So much to tell you, let's start with Dallas and Jackson

So we must apologize to those of you who have been sitting by your computer screens waiting for us to blog - we've been very bad! In our defense, we've been spending time with such wonderful people and having so much fun that we just didn’t have an opportunity to update.

Rather than fill you in on everything all at once, let's start with Dallas and Jackson, and a little bit later we'll tell you about our Tennessee Tour.

After a drive lasting over 12 hours we were beyond pleased to be spending the next 4 nights with Sondra, Ryan, Harley and Jackie. They were wonderful hosts, and we had so much fun spending time with them; Danny especially enjoyed the fact that Ryan was happy to play with him on the Wii, while Micol enjoyed spending time with two adorable doggies (no comment on the other dog we spent time with in Dallas - ahem, stuart!).

Among the highlights of our stay in Dallas were: Dinners at great restaurants with Sondra, Ryan, David and Bethany; A trip to see Bruno (which is hard to put into words - we definitely enjoyed it, some more than others, but not sure how exactly to describe it and I think we are also trying to keep this blog PG); a visit to David’s barber of 25 years (which also involved a shave from Mr. Everhart - good with his hands but a serious chain smoker, so Danny got what we like to call the Tobacco Shave); a trip to a hookah bar (bringing back memories of Israel), and a lot of time spent on the Wii (well Danny spent time on the Wii, while Micol played with the puppies). And finally we drove downtown for a very posh lunch with David and Bethany (thanks Bethany for treating us!), and we got to wax nostalgic, driving by the Belo Mansion, the site of the wedding – it brought back lovely memories.

After Dallas we went directly east to Jackson, Mississippi to visit Jordan. Apart from our wonderful host Jordan and our visit to the Institute for Southern Jewish Life (where Jordan works), there really isn’t a lot to tell you about Jackson. Except for the fact that on the first morning there, we experienced a crazy thunderstorm complete with blinding lightening and torrential rain (thank you once again America for this lovely send off). And of course, the storm was quickly followed by the hot and sticky humidity for which Mississippi is so famous.

That said, Jackson was the scene of a great triumph, as together with Jordan (and two of her friends) we entered a local pub quiz, and emerged victorious. Our team, the Jackson 5, won a resounding victory storming home with only 6 mistakes out of 45 questions. That said, I am not sure winning a pub quiz in Jackson is the biggest achievement (you know what they say…) Micol did believe that one of the reasons we won, besides her ridiculously high IQ, was the fact that another competing group named themselves the Jackson 4 - In Micol's words, "It was just too soon" and their disrespect turned in our favor.

After our victorious win, we spent one of the worst hours of our life in the foyer of a movie theatre in Jackson waiting for the sixth installment of Harry Potter to begin. Despite the lack of organization, fire hazard, and all round incompetence, the people in Jackson are so calm and laid back that Danny was the biggest agitator in the crowd, trying to start the crowd on a booing spree - it did not really catch on in the way he had hoped and everyone was left wondering why Daniel Radcliffe's much older brother was in Jackon, Mississippi and why on earth he was booing his own brother's film. After that experience the movie had to be utterly fantastic to make up for the hour of sweaty hell (Micol thought it was worth it, Danny was unconvinced, and he swore never to return to that cinema - an angry letter is in the works - to the movie theater that is, not the filmmaker).

We then put on our blue suede shoes and boarded the car...to touch down in the land of the delta blues…Memphis, Tennessee! We were told by a few important people in Jackson that the Civil Rights Museum was much more imporant to see than Graceland - there was a little hesitation on Danny's part but we decided to go the more educational route. We drove to the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King's Jr.'s assassination - it was turned into an incredible civil rights exhibit and a memorial in his honor. The AAA book told us to allow at least an hour for the museum; three hours later we had barely scratched the surface. There was sooooo much read and see and experience. We highly recommend the experience to everyone who visits. What amazing, albeit slow, strides this country has come - from segregated schools and bathrooms to a black president. We still have so far to go, but sometimes it is nice to take a step back and admire how far we've come.

After the civil rights museum, we had about an hour to walk around the Rock and Soul Museum before it closed. Certainly not as impressive as Graceland would have been, but it was pretty cool. It featured information and memoribilia on musicians from B.B. King to Carl Perkins to Jerry Lee Lewis to Elvis. You could also listen to a lot of the music on the audio guide...Danny was pretty embarrassed by all of Micol's dancing, but he also enjoyed himself. We then took a walk to Beale street and listened to the blues playing in the streets and watched the drunk bikers stumbling around. We played the tourist card and ate at B.B. Kings (one of the only places that actually had a menu NOT dominated by pork and catfish), and were serenaded by two great blues bands, while Danny giggled and blushed everytime our waitress Precious called him "baby."

