After the short stopover in Mono lake, we get back to intensity with Yosemite national park. To enter the park from the East, the only way is through Tioga pass (3000m above sea level). It's June but the road has been open for a few weeks only and some years it's not yet opened by then because of the snow. It was one of our worries planning this trip but the weather and climate change (very bad drought in California the last few years) are with us.
Ghosts
For once, the program of the day is rather light. Not far north is a ghost town named Bodie. The only way to get there is via a gravel road, but after Death Valley we're ready for anything. In 1859, gold is found in these hills. Mines are dug and a city is founded shortly after, gold rush style. The town is abandoned in 1920 but some people keep on living there until 1942. It's a strange feeling to walk in the streets of a ghost town.
Fangorn forest
Sadly it's now time to leave Death Valley and to get back on the road. We are 400km away from Mono lake. When we leave Stovepipe Wells, we're 3m above sea level and it's already 40C. Half an hour later, at Towne Pass, We're 1500m above sea level and it's less than 30C... It's very weird to see the temperature dropping so fast on the car's thermometer. We stop a few times to enjoy the views and take a few pictures. The Sierra Nevada is in front of us and the promised land of California is on the other side of these mountains. We stop in a parking lot which has a vista point that is supposed to be exceptional...deception !
Zabriskie point
It’s 4:15am when the alarm clock goes off and it’s not a mistake! We want to enjoy dawn from Zabriskie Point after having enjoyed sunset when we arrived in the park. It’s 45min away and when we get there it’s still dark. A few people are already there, waiting; and of course some photographers with their tripods. The show is once again magical, we lose the stars little by little, then the sky turns from black to dark blue, then to herald the sun, red tints are added to the mix. We stay for about an hour, admiring the light-show on the surrounding mountains. People keep on arriving but the best of the show is already over.
Fly me to the moon
The original plan was to get up early and avoid the intense heat of the desert. Sadly that didn’t work, we overslept! Hopefully we’re not too late for breakfast. Just waking there makes us realize the heat is going to be a problem and it’s only 9am. The first attraction of the day is Mesquite Flat sand dunes. It’s on the way to Furnace creek, a 10 min drive. On these dunes, 30ish years ago, were shots the scenes of Star Wars IV when the droids land on Tatooine in the escape pod (shortly followed by storm troopers).
On the road
The night before leaving is always filled with a gazillion things to do. We know we should go to bed early but there is always one last thing to take care of and, of course, the excitement; so it never happens. When the alarm rings at 4:30am, it feels like we had a nap, not a night’s sleep. Cursing the alarm clock, we grab our stuff and are on our way to the airport; a taxi across town to Port Authority and a bus to Newark. Time-wise, we’re good. Quietly seated in the bus and waiting for the departure, my travel partner (amongst other things) realizes she left her wallet home. Hopefully she has her passport but not a single credit card. Of course it’s too late to go back. On the bright side, it’ll make accounting much easier :D
Muad'dib
In the desert, one wakes up early, willing or not ;) We want to do as much as possible before it gets too hot but the tent is turning into a sauna anyway. Our guide will drive us around the desert to show us a bunch of interesting places. The first stop is a natural bridge. We climb all the way up to enjoy the view. On the way down, I follow the guide’s example and I run down then jump for the last few meters and land in the soft sand. It’s a fast and efficient technique and of course I like it having some goat and monkey blood. The 2nd stop is also a natural bridge but not as impressive as the first one.
Indiana Jones
After the amazing day we had yesterday, getting up is a little bit more difficult and we’re finally ready a little later than expected. The plan today is to do Petra by day. It’s very different by day. The shades we were seing yesterday night are in fact tombs. In the Siq itself, we can see the water “pipes” on either side, dug in the rock. With the daylight we’re loosing a bit of the mistery but we get to see a lot more details ;) The treasury is as impressibe by day as it is by night. The plaza is buzzing with activity with merchants, camels, donkeys (not tourists), tourists (not donkeys). The city is very much alive.
Pedo mellon a minno *
Last day of class ! To enjoy longer weekends, the two students negotiated with their teacher to have extra hours each day in exchange for a 4 days week (Sunday to Wednesday). I follow the Lonely Planet’s advice to make the most of my last free morning in Amman. Not too far from home, there’s a center for modern art built on hillside on the ruins of an ancient church and ever more ancient pagan temple. The church was in fact built on top of the ruins of the temple. The place is extremely quiet with gardens, fountains,… super relaxing in the hectic city that is Amman.
Lawrence of Arabia
I’m back on the crime scene but this time at the bottom of the hill. The amphitheater leans against another hill and is extremely steep. Getting all the way up is quite the work-out but the view is sick. Just next to the amphitheater is the much smaller Odeon, also a very nice piece of roman architecture. I stop by the nearby souk on the way back to by fruits and because it’s always fun to visit local markets. As expected I stand out and I end up leaving the market with more than expected ;) It was very animated with lots of things begging for attention whether it was people, odors or sights. I walk back home with just the lonely planet map and my phone’s compass.