After returning from a remarkable trip to Egypt, I am excited to share my experiences. Highlights include visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the Tutankhamun mask's new display left a lasting impression.

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How do you feel about letting wild animals roam free?

“Wilderness without wildlife is just scenery.” (Lois Crisler)

Sunday did not seem like the ideal time to visit the Grand Canyon as we didn’t feel up to fighting the heavy weekend crowds gazing over the South Rim that day. So it seemed like we were looking for something similar to do withrelaxing outdoor environs. Fortunately, Bearizona Wildlife Park turned out to be one of the most interesting  excursions so far of our road trip. For on this cool morning we found ourselves instead winding through a well designed safari adventure where the creatures—not the visitors—set the terms of the encounter. Of course I  was thinking tourist trap “ripoff” at the time with perhaps a few lazy animals laying around in the distance hoping to hide from the oppressive Arizona sun. Yet the well managed space with plenty of Ponderosa Pine tree cover and designated turnoffs for close viewing of bears, wolves, deer, elk and bison proved to be an inviting use of our time. 

Know as well that at the conclusion of our three mile drive, included in our admission was nearby Fort Bearizona, where we leisurely embarked on a self guided walk along a winding path throughout the zoo portion of the park. A picnic lunch concluded this three hour relaxing experience which left our afternoon free for indulging in other sights near Williams, Arizona that day. The popular Grand Canyon would still be there for us to visit on Monday. But this unexpected day indulging in interesting viewings of wildlife felt right  for us then.

What’s the most peaceful place on earth you’ve ever visited?

“When your spirit cries for peace, come to a world of canyons deep in the old land.” (August Frug)

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is logically a destination that I could  bypass on our road trips . But I’ve learned never to discount the opportunity to return. So on this road trip visit , we decided to take our time more from previous visits and concentrate on walking away from the tourist masses along the famed Canyon Rim Trail . We’d thus embark on a four mile hike from our parking spot near Yavapai Point in a westerly direction to the National Park Visitor Center. From there,it  would be convenient to return back near our point of departure by way of shuttle bus option. Our objective that morning at this slower pace seemed right for finding some peaceful solitude along some inviting vista points of our own choosing. And amid such silence, some amazing sensations definitely happened. 

I might then best describe such pleasurable feelings along the rim on this occasion as the human world around me seeming to pause from motion. Conversations softened , footsteps muted and I felt the soft wind moving me along with steady intention. Then the vastness  of this of this canyon seemed observably strong as I noticed once again its deep layers of contrasting color and shadow in this vastness of space.

But what amazed me most on this occasion was how the canyon seemed to settle something deep inside my mind. For I  seemed reminded me to “let go “ of whatever uneasiness I felt about current life challenges and just concentrate on feeling thankful  moment by moment for the opportunity to experience  such beautiful stillness on this day. Gratitude then seems to be the greatest gift the Grand Canyon keeps giving me that for the first time I am so happy I fully noticed it.