USA honeymoon

... the Tours begin...

The day opens with an abundant breakfast at the hotel…bring on the roasted bacon!!! You have to get into the American mindset straight away?. A free hotel shuttle takes us to the airport…another plane? No no, don't worry…from Italy we rented a car through Budget. A particular thing that we recommend to all those who take on a do-it-yourself honeymoon is to mention the word "Honeymoon" in every booking…maybe you'll be lucky enough to find friendly staff who, besides congratulating you, apply an upgrade to the reservation you made. And indeed, from an intermediate car we had booked, we find ourselves with a Jeep in our hands!!! Nice, spacious, comfortable…fantastic! Getting around part of the States with an SUV really is the best. A sat nav is a must in the rental contract and off we go, destination Page.

The sat nav is a great help even though I must say the signage present is very intuitive and easy to understand. A very important thing is to pay attention to the speed limits. Here they don't joke around, in Italy we are too used to being spoiled, so be serious and respect the limits, it's true, you'll find yourself in spots or on roads where going at 70 km/h will seem absurd and boring to you, but in the States that's how it is. We arrive in Page around lunchtime, just enough time to leave our luggage at the Courtyard by Marriott (the same one as in Flagstaff) and go for lunch. In the early afternoon we set off for Monument Valley. In fact we had booked a tour from Italy for 5 p.m. at sunset…highly recommended.

The roads are the typical American ones…long and straight that never end…you can even do 30/40 km without a single curve!!! I insist on the petrol…service stations are frequent but to be safe I recommend stopping every time you have half a tank left.

Fill up and you'll be more relaxed. Don't forget to always carry a few litres of water with you…temperatures hover constantly around 40/42 degrees although fortunately during our stay the climate was very dry and therefore "bearable". The expanses of desert and rocks are fantastic, we arrive at The View hotel in good time. From here we set off aboard characteristic little trucks to venture into the valley.

What a sight, guys!!! We had booked the Navajo Spirit tour from Italy, a guide (Harry) all to ourselves, ready to make us grasp the detail in these majestic sand rocks that at this hour are even more accentuated by the sunset…it feels like being inside a Western film. Of course this valley has given inspiration to numerous directors, both of Westerns and otherwise…and travelling it far and wide you can understand why.

We set off again for Page when it is now dead of night…driving 2 hours on the roads of Arizona, completely unlit and all straight, wasn't exactly the best, if we could go back we would gladly have spent the night at The View, the only hotel present at Monument Valley.

Antelope Canyon - HorseShoeBend-Glam Canyon Dam and Lake Powell

In the morning we get up early and after a reinvigorating breakfast we head for what was perhaps the most fascinating attraction…Antelope Canyon!

We opted for a photographic tour and we also booked this from Italy well in advance, also because on site it will be hard to find a free spot given the great demand. Aboard a pick-up we head to the entrance of the Canyon. After reading various reviews we had opted for the 11 o'clock tour. It's true, it turns out to be a little more expensive, but once you're inside the rocks you'll understand it's worth it. In fact at this time the sun is exactly perpendicular to the earth, so it penetrates inside the rocks creating colours and scenes that are nothing short of cloying…red, orange, blue…an impressive shading of colours. A fantastic experience that won't even make you realise you've spent a couple of hours walking inside it. The guide was fantastic in always pointing out the best angle, the best position…the photos, besides, I think speak for themselves.

The only precaution is to pay attention to the sand. Little grains fall from the rock walls which, besides scattering over your head (a hat or a bandana are a must), risk also damaging your electronic devices. That's why all the guides are armed with a small air blower to use if needed on lenses, buttons etc… Back in Page, we have lunch and immediately head for another attraction of the area, Horseshoe Bend. The tour is free and easy to reach. You park the car and walk along a path that ends right at a sheer drop! The scene before you is spectacular. Not exactly suitable for the faint-hearted or those afraid of heights. There are no protections or railings. Luca was very scared to take photos…his legs were shaking! Having picked up the car again we stop at the Glen Canyon Dam with a view over the town of Whatseup overlooking Lake Powell.

After having dinner based on meat at a restaurant in Page, we retire to the hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes Kayenta ... and arrival in Las Vegas

23 June 2012 Once the car was loaded we left the town of Page and set off for Las Vegas. The day's driver would be Selene. The scenery is always the same, endless deserted roads and every now and then here and there some small village… right in one of these, Kayenta, we turned off towards Coral Pink Sand Dunes, a vast expanse of orange sand, also the setting of numerous western films. After running around in the expanse… our shoes were full of sand!!! We set off again and after about 6 hours by car… we catch sight of the unmistakable skyline of Las Vegas. We're immediately on the Strip, the main street of Las Vegas… on the right and left nothing but hotels of every kind and every size. Our hotel, The Cosmopolitan, was in an excellent position, central, right next to the well-known Bellagio, the setting of the film Ocean's Eleven.

On the ground floor, as per usual, a mega casino open to everyone and strictly open 24 hours a day. All the hotels in Las Vegas have a casino inside and it's accessible to all tourists. Our apartment is on the 33rd floor. A spectacle… a real apartment!!!!!!!!!

Las Vegas

We immediately grab a taxi and head to the Las Vegas Outlet Shopping, located a bit outside the city but really convenient. Here we have our first official experience with Japanese food at Makino… fantastic!!! We were a bit sceptical but we absolutely have to change our minds… In the evening, after dinner, we position ourselves in front of the Bellagio where every 30 minutes a stupendous show takes place. Its mega fountains "dance" to the rhythm of music creating a stunning scene. It all comes to an end every evening when at midnight the fountains move to the rhythm of the American national anthem. You have to see it to believe it. We go back to the hotel, a few little goes here and there at the casino and we throw ourselves onto the bed.

Las Vegas

Another shopping day today… but first we "shoot" about 3 km on foot under a scorching sun to reach the symbol sign of Las Vegas… "Welcome". There's everything in Las Vegas, you just have to walk, walk and walk. In the evening, after dinner, we head towards the Stratosphere… perhaps the tallest hotel in Las Vegas located at the gates of the city… so advisable to reach by taxi… on foot it would be too far. We go up to the top floor where the view, especially at night, is something extraordinary. Outside there's also a mini amusement park for thrill-seekers. Being shot into the void or spinning suspended in the void are for fairly strong hearts. Before returning to the hotel we stop at a supermarket open all night to buy some small souvenirs. They are the best and certainly cheapest places to buy magnets, ashtrays, bottle openers etc… with the Las Vegas logos.