The stories of my life on a little island in the middle of the Mediterranean sea ... and my occasional adventures beyond these shores.

Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Highlights From A Summer Trip

We came back last Saturday. I am still a bit jet-lagged and not quite as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as I would like to be. But it will wear off soon. After all, the whole experience is worth the few days’ discomfort. On a less personal level, the change from a continent to a small island is quite drastic. The pilot starts to prepare for landing as soon as the plane has left the shores of Sicily. Approaching Malta, it seems as if the wings of the plane span the island from east to west. Quite a contrast to the huge land mass we’ve spent the last month travelling on.
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The Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, Utah
It has been a memorable trip and it would take me a month of daily posts to be able to share everything that we have seen and all the experiences we have had. I wish I had the time to record every single unforgettable instance but we all know that time is a luxury that few of us can afford to be careless with. There were moments when I wished that every second would last forever. I wanted to stretch time, and then stretch it some more, like an elastic band on a pair of old pyjama pants. Those are the moments that I will share with you, so that when time has passed, I can come back to rekindle those memories and they will warm my heart like a warm fire on a cold winter’s day. So here are a few glimpses into the highs, the lows, the likes and the dislikes of one amazing trip.
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The Grand Tetons, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Most breath-taking moment: seeing the Grand Tetons for the first time.
Nature’s most spectacular show: Old Faithful’s eruption (Yellowstone National Park WY).
Craziest moments: hiking down Snowbird (UT) in my wedge sandals and hurtling down the Alpine Slide (Park City UT).
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Stinkiest place: the Great Salt Lake (Salt Lake City UT).
Best souvenir shopping: Raindance Indian Arts (Jackson Hole WY).
Best breakfast: red velvet pancakes at IHOP.
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Nature’s best architecture: Meramec Caverns (Stanton MO).
Favourite chain stores: TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Gordman’s.
Most beautiful building: Mormon Temple (Salt Lake City UT).
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Mormon Temple, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah
Best value-for-money outing: St Louis Zoo (general admission is free).
Favourite burger joint: Krieger’s Pub & Grill (Quincy IL).
Most impressive sight: an American bison just sitting across a narrow road from us (Yellowstone National Park WY).
Favourite scent: my father-in-law’s gorgeous roses.
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Biggest disappointment: not seeing any bears at the parks.
Cutest moment: watching a squirrel eat an acorn a couple of feet away from me (Grand Teton National Park WY).
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Most unexpected find in a store: a Triceratops skull for $450 000 (Jackson Hole WY). Any takers?
Favourite album on this trip: Voodoo Highway by Badlands (1991).
Holiday reading:  The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

13 comments:

  1. Welcome back Loree! I loved reading your list of Highlights, thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading more when you find the time and feel more up to it...
    I totally loved your picture of the cutest squirrel, great shot! And that rose is unbelievable, beautiful hues.
    Love to all the family,
    Doreen

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  2. Badlands, no way! My husband would get a kick out of that choice. Loree, I love the pic of your toes in the wedges! Well, honestly, I like the overall composition of this post, from the rougey pancakes to the little puffy-cheeked squirrel to the awe-inspiring Tetons. I have to admit the building in SLC made me sad to think of how close we came to meeting. I pray that there will be another opportunity.

    I'm glad you plan to chronicle more so that you can always come back to these posts to relive and maybe even reimagine these days ... once the jet-lag wears off. :)

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  3. Glad to find your post and know you had a nice holiday. The pictures speak for themselves!

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  4. Sounds like you had a lovely trip! I'm with you on T.J. Maxx, squirrels, and the smell of roses (and I had no idea that the Great Salt Lake smelled bad!)

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  5. Welcome back, sounds like you had a wonderful holiday! Glad you got to visit the Grand Tetons, great images, I love the rose and squirrel. :)

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  6. what fantastic shots - sounds like you had an epic journey, loree!! the next time you are in my neighborhood please let me know so we can meet!

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  7. Loree - absolutely wonderful photos and such great highlights. Loved your sentence regarding worn out pajamas. Your way with words is always the best. So glad you are back and looking forward to your posts again...they are always a favorite of mine. Take care and have a great day.

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  8. You always have the best photos Loree -- I love them all!

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  9. Oh, wow! What a trip! We were probably on the road at the same time. I love seeing the highlights and lowlights of the trip and your thoughts about them. I especially giggled at the ... red velvet pancakes from IHOP!

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  10. Glad you all made it back, safe and sound, and sharing your best moments!!

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  11. All good things unfortunately come to an end ! Your post reminds me all the beautiful places we had visited in the States during several years when my American aunt was still alive. I have been at these places too. I loved pancakes with marble syrup for breakfast, which I had never eaten before !

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  12. Sounds like a wonderful trip! Your images are wonderful. xoxo, B

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  13. What a trip! My favorite line "my favorite scent - father in laws roses" There is a certain magic about that line that really lingers with me. I love the USA, just love it xx

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Thanks for stopping by. I read and appreciate every one of your comments. I will do my best to reply whenever I can.

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