Yesterday at Yellowstone we drove down the east side and saw the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lake Yellowstone. There are amazing vistas and waterfalls. The rocks are such great shades of yellow and pink. There isn't much geothermal activity over on that side. We also stopped and walked around Monmouth Terraces. I still don't understand how nature can make such abrupt stair steps. We also saw some more bison (some running down the road), elk, antelope and goats. I figure we hit the Home on the Range trifecta: Buffalo, deer and antelope. The only discouraging words were -"Hey, don't stop in the middle of the road to look at wildlife" and "Don't you think you have taken enough selfies?" It really was scary at how people will come to a dead stop to look at wildlife on the side of the road. There were even little kids wandering in the road. This is in spite of signs everywhere that say not to get close to the wild animals and to only use pullouts. The endless photos by (mostly) Asians got pretty annoying after awhile too. I decided to photobomb their pictures.
Dinner was at the Cowboy Cafe - stew and fried green tomatoes for me and barbecued ribs and brisket for Dean. Darned good. No singing vegetables.
Today we drove through the Park one last time, but the weather had turned crummy with spitting rain, so we didn't stop anywhere. Did get to hear a male elk bugle. Across southern Idaho - lots of farmland. Twin Falls is a good sized town with lots of box stores and an anemic downtown that is trying, but mostly failing. I did get my nails done at a nice salon near the hotel. Well worth it.
On to Walla Walla tomorrow, then home.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Yellowstone
September 30, 2015
Yesterday was our first full day in Yellowstone. What a magical place! We started with a short walk through Norris Geyser Basin, full of steam vents and geysers. The boardwalk takes you right into the mddle of it. Then to Lower Geyser Basin, then on to Old Faithful. No matter how many times you have seen photos and videos, it is still impressive in person. There was a bison grazing in front of it. A light lunch at the Old Faithful Inn, then on to Midway Geyser Basin with amazing colors in the hot pots. Final stop was Gibbon Falls. A great gorgeously sunny blue sky day!
We have decided that the 2 worst things in the National Parks are selfie sticks and therapy dogs.
Dinner last night was OK. Sadly, the beef at the restaurant is just so-so. It could have used some seasoning. Almost snorted my dinner out my nose when the waitress told the couple at the next table that the steak came with a "vegetable melody". Wonder what they are singing?
Yesterday was our first full day in Yellowstone. What a magical place! We started with a short walk through Norris Geyser Basin, full of steam vents and geysers. The boardwalk takes you right into the mddle of it. Then to Lower Geyser Basin, then on to Old Faithful. No matter how many times you have seen photos and videos, it is still impressive in person. There was a bison grazing in front of it. A light lunch at the Old Faithful Inn, then on to Midway Geyser Basin with amazing colors in the hot pots. Final stop was Gibbon Falls. A great gorgeously sunny blue sky day!
We have decided that the 2 worst things in the National Parks are selfie sticks and therapy dogs.
Dinner last night was OK. Sadly, the beef at the restaurant is just so-so. It could have used some seasoning. Almost snorted my dinner out my nose when the waitress told the couple at the next table that the steak came with a "vegetable melody". Wonder what they are singing?
Monday, September 28, 2015
September 2015 continued
For some reason, the last post quit, Anyway, this morning at Glacier I was served cold gloppy oatmeal. Ugh. Leaving Glacier behind, we drove through western Montana. Lots of ranches and wide open spaces. As we approached Gardiner, there were elk along side the road. We checked into our hotel in Gardiner. In the book for the hotel services there was an ad for a Pizza place that someone had amended "VERY BAD PIZZA 9/11/15". The food at the restaurant here is fine: salmon, veggies and a sweet potato with a great vegetable beef soup for starters. Beef is king here though.
We walked through town this afternoon and there was an eld herd in someon's front yerd right on the sidewalk - a bull and 6 females. I have never seen them so close except at the game farm. Of course, camera and phone were in the hotel!
We walked through town this afternoon and there was an eld herd in someon's front yerd right on the sidewalk - a bull and 6 females. I have never seen them so close except at the game farm. Of course, camera and phone were in the hotel!
September 2015
So, we are on our driving vacation to take advantage of our Senior Park Pass and visitng Glacier and Yellowstone.
We left town Friday at 1 PM and made it to RIchland in time to have dinner with Matt at Bookwalter Winery They do not disappoint. I had the salmon salad which was a perfectly cooked piece of wild salmon under a mountain of arugula. The maple roasted carrots are good too. Their red wine blends, especially the Protagonist are very much like Craig's.
The next morning we ate breakfast at my favorite biker bar in the tri-cities, the Sage Port Inn. Once again, I couldn't pass up the chile relleno omlette. Then it was in the car for the 7 hour drive to Glacier. We traveled through some pretty empty country in the Palouse in Eastern Washington a well as norther Idaho and then northwestern Montana. We drove past Flathead Lake which is huge and a lot less wooded than I had imagined it.
