 gazillion people on the Strip.  It took us nearly 45 minutes to get back to Treasure Island, where we were staying.  Since it was still close to 100 degrees at 10:30 p.m., I was completely wilted.  I didn't get anything done except showering and sleeping.

Photo by Tod Beebe

Friday morning, we headed towards Utah, where we planned to do a tour of Zion National Park before continuing to Bryce Canyon NP, where we planned to stay the night.  There are few private vehicles allowed in Zion; visitors are encouraged to park in Springdale and take a shuttle down to the  entrance, where one can then board a shuttle that circles through the park. 

We got off the shuttle at a couple of places. At one, the Weeping Rock, I actually hiked 1/4 mile (mostly uphill). I was very proud of myself -- I only complained a little bit. 

Red Canyon

On the way to Bryce, we stopped at Red Canyon, and took a few photos.  By the time we left there, it was raining, and we didn't get into Bryce Canyon City till around 7:00 p.m.  When we tried to check into the hotel, we discovered that the reservation had been messed up, so we didn't have a room.  The only one left was a suite, which we decided to take (despite the fact that it wasn't free).



On Saturday morning, we did a quick drive around Bryce Canyon to see the hoodoos, and then headed for our next stop:  Ouray, Colorado.

Just finished reading...

Driven to Ink by Karen E. Olson.*

Brett Kavanaugh is a tattoo artist who owns an upscale shop called The Painted Lady in Las Vegas.

She lends her car to Sylvia Coleman and Bernie Applebaum, so they can get married at a drive-in wedding chapel. They're so elderly that she's doubly surprised to find a dead body in the trunk when they return it.

The body belongs to a Dean Martin impersonator who worked at the chapel where the couple were wed, and there's a clip cord from a tattoo machine around it's neck. When she tries to reach Sylvia and Bernie on their honeymoon, they've vanished, and she begins to worry. Did the person who killed the fake Dean Martin hurt her friends, too?

Although her brother Tim, a policeman, warns her not to get involved, she thinks she already is, through her car. She's determined to find out how the body got into the trunk, but she doesn't anticipate how much danger she's putting herself into.

The third Tattoo Shop Mystery is a fast-paced story, and a quick enjoyable read. You don't have to have tattoos to enjoy it.

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.