This time around, I’ll be doing something a little different for ABC Wednesday.
Instead of going around my house and garden and finding a selection of things beginning with the appropriate letter, I’ll be digging into my photo archives to find you something interesting, and telling you a little bit about it.
So today, as we begin again with the letter ‘A‘, I’m going to take you back to June last year when we visited Las Vegas for the second time – but not to the casinos and slot machines. I mean, for goodness’ sake, they don’t even begin with the right letter, do they? No, I’m taking you to North Las Vegas Airport, and this particular airplane, standing on the apron.
You see, we’d booked a sightseeing flight to the Grand Canyon. We knew we wouldn’t have time to drive there, even though it was something OH would have loved to do, so we did the next best thing. We flew out and spent the afternoon in awe and admiration (and astronomical temperatures) before winging our way back to our room at the Bellagio.   Well, back to the airport actually. They don’t allow jets at the Bellagio, even miniature ones.
Anyway.
The Grand Canyon National Park is a very important semi-arid desert environment and supports an abundance of endangered animals and plants. It has considerable archaelogical importance too.
Awesome, isn’t it?  Looking at that photograph, I can hardly believe I was actually there. It’s a truly amazing place.
And … it’s in Arizona!
Aye it is An Amazing job you have done this week! I particularly like the photo of the Grand Canyon, it is Absolutely Awesome I agree!
http://spacialpeepol.blogspot.com/
We were at the canyon two years ago while visiting friends that live in Bullhead City, AZ. We took the Grand Canyon Railroad train (http://www.thetrain.com/), which was a fun time. It departs from Williams, AZ, which is where I had the best fried chicken I ever tasted from one of the restaurants there…
It does take your breath away, a very stark beauty.
It looks Amazing – I enjoy seeing far away places through other peoples eyes….. long haul flights are not my thing I’m afraid – so its the only way I’ll see them.
Keep em coming!!!
“They don’t allow jets at the Bellgrio, not even minature ones..” Haha, pity though, eh?
Spectacular views there, how lucky you are to have been there!
And the aerial view was AWESOME!
Awesome pictures – and I’m sure I can just spy Data clinging onto the cliffs
Aww . .that’s all I’ve got . .just aww, or awe no, it’s “Awwww”
I have an unfinished copy of White Teeth too!
THe canyon must have been awesome.
Great photos, Jay! I have yet to visit the Grand Canyon, but it’s on my list for my next visit to see my daughter in Arizona. You were very brave to go in June–I visit her in the winter, and she comes here in the summer:) But, um, where’s Johnny??
Sistertex – Thank you! I would think it would be hard to take a bad picture of the canyon, wouldn’t you?
Mr N – Oh, the railroad does sound fun! We might have to do that next time! Thanks for the link!
Kate – I hate long haul flights too. It was one of the ‘Depp effect’ things for me. An ‘Oh fuck it, I will go to LA’!
Shrinky – Yes, it was a pity! ROFL!
I was very lucky – but it was OH’s trip really, he’s wanted to see the Grand Canyon for years.
RuneE – Thanks! But actually it’s not an aerial view, just a telephoto shot to compress things a little!
Anthony North – And I’m sure he was there, somewhere! :p
Baino – Awww! LOL!
Liz – The canyon was awesome indeed! White Teeth must be one of Those Books!
Rose – We took that holiday to fit in with an invitation to LA which was at a fixed time, otherwise we’d have gone in February! It was easier than I expected because it’s a very dry heat, but not my first choice, for sure!
Johnny? Well, I won’t be able to fit him in every time this round, but I will be sneaking him in where I can, so watch this space!
Very cool!
Great idea to go into the archives for round 5. I can tell this will be fun!
Sherry
We went to Grand Canyon and Las Vegas several years ago. It was at Christmas time. The Canyon was quite cold, but indeed it was the most amazing sight.
AWESOME photos… how beautiful! It must have been breathtaking to actually have been there. On my list of “to do’s” one day.
My first time at the Grand Canyon was awesome and amazing, too. Although I didn’t get to fly over it, but stood along the rim and just gaped! You’ve come up with a great idea for this round of ABC Wednesday!
It is an amazing experience, Jay! As much as you’d have thought you’d prefer to drive, then hoof it, as we did, between the heat and height, it felt overwhelming. If I were to do it again, I’d definitely choose the aero! There’s something romantic about flying in and out of the mouth of one of mother nature’s grandest feats!
)
I’m glad you had the chance to fly over in your amazing airplane.
We’ve visited and hiked in the Grand Canyon many times. It’s a unique geology with so much beauty to offer. Great idea for the next ABC round.
It’s been noted that your choice for “A” is both awesome and amazing, and I agree. It was artfully done too!
I love your new theme! And the photos are Amazing. I would love to visit that part of the world myself someday
Absolutely Awesome – not a place I’ve been so great to go there virtually.
The Grand Canyon is some place I should like to see! It must be wonderful to fly over it! Thanks for the photos! Thanks also for the visit and the kind comment.
