1) Greg and I love the desert so we found the
landscapes in West Texas fascinating and dramatic. I will post a couple photos. What do you think? I know people who believe that if there isn’t
water (preferably the ocean) within driving distance, it’s not a place worth going to. I agree that the ocean is beautiful, but I
think the desert has its own grandeur and grace.
2) Being away from home for nearly a month is kind of weird. Coming home, it’s almost like coming back to a
place that has been frozen in time. Here’s
what I mean. I set the alarm clock on
the phone last night because I had to get up this morning at eight and the
phone is reliable whereas my actual alarm clock is not. The phone asks for the date first, then the
time, and then what catchy tune you want to wake up to. I entered in the relevant information. This morning, I woke up (thankfully!) and looked at the
clock. I had set the phone alarm for 8 am, but
it was 8:06 am according to my clock that is precisely 6 minutes slow. So I’m lying there at 8:12am trying to figure
out why the darn phone didn’t sing. What
the heck?? Who needs a problem like that
before they’ve had their coffee?? Well,
long story short, when I checked to see why the phone alarm didn’t go off, it
was because I set it for January 7 not February 7. For me, it was like January hadn’t happened
yet since we spent it on the road. I
have to get over that…and soon!
3) Sometimes while traveling, you happen to have
conversations with random strangers. My
favorite of this trip was when I ran into a young man at an overlook on the Rio
Grande. The view was spectacular and he
was taking pictures. He turned to me
with a big smile on his face and I said, “It sure is beautiful!” He grinned and told me that he was 28 years
old and it was his first time there. Up to then, he had spent his whole life in Odessa, Texas, where it is very flat and he had never seen anything as
beautiful as what we were looking at.
His enthusiasm for the natural beauty around us simply made my day. This is what we were looking at:
4) We did pass through Odessa on our way home and
now I understand where he was coming from.
The Odessa area is not the most beautiful area of Texas. But it does have its charms. Like, did you know that there is a
scaled-down version of Stonehenge on the campus of the University of Texas of
the Permian Basin in Odessa? No? Well, there
is. Odessa is also the home of the World’s
Largest Jack Rabbit. No lie. I just love coming across that kind of stuff
when we travel.
 |
| Stonehenge, Texas style. |
 |
| The World's Largest Jack Rabbit lookin' pretty smug. |
5) Here’s a packing tip if you are going on a long
trip: Always take a couple of fashionable,
colorful scarves along.
I didn’t and found myself wishing I had on numerous occasions. They take up no space in a duffle bag and
they can really spark up a t-shirt and jeans if you find that you want to go to
a “business casual” as opposed to a plain old “casual” restaurant. Doesn’t that sound like something you might
read in Vogue or Elle? I'm not sure since I don't read either.
17 comments:
Desert's grandeur & grace...
I wholeheartedly agree! I was glad I drove the first time I saw the desert plains and the desert southwest because it gave my eyes time to gradually adjust from (then) Midwest verdure to western style subtleties... I found the desert to be filled with colors, just not usually so riotously rich & saturated as I'd been accustomed to. However, sunrise & sunset in Arches Natl Park... now THAT is riotous loud color! Yes, I do agree!
I don't travel at all but taking a scraf with you is good advice, plus it can keep you warm on some occasions. great photos.
have a great day.
love your tips. i love the enthusiasm you encountered in the young man from odessa. i've been to midland and know it is flaaat country. :) i loved your fence photo - and what's not to love about rocks and old trees? :)
There is wonderous beauty everywhere. Your photos prove it. Thanks for sharing these great photos.
Oh your photos are fabulous. I love it when I meet people travelling and they have never seen where you are both standing it works both ways. Nice tip on the scarves. B
awesome 1st shot. so cool. i would so agree with scarves, they are great for dress up an outfit. fun too. ( :
Your photos of the dessert are really beautiful. It definitely has it's own beauty. I can see why the young man was so taken with the Rio Grande river. Wow. The colours of the landscape are wonderful. I love talking to other tourists and listening to their accents. It's so interesting. I always throw a pretty scarf or two in my suitcase. I'm always cold. :)
I've never seen a desert, but photos show a great beauty. I would like to experience it. I'm partial to mountains. I lived in a very flat part of Ohio for 5 years, and I was always glad to see the Virginia hills and mountains on visits.
i am with you, i don't read the magazines but it does sound like a tip from a magazine.
my favorite part of the post is the story of the young man from Texas... i love it... and good to know young people can appreicate the beauty around us... a wonderful trip and a ha ha on the wrong month alarm.. that could be me.
photos are awesome and i would love to see the desert and the grand canyon and just about anything that is out there. hubby loves beaches and we have seen a bunch. i love them to but i would love to see AZ
Enjoyed reading your post as much as looking at the photos!
awesome images!! i have only visited the grand canyon once, when i was a young girl. i would like to go back as an adult!!
I'm positive that is exactly something you would find in Vogue or Elle. I don't subscribe to either, but occasionally pick up the Vogue when I find my way to the hair-dresser. Fun facts on your travel, as for alarm clocks - I'm paranoid I will set it for p.m. versus a.m. and probably get up a couple of time to double (triple) check.
Thanks for sharing these fun randoms.
I love this country for all the unusual beauty it has to offer -- I agree with you on that! xo
The image with the stream is gorgeous! I thought most of Texas was flat until I visited Austin and New Braunfels. There are some beautiful areas of the state that are definitely worth spending time in. And your photos prove it! :)
beautiful! and number 3 just made me happy :)
I love your blog and especially the latest ones. I have lived in Texas for many many years and you have seen more of it than I ever have. Now I really want to visit the desert!
I'd take this over the ocean, any day. Don't know why...but ocean does not hold much appeal for me. Great Lakes, or Mississippi River is a different story.
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