Grand Canyon

I’ve often heard people say the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground.

But man, what a hole!

In May, 2011, I took a tour that went from Denver to Las Vegas and went through what I would say is some of the most amazing scenery in the world. I mean, who knew that southern Utah and the surrounding area could be so spectacular? We visited park after park – Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Capitol Reef, Zion, Bryce and of course, the Grand Canyon.

As it was getting near the end of our tour, our guide, Gordon, suggested that we get a group photo inside the Grand Canyon Lodge. The lodge, built in 1928, is a collection of cabins with a main building that contains the check-in lobby, a restaurant and also has a large room with an incredible view of the canyon.

It’s a busy spot with tourists moving back and forth, but Gordon managed to get the thirty-two people on our tour seated out of the way in front of the fireplace. With the help of our driver, Anson, Gordon spent the next ten minutes taking pictures of everyone with the dozen or so cameras we had left for him on a couch.

When they were done, someone suggested to Gordon and Anson that we get their picture in front of the fireplace, so Anson took a seat in a grand armchair and Gordon stood behind him. We retrieved our cameras and took our time taking pictures of the pair.

Then the tourists in the room started to slow down and watch. I thought nothing of it as I took a second and third shot when some of the tourists joined us and took pictures as well. The stranger standing next to me snapped a shot then leaned over and asked, “who are they?”

I said we were on a tour and that they were our driver and guide.

The man grumbled some colourful words then walked away, deleting the photo off his camera.

I suppose I could have told him they were Denzel Washington and Sean Connery.

Ummmmm….nah.