Tne in to Glacier. We stayed at the Lake McDonald Lodge, a 101 year old National Park Lodge. The bathroom sink had no shelf to speak of, but the bathroom was so large, we could set up the ironing board to put our toilteries on. The shower was pretty small. Can't imagine how someone like Bob Palmer could turn around in there.
The bar was nice and we watched college football and ate Montana Charcuterie with buffalo pastrami, smoked duck and elk sausage. The bison meatloaf for dinner was tepid and the broccoli was flat out cold. This turned out to be a serious problem with our food at the Lodge.
The next day, we drove the Going to The Sun Highway which bisects the park west to east. It is amazing and the aspen were in high golden color. The road is twisty with a shear drop on the south side until you get to Logan Pass, about 1/2 way. It is on the Continental Divide. The easern section (St Mary's) has been hit hard by forest fires this year, so the little day hikes off the road were not available. We then drove up to Many Glaciers, took a nice walk around the lake there and saw elk, a black bear (at a distance) and a herd of goats (up close). Back to the Lodge and watched the second half of the Seahawks game. The guy sitting next to me in the bar had lived in Sequim 6 years ago and had been the winemaker for Wente Vinyards in California.
Last night we caught the tail end of the eclipse as the moonrise was behind a huge mountain, we missed the first part.
We left town Friday at 1 PM and made it to RIchland in time to have dinner with Matt at Bookwalter Winery They do not disappoint. I had the salmon salad which was a perfectly cooked piece of wild salmon under a mountain of arugula. The maple roasted carrots are good too. Their red wine blends, especially the Protagonist are very much like Craig's.
The next morning we ate breakfast at my favorite biker bar in the tri-cities, the Sage Port Inn. Once again, I couldn't pass up the chile relleno omlette. Then it was in the car for the 7 hour drive to Glacier. We traveled through some pretty empty country in the Palouse in Eastern Washington a well as norther Idaho and then northwestern Montana. We drove past Flathead Lake which is huge and a lot less wooded than I had imagined it.
Tne in to Glacier. We stayed at the Lake McDonald Lodge, a 101 year old National Park Lodge. The bathroom sink had no shelf to speak of, but the bathroom was so large, we could set up the ironing board to put our toilteries on. The shower was pretty small. Can't imagine how someone like Bob Palmer could turn around in there.
The bar was nice and we watched college football and ate Montana Charcuterie with buffalo pastrami, smoked duck and elk sausage. The bison meatloaf for dinner was tepid and the broccoli was flat out cold. This turned out to be a serious problem with our food at the Lodge.
The next day, we drove the Going to The Sun Highway which bisects the park west to east. It is amazing and the aspen were in high golden color. The road is twisty with a shear drop on the south side until you get to Logan Pass, about 1/2 way. It is on the Continental Divide. The easern section (St Mary's) has been hit hard by forest fires this year, so the little day hikes off the road were not available. We then drove up to Many Glaciers, took a nice walk around the lake there and saw elk, a black bear (at a distance) and a herd of goats (up close). Back to the Lodge and watched the second half of the Seahawks game. The guy sitting next to me in the bar had lived in Sequim 6 years ago and had been the winemaker for Wente Vinyards in California.
Last night we caught the tail end of the eclipse as the moonrise was behind a huge mountain, we missed the first part.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Photos from Santiago
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| The Original Site of Santiago |
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| Downtown Santiago - look at the smog! |
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| Downtown Santiago |
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| Government Building |
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| Chilean Palm |
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| Church |
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| Church Detail |
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| Fish Market |
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| Fish Market |
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| Fish Market |
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| King Crab |
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| Fruit in Season! |
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| Not sure they get the concept |
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| Wine Selection at Bocanariz |
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| Wine selection at Bocanariz |
Monday, March 23, 2015
Pictures
Once I get home and can download my camera to my computer, will add photos of the trip.
Note, I have figured out how to add photos to the previous posts, so look there!
Note, I have figured out how to add photos to the previous posts, so look there!
Adios Chile
Our last day. Yesterday was drop dead gorgeous - not a cloud in the sky and about 70 degrees with just enough breeze to keep from getting too warm. Too bad we were in Peulla with not much to do. Took everyone else on the short hike to the Cascada and out to the lago, but after that, just sat around waiting for the 4PM boat to take us back to Puerto Varas. More on the Hotel Natura - the towels were so rough and smelled like they had been left in a wet washing machine too long. Mine had black smudges which looked like someone had polished their shoes with it. Everywhere we have gone in southern Chile, we were served wonderful little round rolls at the start of the meal. Most places, they were warm and fresh out of the oven. They were available all 3 meals we had at the Natura and were stale every time. Wonder when they make them?