The Grand Canyon is a place I’ve always wanted to see. Seeing it from the air and up close must have been awe-inspiring.
Interesting post and I love the photos of the canyon. We were there (by road in an ancient motorhome) about a year and a half ago. It snowed(!) so we didn’t see much. Too worried about getting down the hill. Looking forward to seeing what else is in your archives.
I love the colours and angle of the photo. A nice comfortable way to see the canyon. Didn’t I read somewhere that they have built a glass shelf sticking out over the canyon, and you can stand on and look down, that would probably freak me out; and yet there is nothing underneath you in a plane either, but that would be OK. Is it the altitude or the attitude?
Sherry – Thank you! I’ll do my best to make it fun!
Grace and Bradley – The Canyon in winter must be a whole other thing. Was it snowy? Is the air clearer? Hmm. Might have to do that some day, if I get the chance!
Maureen – I think such sights, The Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Bryce, Zion, the thermal areas in New Zealand, and Milford Sound, they short-circuit the brain. All you can do is be there, drink in the sights, and try to remember to breathe!
Leslie – Thanks!
Doesn’t everyone just gape, the first time they see it? LOL!
Petra – It was a great experience, but one day, if I’m fit enough, I’d like to do some walking there too!
Janie – You’re lucky to live in such a beautiful state! I would miss the green of England though. The beauty of Utah is much starker than I’m used to. Awesome it is, but soft, it’s not!
Alexa – Thanks! It’s easy to take good pictures at a place like that!
Mara – Thank you! I’d like to go back – I didn’t see more than a tiny fraction of a fraction of it!
Gerald – There are so many places I haven’t been, I know the feeling!
Reader Wil – It is wonderful to fly out to it and see it from the air! But it’s also wonderful to stand on the edge and gaze with your feet on the ground. I’m not sure there is a bad way to do the Canyon!
Dragonstar – Awe-inspiring it most certainly was! And I was glad we went by air, though one day I’d like to walk a little bit of it, or maybe ride down on horseback. That’d be fun!
I’m back again again Jay! Will blog in a day or so and let you know what happened to me. Have caught up with your postings and how exciting they are. The photo of The Grand Canyon is terrific. How lucky you are to have had the opportunity to see it ‘for real’. The most exciting bit of news by far is that you have a new friend sleeping in your doggie bed! Isn’t he adorable? Such liquid eyes and such a gentle face. Please give him a cyber hug from me.
can’t wait to see what you will have next week!
Isn’t it just awesome? Your photos are incredibly fine! Hmmm, the Bellagio – isn’t that where Chihuly’s work is so visible. Yum.
I really love your photo of the Grand Canyon. The geological layers are beautiful.
It is so amazing how many awe inspiring things the world holds for us, – wonderful picture, and I like your idea for this round of ABC.
I hiked the Grand Canyon with my Mum once. We camped down in the bottom and woke up to find a skunk eating Mum’s trail mix. I advised her to let the skunk have it. It really was awesome, from the top all the way to the bottom.
I have been to the Grand Canyon twice. Any photos I ever saw previously never prepared me for the awe that you feel when you come up to the canyon ledge. It truly is a beautiful place. We wanted to try the rafting trip down the Colorado River which runs through it. Instead, we settled for the IMAX experience of the same thing!
Wonderful A!
Granny – So sorry to hear of your troubles.
Looking forward to you getting back into your blog and catching up!
Yes, Sid is a very exciting thing, isn’t he? He’s doing well. Progress is being made! He slept away from me last night for the first time, admittedly in someone else’s bedroom, but I was afraid he was getting too used to me being close. And he saw me get up the next day but didn’t rush off his bed to greet me! YAY!
Scritches and cyber hugs are being delivered. His coat is already shinier with all the massage and polishing he’s getting!
Krizcpec – Next week? Amazingly, I already have it half written! LOL!
Tumblewords – Chihuly? I’ll have to do a Google search!
Squirrel – Thank you! I love rocks, especially in situ, with all the history of their formation showing.
Hildred and Charles – Thanks! Yes, it is indeed amazing how much the is to awe and inspire us.
Don’t Bug Me – I’d have been a little freaked by that, I admit. Apart from the potential smell hazard, there would be the threat of rabies and – apparently – bubonic plague!
Lin – Hi! No, nothing really prepares you for an experience like that, does it? I’m interested in the IMAX rafting trip. It’s about the only way I’d want to experience that!
Tumblewords – Ah yes … I remember being much struck by that huge piece of artwork in the main lobby! Not much to my taste, but quite magnificent in its way. Thanks for putting a name to it for me.
Wow, it truly is awesome! Very impressive!
Wowzah! I really liked this version of ABC Wednesday and I am flipping out over that photo of The Grand Canyon!!!
Martha – It is, isn’t it? Thanks! Perhaps everyone should see the Grand Canyon at some point. It is kind of humbling.
Meleah – Thank you! It’s hard to take a bad picture at the Canyon!
That’s an awesome shot of the Grand Canyon. I’d love to visit the Grand Canyon National Park some day.