The Grandest of Canyons

L: We were both excited about going to the Canyon but honestly, nothing prepared us for seeing it in real life. 


We arrived at our hotel mid afternoon and after checking in and orientating ourselves we spent about an hour trying to get a park pass and the bus stop. We missed the bus so had to back track for the car and I felt a teensy bit annoyed at this point. 


However, as we entered the park boundary the anticipation was mounting. We parked the car and followed the general stream of people heading for the humongous precipice ahead. By this time it was about 5pm and when I caught first glimpse of the Canyon all I could see were panels of purples, pinks and blues. As we got to a full view it was truly breathtaking.  


The colours developed as the early evening progressed. It became a view so wondrous in its natural  beauty that I almost cried!! It certainly is one of the Seven Wonders.

As we walked along the canyon edge we dipped in and out of the view points. As it got to near sunset we were still looking out and taking photos. Just then I glanced out to the next outcrop and I saw the silhouette of a couple who had dared to inch their way to a solitary edge, backlit by the setting sun. I turned away but then heard a woman next to me say "ooh look there at that couple, has he just proposed? I think so, he was just down on one knee and now they're hugging!!" 


I turned round to see a classic embrace being played out in silhouette and the sound of applause drifting across the gap. We (almost) witnessed an engagement at the most magical place on earth!!


After that I was just in love with the place and we did our best to explore it as much as possible in the next day and half that we had left. 


There are 277 miles but we only managed to see about 10 at most. The feeling I took away was the sense of total insignificance I got from being such a minute speck in such a huge and ancient place.

D: As Lindsey's said, words and pictures can only 'describe' the Canyon. What they can't properly portray is the 'feel' of it: it has an immediate effect on you... you suddenly realise how small you are, and how fleeting your time on this rock actually is. 


Politicians should be made to go there to put them in their place, and to make them realise their place in the world.


I could've spent hours photographing it, with every passing minute, the colours would change, new rock formations would reveal themselves while others would hide away, seemingly with the intention of surprising someone else the next day.

I'm very certain I annoyed Linds - I was stopping at every outcrop as they presented a new and different nuance that I HAD to photograph. 


The colours, the size, the sheer beauty of the Grand Canyon will stay with me 'til my dying day. 


I came away from it a different - a better - person. 


Someone that realises that this planet of ours can surprise, intimidate and reduce you to tears with a turn of its axis. 


Someone with images and sounds in their head that will provide a lifetime of joy.




Not bad for a hole in the ground, eh?