"Leaving our second home to the first home"

Flight Denver to Frankfurt | Germany | USA | 2010-04

After the 30-days trip this year we left Denver at the end of April from the International Airport. In 2009, Denver International Airport was the tenth-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic with 50.167.485 passengers. It was also the fifth-busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements with 606.006 movements. The airport's distinctive white tensile fiberglass roof is aesthetically designed to be reminiscent of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in winter.

"Red Rocks and other things"

Denver | Colorado | USA | 2010-04

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a rock structure in Red Rocks Park near Morrison, Colorado (west of Denver), where concerts are given in the open-air amphitheatre. There is a large, tilted, disc-shaped rock behind the stage, a huge vertical rock angled outwards from stage right, several large outcrops angled outwards from stage left and a seating area for up to 9,450 people in between.

"Colorado´s wine country"

Grand Junction | Colorado | USA | 2010-04

Grand Junction is located along the Colorado River, where it receives the Gunnison River from the south. The name "Grand" refers to the historical upper Colorado River until renamed in 1921, and the word "Junction" is from the joining of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. Hence, Grand Junction has been given the nickname "River City".

"A place with over 2.000 sandstone arches"

Arches National Park | Utah | USA | 2010-04

Arches National Park is a U.S. National Park in eastern Utah. It is known for preserving over 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations. Forty-three arches have collapsed due to erosion since 1970.

"Where is the physical law?"

Landscape Arch | Arches National Park | Utah | USA | 2010-04

Arches National Park is a U.S. National Park in eastern Utah. It is known for preserving over 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations. Forty-three arches have collapsed due to erosion since 1970.

"My third visit of this beautiful monument"

Delicate Arch | Arches National Park | Utah | USA | 2010-04

Delicate Arch is a 52 ft (16 m) tall freestanding natural arch located in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. It is the most widely-recognized landmark in Arches National Park. Delicate Arch is located at the end of a moderately strenuous, 1.5 mi (2.4 km) hiking trail from the parking area at Wolfe Ranch.

"Forrest Gump stopped running here; Thelma and Louise did not."

Monument Valley | Utah | USA | 2010-04

The Monument Valley area is part of the Colorado Plateau. The floor is largely Cutler Red siltstone or its sand deposited by the meandering rivers that carved the valley. The valley's vivid red color comes from iron oxide exposed in the weathered siltstone. The darker, blue-gray rocks in the valley get their color from manganese oxide. Monument Valley was film set for many Hollywood Movies like "Forrest Gump" or "Thelma and Louise".

"Beam of lights and flash flood danger"

Antelope Canyon | Page | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Antelope Canyon is the most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest.It is located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, photogenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as Upper Antelope Canyon or The Crack; and Lower Antelope Canyon or The Corkscrew. On August 12, 1997, eleven tourists were killed in Lower Antelope Canyon by a flash flood.

"Driving westward through empty plains"

St. George to Page  | Nevada | Utah | USA | 2010-04

This daytrip went along the same routes we made in 2008. But this time we only wanted to come from A (St. George/Utah) to B (Page/Arizona). We didn´t passed the Zion Nationalpark like in 2008, we took the street via Hurricane and Colorado City. First thought was to stay in Page after visiting again the Antelope Canyon, but for some reasons we went further on this day to Monument Valley.  

"Where the stones appear to be on fire" - Part 2

Valley of Fire SP | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Valley of Fire is located 50 mi (80 km) northeast of Las Vegas and Nevada's oldest state park. It was dedicated in 1935. It derives its name from red sandstone formations, formed from great shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays.

"Where the stones appear to be on fire" - Part 1

Valley of Fire SP | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Valley of Fire is located 50 mi (80 km) northeast of Las Vegas and Nevada's oldest state park. It was dedicated in 1935. It derives its name from red sandstone formations, formed from great shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays.

