Zion & Bryce Canyon National Park

Wow, I've been here for a month already! Somehow it's a little sad. Right now, I'd most like to extend by a year 😊😊😊 I used to be the queen of homesickness, but on this trip, I haven't felt for a second that I wanted to go home. Probably because I really wanted to make this trip - the obligatory language stay in England 10 years ago was the complete opposite. It's really soooo amazing here, I feel so privileged to be able to experience all of this. ('blessed' sounds better to me, but 'gesegnet' is not quite such a suitable translation). Often I look out of the bus with wide eyes and an open mouth, because these landscapes blow me away.

Tuesday was another day with so many wow experiences as we visited Zion National Park. Along the way, we saw breathtaking hills shimmering in colors from yellow to green, brown to copper red. (Then I learned that the iron gives the red color to the rocks - the geologist 😜) Beautiful! I think you can always look at these parks again and again, the beauty of nature never gets boring.

In Zion Park, we could choose whether and how long we hiked again. We Swiss chose a moderate path of 1.5 hours because it was too hot for us again for 3- or 4-hour trails. The path fascinated me because of the red soil, that was so unusual!
In the evening, we all ate Mexican food near the park (except for the driver, he often finds it too expensive. I recently talked to him about how I find it incredible that his meals are not included in our price, with my school trips, the accompanying person's meals are always calculated. But that's how it is here, that's why he also says that he lives from our tips, 7-10 dollars a day are appropriate for him.)

We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Springdale and drove to Bryce Canyon National Park on Wednesday. Here too, I was speechless and incredibly fascinated by the 'Hoodoos', as the rock formations are called. Every day I think to myself: 'That was the most beautiful park so far!' And then the next one comes...
On Wednesday and Thursday we lived on a ranch in Boulder, Utah for two nights. The ranch was in the middle of nowhere - Dave (the driver) said we were 140 km away from the nearest Taco Bell, that says it all 😂 No cell phone reception, lousy Wi-Fi, and a warehouse feel because here we shared a room with a bunk bed for three (me on top 😊) But it was very peaceful and the food was fantastic, all self-grown, eggs, salad, fruits... We were cooked for three times a day 😊
On Thursday, you could sign up for horseback riding, but since I'm not such a fan of horses, I went hiking with the 4 other non-riders. (Today saw the first snake, aaah 🙈🙈🙈)

It's so great how often we hike here, I thought we would mainly stop for photo stops and then continue driving, but that's even better! Dave also said that I would definitely hike even more on the camping tour. I'm glad I brought my hiking gear (@ Biene: MERRELL in da Souourhououse 😂😂)

On Friday it's time again: Let's go on - Destination Monument Valley 😊 Before the trip, I thought it would stress me out completely to pack the suitcases every day or every other day, but it's going great! I got into the habit of unpacking only the clothes for the next day and the pajamas, I always have the toiletry bag in a separate bag on the tour, so I rarely have to dig into the suitcase.

After 2/3 of the trip, I can already draw a positive 'interim conclusion' about the experience with the travel group - I enjoy the combination of 'guided' / comfortable parts like 'not having to check in', 'not having to drive' or not being alone on the hiking trails. And yet I still have time for myself. Since we are usually accommodated in places where there is not much besides a gas station, souvenir shops, and restaurants, I usually use my free time to do laundry, or if there is a gym, I do a few exercises (@ Naddel: Soon pre-workout smouououthies at Cha Cha 😊😊 Bodypump & Attack ♥️♥️), or I plan further trips - just booked whale watching on Vancouver Island 😊 And I write a lot. The author 😜 In addition to this travel blog, I still have my notebook diary-whatever, where I write down, for example, new vocabulary (🤓📖), notes about the trip, for example, what things I should have taken with me or - this list is much longer - what I should have left at home 😂 And of course, I write down a lot about my thoughts and feelings, how I'm doing, etc., so things that I want to document but are not intended for everyone, The blog is not password protected after all. I am amazed myself at how this 'this trip will be good for you' prophecy actually comes true. There are sometimes very small things that don't initially catch my attention but then become conscious and amaze me later and make me happy, so I write them down. Moments when I think to myself: Before, in situation X, I would have immediately thought Y. And now I perceive many new impressions differently. I had hoped for that too, but I was very skeptical whether it would actually happen. But especially since I have been alone or with 'strangers', I notice many changes. I think my brain is just too busy processing and storing the new impressions and does not ask like a computer: 'Do you really want to replace these thoughts? Click yes / no', it simply happens. At home, in the familiar environment and with the familiar people, it was harder for me to switch off. That's why I'm so glad I tackled this here, I'm happy about all the small as well as big successes and proud that I can make it on my own. So far, only the heat has been able to overcome me. Independent woman af 😜 Or even better: A Harley rider from Georgia, whom I met in Jackson, said: 'You really are a badass! 😂😂 Yes, I am! 😊😊