After dinner we had planned to stay at one of the fine motel establishments that lined the Memphis streets, but Micol had the bright idea of driving the three hours to Nashville through the night so we could have a much shorter drive the next day. About an hour into the drive, however, an incredibly frightening thunderstorm decided to literally rain on our parade, and frightened Micol to such an extent, not to say anything of the psychotic truckers driving over 70 mph on the wet highway, that she pulled to a gas station and let Danny take the rest of the drive. Eventually she found her happy place and self soothed, and Danny got the two safely into Nashville where we bunked for the night.

The next morning, we awoke to the continuing gloomy weather that has been following us across the country. Undeterred by the gloom, we took a short trip around Nashville, driving through Music Row (where all of the Recording Studios are) before stopping for some pancakes in a very cute little pancake shop. The woman suggested we might want 2 half orders instead of 2 full orders, but we didn't listen, and so as we began our drive to Cincinnati we had plenty of pancakes to snack on for the journey.

The Ridiculously Looooooooong Drive Through Texas aka Nine Hours We Will Never Get Back aka A Trip You Should Never Do In Your Lifetime

Here are some of the sights that Danny and I saw on our way from Denver to Dallas

Cows
Vast, yellowish fields
Alfalfa Hay (who even knew that was a thing?)
Cows
A few tractors on the highway
Montana License (Number) Plate (woo hoo - only 10 to go!)
Cows
A whole lotta sky
At least four different towns with more For Rent/Sale signs than actual inhabitant
Cows
A few abandoned trains
More than six towns with a population less than 300 – less than Micol’s graduating high school class
At least three billboards with the words “Jesus Saves” (Still not sure what they were selling)
Cows
About seven completely dried up rivers – maybe one of them had some water
Some more fields
A Subway with so many flies that Micol actually gagged, nearly vomited in her mouth, and ran out screaming, perhaps too loudly, that the place should be condemned
Some cowboys (you would think more, what with all the cows and all)
A few more Cows
And then, cows.
Now, I'm not trying to make some religious or ideological statement here, but do you think perhaps that God could have spread the love a little bit...and on a side note...there is such a thing as too many cows...it's just not natural.

More later...Next Stop: Dallas

On A Rocky Mountain High

After Zion and Arches National Parks in Utah, we really didn’t think there was anything that could top the beauty we saw there. Boy, were we wrong! The drive from Utah to Colorado, through the Rocky Mountains, is very possibly the most beautiful stretch of land in this country and certainly the most beautiful we have ever seen. If you have never done this drive before, stop whatever it is you are doing and pack up your car…this is a drive that should not be missed in one’s lifetime.

Where orange and reds dominated our trip through Utah, Colorado is green, green, green! And it’s the kind of green that is so rich that it actually makes you thirsty for a crystal, clear spring…which, fortunately, was also a prominent sight on our drive. For almost the entire 300 miles, the Colorado river seemed like it was dancing beside our car, criss-crossing the highway and flowing with both force and calm. Can you think of a better companion on a long car trip than the rush of the Colorado River? And driving through the Rockies – it cannot be described; at least not in a way that will do it any justice. We tried our best to capture it with our cameras, but this is truly a sight you have to see with your own eyes to believe. Once again, God’s presence was all around. Continually I wondered, how can one not believe in God, or some supernatural power beyond ourselves, when this kind of beauty exists? This kind of living, breathing, stupendous beauty – certainly magnificence like this doesn’t just happen. Certainly such beauty was created – and boy does God have an eye for aesthetics! We cannot recommend this drive enough, and even better if you have the time to stop through your trip, which we did not. But we accomplished our goal, which was to make it through the Rockies before the sun set so we wouldn’t miss a thing.

What a day!! And what a world!

Denver, Tallie and Clark, and The Most Unfortunate Alarm Clock in the World

So after our six hour drive, we were ready to relax and see some smiling and familiar faces. Enter Tallie and Clark, our fabulous Colorado hosts who had only found out days before how soon we were actually arriving. Talk about some good sports! Tallie and Clark took us to a delightful restaurant with some serious food deals which made Danny very happy. Tallie and Clark also allowed us to stay at their fantastic house (at least for the next few days before the next residents move in L ) which gave us a much needed break from the Best Western establishments and their “continental” breakfast (yuch!). We had a cushy bed, a nice clean shower, and of course Tallie’s cuddles! Sleep was immanent and all was well. Until…

Now, in their defense, Tallie and Clark did warn us about the guys coming to work on the roof on the house (which apparently means they are tearing, ripping, and stripping down the old and putting up the new) and that banging would essentially be happening right over our heads, beginning as early as 7:00 am (which as we all know, for Micol might as well be 5:00 am because anything before 9:00 is pretty much unknown territory for her). Well sure enough, at around 7:00 am, the roofer alarm clock went off and while it sounded like “bang, bang, bangitty, bang,” it felt more like “EARTHQUAKE, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES, TAKE COVER!!!” I, of course, did what I always do which is wake up, curse the noise, and somehow fall back asleep until about midday – A gift that seems to be simultaneously a blessing and a curse. Danny also woke up, but did manage to get back to sleep intermittently until about 9 am, when he got the hell out of the room – leaving my lifeless body there to fend for itself should the roof actually fall in. Luckily, we were safe and sound, and save for an interrupted sleep pattern and a few moments of terror, it still beat any of the Best Western stays we’ve had so far!