"Unique geologic features, plants and animals"

Red Rock Canyon | Las Vegas | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Red Rcok Canyon is located about 15 miles (24 km) west of Las Vegas, and easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip. The area is visited by over 1 million visitors each year. The conservation area showcases a set of large red rock formations: a set of sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust. The walls are up to 3,000 feet (910 m) high, making them a popular hiking and rock climbing destination.

"The Entertainment Capital of the World" ... at daytime

Day | Las Vegas | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Established in 1905, Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911. With the growth that followed, at the close of the century Las Vegas was the most populous American city founded in the 20th century. Las Vegas has one of the highest suicide and divorce rates of the U.S. For similar reasons, Las Vegas has also one of the highest marriage rates of U.S..

"The Entertainment Capital of the World" ... at nighttime

Nights | Las Vegas | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Established in 1905, Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911. With the growth that followed, at the close of the century Las Vegas was the most populous American city founded in the 20th century. Las Vegas has one of the highest suicide and divorce rates of the U.S. For similar reasons, Las Vegas has also one of the highest marriage rates of U.S..

"One of the last crossings by vehicles"

Hoover Dam | Nevada | USA | 2010-04

Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression. Hoover Dam is a major tourist attraction; nearly a million people tour the dam each year. Heavily travelled U.S. 93 ran along the dam's crest until October 2010, when the Hoover Dam Bypass opened.

"McDonalds with a teal 'M' instead of a yellow"

Sedona to Kingman | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Sedona's main attraction is its stunning array of red sandstone formations, the Red Rocks of Sedona. The formations appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The Red Rocks form a breathtaking backdrop and so it´s no wonder that in Sedona is the only McDonalds in the world with a teal "M" instead of a yellow "M".

"One of the most unknown beautiful park" - Part 2

Picacho Peak State Park | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Picacho is a Spanish word meaning big peak. This "big peak" is visible from downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles. Picacho Peak State Park is celebrated for wildflowers that appear mid-March to early April following good winter rain. For me it was one of the highlights in our 2010-Travel through the USA.

"One of the most unknown beautiful park" - Part 1

Picacho Peak State Park | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Picacho is a Spanish word meaning big peak. This "big peak" is visible from downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles. Picacho Peak State Park is celebrated for wildflowers that appear mid-March to early April following good winter rain. For me it was one of the highlights in our 2010-Travel through the USA.

"The town too tough to die"

Tombstone | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Tombstone was founded in 1879 by Ed Shieffelin. He was a scout for the U. S. Army headquartered at Camp Huachuca. Ed frequently searched the wilderness looking for valuable ore samples. Soldiers from the camp told him the only stone he would find was his tombstone. Tombstone is famous for its Western History where Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday fought in the well-known OK Corral Gun Fight.

"Spending a wonderful day"

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum | Tucson | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place!  The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.

"Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona ..."

Tucson | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Tucson means 'at the base of the black hill'. Tucson is the 32nd largest city and 52nd largest metropolitan area in the United States. The Beatles song 'Get Back' talks about Tucson, Arizona:'Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona for some California Grass'.

"Desert Wilderness on the Border to Mexico" - Part 2

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a U.S. National Monument and UNESCO biosphere reserve located in extreme southern Arizona which shares a border with the Mexican state of Sonora. The park is the only place in the U.S. where the Organ Pipe Cactus grows wild. It takes 150 years to reach maturity and to reach their maximum of 7-8 Meters (23-26ft).

"Desert Wilderness on the Border to Mexico" - Part 1

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a U.S. National Monument and UNESCO biosphere reserve located in extreme southern Arizona which shares a border with the Mexican state of Sonora. The park is the only place in the U.S. where the Organ Pipe Cactus grows wild. It takes 150 years to reach maturity and to reach their maximum of 7-8 Meters (23-26ft).

"Snowbirds and White Cities"

San Diego to Ajo | California | Arizona | USA | 2010-04

The term Snowbird is used to describe people from the U.S. Northeast, U.S. Midwest, or Canada who spend a large portion of winter in warmer locales such as California or Arizona. There are places like Quartzsite, Arizona, that have been labeled "white cities" because from a bird's eye view all the motorhomes cover the landscape in white and then in the summer are gone.