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Sunday, 10th of February 2008 at 08:58:56 PM

Hot Movie recommendation: No country for old men

During my 14 day US trip I have seen 4 movies: The new Rambo movie, Juno, The Eye and the latest Coen brothers movie: No Country for old men. The last one (beside Rambo) was the one which impressed me most. I bet this one will get at least two Oscars. I have to rewatch it as soon as it starts in Germany. This morning I also ordered the novel from Cormack Mc Carthy on which the movie is base at Amazon.

This movie is really fascinating, disturbing, brutal, shocking, and full of great scenes.

Javier Bardem as the Psychopathic bad guy Anton Chigurh: He impressed and frightend me most. The movie end is somehow astonishing and unexpected. I first was disappointed but then I really liked and I think I understood why it should end like this.

[In the movie I recognized the bridge from El Paso to Juarez which I had walked myself two days before.]

Giuseppe

Sunday, 10th of February 2008 at 08:26:21 AM

Back from my USA roadtrip

Still struggling with Jet-Lag after arriving yesterday morning back in Munich. I have been cruisng around Southwest USA, for 14 days, summarizing 3800 Miles (6080 km). Its nearly half of the distance I drive with my own car in one year. I had almost become one unit with my rental car a very nice Pontiac G6 GT (3.5l V6 200hp). Yesterday climbing back in my Audi A3 I had the impression entering a toy car. Funny when starting the engine of my Audi, I was confused about the additional clutch pedal. For 6000 km rental car drive my left foot had rested on the sidebar. Of course I put in the gear of my Audi without using the clutchtwice ;-), killing the engine. This just made me again visualize what it means doing 6000km in 14 days. I was almost daily sitting 6 to 8 hours in the rental car. Just checked my credit card listing to summarize my refuelings: In 14 days I visited 11 times the gas station for an average gas up of 35 USD. This means nearly 400 bucks for gas. Fuel economy of the Pontiac G6 seems not to be his strength. I dind’t care: it always makes fun driving a V6 engine. I will try to summarize my road trip in later posts.

Gas Up #6 in Alamorgodo, NM.

Driving a V6 is really cool.

The most important most checked indicator: fuel range.

The Pontiac, G6 GT when driving up the muddy road to Great Canyon West.

The Pontiac G6 GT near Tucson, AZ in the Saguaro N.P.

… and at the Canyon de Chelly Spyder rock overlook. I have had a little bit of all: snow, mud, dust and road.

Giuseppe

Thursday, 7th of February 2008 at 10:08:09 PM

New Mexico Roadtrip Day 10-12: Las Vegas-Red Rock Canyon

Super tuesday election day: I had booked Bally’s Hotel the night before.
These final three days I wanted to relax from the long hours of sitting and driving in the rental car. The last time I had visited the Stratosphere tower platform was 2001. Now it was time again. Before I had I stopped at the Sahara hotel for some shots and a hotel tour. On the Strtaosphere tower I do some shots of the rides, the view into the mountains, and the view to the strip.

After Stratosphere I checked in for two nights in the NewYork-NewYork Hotel, which I had liked two years ago. Wednedsday in the morning, after breakfast Buffet at Bellagio I hiked for three hours in the red rock canyons, callico hills 1, 2, 3. Callico hills is a climbing spot. Wednesday evening I had show tickets for the Crazy girls show in Riviera, which I found a little bit boring.

Thursday my last day in USA: Early in the morning, I visited again the Red Rock Canyon for a three hour hike in Ice box canyon. After Red Rock I enjoyed driving randomly around in the streets of Las Vegas and stopping here and there for some shots or shopping or a Starbucks Drive-In.

In the evening, knowing it was my last night I went to a movie and finally I wanted to gamble for ten dollars: Won 90 dollars.

Friday Feb 8th: My Flight back to Germany via Philadelphia.

Giuseppe

Monday, 4th of February 2008 at 09:53:13 PM

New Mexico Roadtrip Day 9: Mon Feb 4th: Canyon de Chelly-Route66-Las Vegas

In the morning big surprise: It had snowed the whole night and 8 inch of snow covered the road. Before the Jeep tour I wanted to see Spyder rock from the south Rim drive. After breakfast, I drove with the rental car along the snow covered South Rim drive 14 miles to the end: Spyder Rock overlook.

View to Spyder Rock. The drive along the South Rim was very scaring for me. Road was uncleared from Snow and I twice nearly lost the rental car. One time I was stuck in the snow, but I suceeded in freeing it.

Rental Car at Spyder Rock overloook: I couldn’t enjoy the view to Spyder Rock. I was so scared not to make it back the 14 miles to he main road on the uncleared South Rim road. After this experience and seeing that it was still snowing I cancelled the Jeep tour down to the Canyon and decided to drive back immediately to I-40 (70 miles on the snow covered I-191 south.) It took me 2 1/2 hours with 30mph speed.

On the drive on I-40 West it snowed heavily until Flagstaff. I was happy when the weather improved the more I drove west.

The photo shows Seligman, where I left the I-40 and took the old Route 66.
In Seligman I filled up and took a coffee. Finally blue sky again after passsing Seligman. I had decided meanwhile to drive “home” to Las Vegas
this monday and enyoy three relaxing final days in Las Vegas

Hackberry Route 66 historic gas stop.

Giuseppe

Sunday, 3rd of February 2008 at 09:40:29 PM

New Mexico Roadtrip Day 8: Sun Feb 3rd: Acoma Pueblo-El Moro-Petrified Forest N.P.

My tour continued from ALB to Acoma Pueblo (Sky city). I had breakfast on I-40 near Grants in an Native American owned Casino-Hotel. Arriving at Acoma Pueblo I was luckyy when booking my Guided tour. I was the only visitor at 9 in the morning, so I got a private tour from an Acoma Guide. We walked through the Pueblo and he talked around 50 minutes about Acoma people and history of the Pueblo.

After visiting Acomo Pueblo driving west weather gets worth. Near El Malpais N.P. it starts to snow. I decide to continue til El Morro N.P. but weather gets worse and worse. Arriving at El morro n.P. its snowing heavily and the Park trails were closed due to the snow. I only see El Morro Rock from the road under heavy snow (foto). I was told that a snow storm is approaching from the West. So I decide to return on the same street back towards I-40. Meanwhile the road is covered with Snow. On I-40 I turn again to west direction and had planned to drive to Canyon de Chelly.

But the snow storm is so strong that I change plans and continue on I-40 west to Petrified Forest N.P. Here the weather is cloudy but fine. I take some nice scenic shots in the painted desert. Further 15 miles south in the park I stop in the crystal forest the location with highest amount of petrified wood. Foto: View over crystal forest. On this Superbowl sunday I leave Petrified Forest around 4 pm and drive back in east direction and then north on I-191 to Chinle, Canyon de Chelly. Its dark when I arrive in Chinle but the driving conditions where dry and safe. In my Hotel (Holiday Inn), people are watching Superbowl when I check in. I take a Steak diner and afterwards I hire a Jeep for the next morning Canyon tour.