Anyway, back to Puerto Varas and the Cumbes Hotel. Almost kissed the floor when we walked in. Walked to an Italian restaurant Alessandrino's with awesome pizza and gnocchi. Great birthday dinner for Dean and JoAnn. Their "individual" pizza was large enough for 2. A beautiful salad with procuitto, soft white cheese, ripe tomatoes and lettuce. I was so sad that I couldn't eat the whole thing.
This morning is so socked in with fog, we can't even see the lake from here (which is right across the street from our hotel). Headed downtown for some last minute shopping.
A few more observations: everyone here wears the basic Patagonia jacket - light weight channel stitched down filled nylon, perfect for most weather. There are dogs everywhere and they are very well behaved. Some do not seem to belong to anyone in particular, but they all are well fed and groomed. Sometimes they will follow you for a distance, but they are not pushy, just kind of looking out for you. Have seen a few cats, but not as prevalent as dogs. The people are mostly pleasant and greet you with Hola or Buenos Tardes (actually more like Bueno tarde), although the ones at Peulla were generally not too friendly.
Its hard to believe we have been here for nearly 2 weeks. We have put on a lot of miles and seen an incredible variety of places. It's a long trip to get here and a lot of miles in the country to travel. Probably will not return, but it has been a great experience. Adios
Anyway, back to Puerto Varas and the Cumbes Hotel. Almost kissed the floor when we walked in. Walked to an Italian restaurant Alessandrino's with awesome pizza and gnocchi. Great birthday dinner for Dean and JoAnn. Their "individual" pizza was large enough for 2. A beautiful salad with procuitto, soft white cheese, ripe tomatoes and lettuce. I was so sad that I couldn't eat the whole thing.
This morning is so socked in with fog, we can't even see the lake from here (which is right across the street from our hotel). Headed downtown for some last minute shopping.
A few more observations: everyone here wears the basic Patagonia jacket - light weight channel stitched down filled nylon, perfect for most weather. There are dogs everywhere and they are very well behaved. Some do not seem to belong to anyone in particular, but they all are well fed and groomed. Sometimes they will follow you for a distance, but they are not pushy, just kind of looking out for you. Have seen a few cats, but not as prevalent as dogs. The people are mostly pleasant and greet you with Hola or Buenos Tardes (actually more like Bueno tarde), although the ones at Peulla were generally not too friendly.
Its hard to believe we have been here for nearly 2 weeks. We have put on a lot of miles and seen an incredible variety of places. It's a long trip to get here and a lot of miles in the country to travel. Probably will not return, but it has been a great experience. Adios
Sunday, March 22, 2015
try again
I have already written a scathing review of this stop, but the internet here is so slow, it wouldn't publish. Anyway, we are at the Hotel Natura Patagonia in Peulla, a microscopic town in the foothills of the Andes, reached by a 2 hour (boring) boat ride on Lago Todos Santos. The area was described as good for nature hikes, but there are no maps or signage. I did find a pretty waterfall after some trial and error and the stars last night were spectacular - the Southern Cross and the Milky Way along with thousands of others I don't know. Problem is, we are trapped here until the boat goes back at 4 today. The food at the lodge is adequate, but not great. The server we had at lunch was the most surly woman I have run in to in South America. The hotel does provide shampoo - and it's Head and Shoulders! Are they trying to tell us something? Getting lots of reading done - Still Alice, which is so sad but well written. Hope this post goes through.
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| Volcano Osorno |
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| Good thing! |
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| Our Boat on Lake Todos Santos |
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| Osorno again |
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| Island on Lake Todos Santos |
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| Another Volcano |
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| Hotel Natura |
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| Hotel Natura |
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| Local Fuscia |
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| Waterfall |
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| Luckily I didn't see any of these gato gigantesco |
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| Waterfall |
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| Really??? |
Friday, March 20, 2015
The Lake District
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| Lago Llanquihue |
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| "Typical" German House |
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| Lago Llanquihue |
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| Resurrection Lilies |
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| The "Ancestors'" Monument |
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| The Bensen Family |
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| Fuscia |
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| Lago Llanquihue |
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| On the grounds of the German Museum Frutillar |
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| German Museum |
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| German Museum |
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| Local flora |
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| The volcano makes it's appearance |
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| Music Hall Frutillar |
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| Lutheran Church Frutillar |
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| Giant Rhubarb Lakes District |
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| German-Chilean Cafe |
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| Meat on the spit |
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| Volcano Osorno |
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| High School Puerto Octay |
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| Catholic Church Puerto Octay |
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| Catholic Church Puerto Octay |
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| Salmon Farming |
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