Mesa Verde = Awesome AND Carlsbad Caverns = Amazing

A preface to this post: I always thought Carlsbad Caverns were in California.  They are actually in New Mexico.

This post is long overdue.  We spent Thanksgiving in Texas.  I never thought I would voluntarily go to Texas, but in the last year, both my mother and father-in-law have migrated to San Antonio, so we went for Thanksgiving.  I will admit that Texas was better than I expected it to be.  San Antonio seems to be a fun city....not as fun as Austin from what I hear....but still fun. 

We made a bold decision to road trip from Utah to Texas rather than fly.  There were moments where I think we both may have thought it was a mistake, but it was a fun trip overall.  We decided to drive so we could visit our new niece who lives just south of Grand Junction, CO, then stop in at Mesa Verde National Park and make the rest of the trip to San Antonio on the way there.  On the way home, we planned on stopping at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 

So to start: Mesa Verde.  It's incredible.  It's amazing all of the stories and definitely worth making the trip back when more of the trails and dwellings are open.  (October is the end of their season because of the ice so we only got to go down into one area.) I was pretty impressed with the park even in its half open state.  Then on the way back we stopped in Carlsbad, NM and saw the caves.  It was like being on another planet.  I was shocked by the caves - Truth be told, I had no idea what to expect.  I thought it was in California after all.  But this was incredible.  The pictures don't do it justice (for either park) so take my word for it and check it out for yourself.  Trust me....you won't regret it.

Mesa Verde:

Carlsbad Caverns:

A lot more Safari Pictures

Here are links to a lot more safari pictures -- if you're at all interested anymore.

• Nairobi
• Amboseli/Selenkay
• Rhino/Ol Pejeta
• Mara/Ol Kinyei
• Lion/Olare Orok

A Few of My Favorite Things....Nairobi

I'm slowly but surely organizing my thoughts and pictures from Kenya.

It was truly the most amazing place I've ever been.  Between trying to get back to a normal sleep schedule and dealing with all of the noise, I'm still struggling to integrate myself back into daily life in Utah.....

While things are still relatively fresh in my mind, I wanted to tell some of my favorite safari moments.

• Nairobi
• The elephant orphanage.  The little baby elephants are too cute not to love them.

• The giraffe center.  Though I didn't so much care for the giraffe licking my face, Darcie really did.  I think she could have spent the entire two weeks there feeding giraffes and would have had just as much fun.

• Wilson airport.  I've never been through such a smooth airport experience.  We showed up and the man at the door pointed at his sheet of paper with passenger names and asked if that was us and through the door we went.  We were even allowed to have liquids.  And then most importantly (after I had a minor outburst at my sister for giving me a hard time about my fear of flying and my mom also telling her to stop so I didn't have a panic attack) I survived my first very small plane flight.  After the initial nervousness, I actually liked it.  It's nice to be able to watch the pilot and see out the front window.  It does give somewhat of a false sense of control.

The Big Five

We saw all of the big five while we were gone.  I have to say that after my mom yelled and scared the elusive leopard away, I was a bit worried there wouldn't be photographic evidence of our sighting.  But here they are:

The Elephants

My First Rhino

The Intimidating Buffalo

The Lion Cub I Wanted To Pack Up And Bring Home

The Elusive Leopard

The Safari!

I got back from Kenya yesterday.  There are a lot of things to share, but a few highlights for now while I'm organizing the rest of my thoughts....and pictures.  They will all be posted sometime in the next couple days.

First I just want to say that this was the most incredible experience!  I can't wait to go back!  We got to see so much and I think Kenya is one of the most beautiful places in the world.  At least the best that I've been to.

While we were there, we spent a day in Nairobi visiting the elephant orphanage and a giraffe manor.....Then off to Amboseli/Selenkay Conservancy for two nights....Then to Nanyuki/Ol Pejeta Conservancy for three nights....Then Maasai Mara (two camps) for four nights....Back to Nairobi for a night and home.  It was a busy couple weeks with wake up calls early in the morning and then go-go-go all day and then late dinners to wake up and do it all again the next day.  I guess you could say that I brought excessive reading material thinking I'd have a bit more downtime. 

We stayed at four Porini camps and each of them were very different, but all great.  We saw the big 5 and many other animals....some that I'd never even heard of.  We had good food, good company, and a good time all around.

And here are just a couple elephants to tide you over....

The Safari is Real

I've wanted to go on safari for years.  And knowing that I am going to go for the last year and a half has been kind of surreal.  In my head, I know it's going to happen.  And I think about what it will be like, but all this time, it hasn't seemed real.

The count is down to two days before we leave and last night and this morning it started to feel real.  I'm going on the big trip.  I'm already almost packed (which is nothing shy of a miracle given my hatred for the packing chore) and just have a few odds and ends to pick up today and tomorrow.  And then off I go to see the big cats!!

And in just a couple weeks there will be lots of pictures to share.