Category: Daily life

So here it is, 5am we are already awake, getting ready for planned 6am departure. Destination Antelope Canyon. That’s a super magical place, I have seen so many amazing photos of it on the internet that I decided to go there and see it for myself. We got our reservation at 11:50am that’s the time of check in and 12:20 pm that was our tour time. We choose Lower Antelope Canyon as it had more good reviews that the Upper one. 6am off we go. There is a 5 hours drive to our destination so we anticipated our arrival at around 11am, so we would still have 50 min to get some rest before the tour. Road to the canyon was amazing, full of views and I will post a separate video from that part. As my friend and I we are both drivers so we were switch and piloting each other, in the meantime taking photos making sure that the driver has water and candies. On the way we had a quick stop to get some food and our choice went to one and only McDonalds. And while eating something strange happened. It turned out that our navigation shows that our estimated arrival time will be noon… Oh my God, how is that possible, aaaaaaaaaaaaa moment of panic!!! We jumped to the car and started driving little bit faster… Fortunate the mystery have been solved, it turned out that we crossed state border with a different time zone than our destination so our navigation got crazy. We have reached our destination on time!!! Uffff…. We checked in for out tour which got delayed for about one hour. But after that when we went down to the canyon with our guide as all tour are guided, I just could not believe my eyes. I took so many pictured, Mother Nature did and amazing job, she didn’t need not even a single drill, only water and time. To tour the whole Canyon it took us almost two hours, you can get heat and neck ache… You look left right up down and across, overtime it is something new, every time you want to take photo. Just wow, definitely worth to go and see it yourself!!!! After the tour we went to the Grand Canyon Horseshoe Bend, another place that you can admire Mother Nature creation. What a spectacular view and relaxing place. No safe guards so basically you need to be super careful, otherwise you can end up at the bottom of the canyon. Before we noticed it was already 5pm so we decided to head back to reach Las Vegas at decent time. But this trip was definitely a cherry on a pie!!! Just look at the gallery below or my Instagram photos @lyionis

Las Vegas, sin city… This was my second time there. Last time I was there it was exactly one year ago. That was nice visit but not as this time. My friend that I went to Las Vegas this time was and exceptional companion and we both like to have things planned proper way so there was a perfect understanding and our schedule was executed with perfection. We have arrived somewhere after 5pm and we checked in into out hotel Palms Las Vegas Resort just 5 min drive from the main strip. Room on the 20th floor overlooking west side of Las Vegas, quick change and out for fast dinner in  food court of Cesar’s Palace. After that we walked around this beautiful property and at 7pm we entered the Colosseum for an amazing event. Celine Dion live on concert. She is the artist that I remember since I was a teenager and I would never thought that I would be able to see her in my life. Yet here we are, on the highest mezzanine of the theater waiting for the concert to start. I will post a movie later on from this event. Concert starts, her beautiful songs are filling the room, her sense of humor is just making people cheer and enjoy the show even more. Especially when she tries to pretend how she will be singing “near far wherever you are” as an old lady. What a show, lights, music her voice, everything comes together and creates an atmosphere that I will remember for a long time. We got one very nice surprise. Maybe 10 minutes after show started, one of the staff members approached us, at this point I thought “oh my God they will kick us out for making videos and pictures” as they mentioned that we should not do that, but no it was a very pleasant surprise, he said if we wan’t to go to rear orchestra closer to the stage. There was not even one second when we said ” but yes of course”. So basically for free we have been upgraded to much better seats, we had Celine Dion just right in front of us. I have enjoyed this evening very much it was really perfect. As a bis she sang main theme song from “Titanic” with amazing visual effects and a lot of water during down from the ceiling. That was an amazing end of a wonderful first day in Las Vegas. After the concert we went to meet my friends who were visiting USA from Poland and we have few drinks (me non alcoholic ones) in the Cosmopolitan casino. We finished our evening shortly after 11pm as next day we were supposed to leave Las Vegas for our road trip around 6am… What a day!

 

Finally home, time to relax and start writing about all my adventures and this amazing trip. I took around 1250 photos and videos that I will be working on, everything in just 5 very intense days. Wednesday 4am wake up, quick look if I got everything I need for my trip, documents, boarding passes, equipment… All set so let’s go… 4:30am Ubering to Reagan Airport, it’s so convenient only 15 min ride, check in, security check all smooth. My trip was divided into two parts first to Detroit than LA. This way I did’t had to sit for 6 hours but only for around 4,5 and 1,5. This way trip go faster and you’re not that tired. I flew Delta and my plane it was an old Boeing 757-200 but it was sooth flight to LA. Most important I flew using my credit card points so basically had to pay taxes only 11,60 USD for the whole trip. This way I can travel anywhere! My friend was already waiting to pick me up in LAX, we had a very busy schedule for our trip ahead. Was extremely happy to see him again and right away we jumped to bus that took us to the rental company to pick up a comfortable car for our trip. Our choice was Porshe Cayenne, of course with proper discount. Everything done, car packed, let’s go, almost 5 hours drive ahead of us to Las Vegas. So far all on tight but well managed schedule… Off we go!!!

 

As my trip continues I just can’t wait to share all my experiences and thoughts. If you saw my Instagram that’s where you find one of the most magical pictures I have ever taken. My trip started with a flight to LA. Than together with my frien we drove to Las Vegas. Everything on a tight schedule just as I like. Check in in Sin City than Celine Dion concert I the evening with a surprise. Next day ride to heaven on earth the Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon Horseshoe Bend. Return to Vegas, more than 9 hours in the car but it was wort is so much. Than drive back to Los Angeles and now it time to relax before returning to DC. As soon as I’ll be back I will share everything that happens and believe me it’s a lot!