Danny and I then took a small day trip to Boulder where we once again oohed and aahed about the views, ate some good food, and walked around. Boulder is a lot like Austin with more outdoor types, higher altitudes, and better views. The day ended with some good eats with our favorite hosts Tallie and Clark, and some yummy gelato. Micol also got to oogle at the cutest cockapoo, who obediently showed off for Danny so he could see how great the breed was. I slipped him a bone afterwards.

Thank you Colorado, Rocky Mountains, and especially Tallie and Clark! It was fabulous!

We have Hawaii

In our license (number) plate game we thought Hawaii and Alaska would be the hardest to find.
Well, we have Hawaii.
As we were driving through Denver, Micol spotted a license (number) plate with a rainbow on it, and screamed "HAWAII" - mission accomplished.
13 more to go.

Arches National Park to Denver

First things first: You'll be pleased to hear that we survived Moab unskewered: Danny resisted the temptation of the Midianite women (Pinchas would be proud) and we didn't get food poisoning from the dodgy complimentary breakfast (hash browns, french toast and waffles were all cooked in a toaster, self service - Micol was not amused and no longer hungry).

We drove to Arches National Park, which is (wait for it) known for boasting the most natural arches in the world. Due to some bizarre geological feautire (some rock is harder than other rock) erosion over time has led to a series of naturally occurring arches spread across the canyons. There are also balancing rocks, which look like they will fall at any minute, but for now remain standing.

The first thing we noticed was the massive size of the park. We drove almost 50 miles while exploring the three different sections of the park. The striking reddish orange color of the rocks was remarkable - it felt like we were driving through a painting. Talk about that post-modern phenomenon of reality imitating art. The beauty is as difficult to describe as it is to comprehend, so you will have to look at our pictures - hopefully we captured at least some fraction of the park's magnificence.

One of the most striking elements of the park is known as 'Balanced Rock.' It looks a bit like a huge cookie (Danny's description...hungry much?) or a slightly oval-shaped orb literally balancing atop a stone column. It is impressive from a distance, but when you get close up, it is almost inconceivable that the balancing rock does not topple over and collapse from its perch. Micol also had a lot of fun posing with this rock (it was a more willing photo partner than Danny). We then saw the North and South Windows, two incredibly impressive arches, named aptly for
their window-like appearance. We can assure you - you have never seen a view like the one you see through these windows. The beauty around was inescapable and truly took our breath away.

Finally, we saw the delicate arch. We decided not to hike to the arch, but rather to "stroll" to a viewpoint. Unfortunately, there was no indication from any of the signposts that this stroll was actually a hike to the viewpoint, and pretty exhausting in the 100+ degree heat. Putting us to shame was the man who carried his son and guided his daughter all the way to the viewpoint, while we panted beside him, Danny praying to the gods that Micol wouldn't ask to be perched on his shoulders. He helped both of his kids climb a boulder and then joined them, and it was such a picture perfect moment that we had to offer to take their picture. Micol had also realized by then that the adorable boy had a lisp and said "cheeth" every time a picture was taken, and selfishly disguised her desire to hear it again with the selfless offer to take a family photo :)

After Arches, we had five rather bad minutes which involved Danny driving off with his Diet Dr. Pepper on the roof of the car (needless to say that was lost) and then Micol misreading the map so that we drove in the wrong direction (but in her defense, only five minutes out of the way and then stopping again at the sandwhich place for Danny to ask to replace his fallen soda - unfortunately he was denied and told he would need to purchase another drink - he made a mental note to write a letter to the Better Business Bureau and have their membership revoked!) However, like the song says, we overcame and left the stroke of bad luck at the hogi yogi sandwhich shop. And are we glad we did!

Micol's brilliant idea to take a slightly longer scenic route to the major interstate paid off with interest! The drive took us beside the Colorado river for forty miles of some of the most magnificent natural beauty you could ever imagine. Canyons and green hills and roaring rapids. All we could think was: Wow, no wonder the Mormons chose Utah as their mecca. To be in a place where, at every turn, you were constantly reminded of God’s beauty. And the vastness and infinity of the beauty was overwhelming. Suddenly everything else seemed so small – the material, the trivial, all of the insignificant “small stuff” that we are told not to sweat but inevitably do, all washed away in the rush of the Colorado River and the sun’s brilliant reflection on the canyons. All that surrounded us was God and it was hard not to give thanks for the beautiful world we are fortunate to call home.

Utah - Zion National Park to Moab

So we eventually left Las Vegas (after the Premium outlets had been conquered) and we made our way from "Sin City" to a part of America often known as "God's Country".
Driving towards the area of Zion National Park, though aware that there were mountains around us, it was already dark and we really had no idea what surrounded us. It was only upon waking up the following morning that we actually were able to see the majestic natural beauty that surrounded us. There were mountains at every side of us; towering red and sienna mountains, reflecting the sun and every color that bounced off their surface.

Zion National Park was to be our first stop that day. It was Utah's first national park, and it is truly stunning. A shuttle took us through the canyons, and we were able to hike on a couple of trails. We walked to the Court of the Patriarchs, where we saw three mountains named for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. A majority of the other mountains and canyons were also named after Biblical figures and religious objects. On the one hand, you could attribute this to the Mormon settlers that found and named these places. On the other hand, every step of our journey through the state served as a constant reminder of God's presence and majesty, and it is difficult to think of anything else that is not somehow related to the sacred or religious realm.

We also hiked to the emerald pools, named for the glowing green algae found beneath the water's surface. The pools themselves were not as impressive as we'd imagined, but the surrounding scenery and the waterfall under which our trail took us was more than worth it. We also saw a deer having a little nosh in the trees. Danny aptly named him Bambi, before jumping back in horror (and in a bit of a girly demeanor) when the deer suddenly decided to dash across our trail. Clearly he saw some better eats across the way, but Danny misinterpreted the action to be an offensive attack and it took a few minutes to recover from the shock.

It was a truly beautiful park (a little bit too hot for some people's tastes) but well worth a visit - although Micol was a bit disappointed that there was no mention about why the name Zion was chosen or its Biblical origins.

From Zion National Park we drove towards Bryce Canyon. We didn't actually go into the park as it was getting a little bit late and we wanted to make it to Moab while it was still light, but we did drive along a wonderful road with tremendous red rocks and mountains all around us. The red was so striking in the sunlight, it was hard to keep an eye on the road and not stare at the beautiful scenes around us.

We arrived in Moab just as it was getting dark. We found an adorable little eatery, poetically named "Buck's Grill House," not to be judged by its name. We ate out on the patio underneath a breathtaking full moon and starry skies. Micol even drank a glass of wine, feeling quite naughty to be drinking such a sinful beverage in Mormon country - which of course made it that much sweeter. After dinner we went for a moonlight swim in the outdoor pool (where Danny challenged Micol to a number of races, which much to his surprise, she won every time), before collapsing, exhausted after a thoroughly wonderful day.

Stay Tuned...there are more fun adventures on the way!

A little more Vegas for your Palette

So before we move on to Utah, it is important to just give you a little bit more about Vegas, and more specifically about the shows and buffets we experienced.
Thursday: Buffet - Paris, Show - Phantom of the Opera
The Paris Buffet is always great, and it was again. It is like you are sitting in a small French village while you enjoy your meal.
Phantom was spectacular. The theater had been built specifically to stage the show, and they had spared no expense in transporting the audience to the Paris Opera House. It was truly magnificent.
Friday aka Micol's Birthday: Buffet - The Mirage, Show - Cirque de Soleil's Love
While the ambience of the Mirage Buffet paled in comparison to the Paris, I don't think we've ever seen such a wide variety of food. Micol likened it to her Bat Mitzvah party where all of the different food stations were offered...she was happy because this was the most she could eat at a buffet in Vegas...they had a lot of veggie options and not just cute animals that she would rather have as pets than food.
The Love show was unlike anything. It was absolutely stunning. The music was amazing (you can't really go wrong with The Beatles) and the performances and costumes were breathtaking!!! Highly recommended!
Saturday: Show - Terry Fator
WOAH! This guy is unbelievable. Think of the best celebrity musician impersonator in the world...now imagine that his lips don't move and add ventriliquism to his repetoire - That is Terry Fator. His "dummies" actually come alive, and even though you know the sound is coming from Terry, it is actually hard to believe when you are sitting there watching it. He did impersonations ranging from Etta James to Elvis to Roy Orbison - and you can't forget his duet with Kermit the Frog and Louis Armstrong! Remarkable! After the show, we waited in line for an autograph (this is a man who after every show signs an autograph for anyone who wants one - what a guy) and took a picture with him. The picture is attached to our blog so take a look.
Sunday: Breakfast Buffet - The Bellagio, Show - The Outlets :) Well a show for Micol anyway.

And then we were off to Utah...we shall see if it really lives up to all of the hype...
Stay tuned!