America Day 24 - Albuquerque, Durango and Cortez

Today I have had the most fun and amazing experiences since being in America.


We have a bunch of optional activities on tour that we are able to do if we pay extra. I was really tossing up whether or not to go hot air ballooning because I can that back in Canberra. Plus we weren't going to see anything that amazing while over Albuquerque. I am so glad that I decided to do it. Plus it is a whole lot cheaper then doing it back in Canberra.


Firstly we had to be up and waiting at the reception area at 6.40. The previous day I had slept a lot on the bus and apparently I slept through the part where the tour manager told us that we had crossed another time zone and to put our clocks back an hour. I got out of bed at what I thought was 5.45 and got to the reception right at 6.40. I then found out that it was only 5.40 and I had gotten up at 4.45! I really could have used the hour extra sleep cause we get so little on tour. And I couldn't get back to sleep so I stayed up.


Finally, we were on our way to hot air ballooning! It was so freezing but a beautiful morning, The sun was just rising. First we had to help set up the balloon and then we were off. It was just a really beautiful amazing experience, there isn't much else I can say other then that. Here are some photos:

All the people in my balloon from left to right Luke, Jenny, Fran, Drew, Me, Bridgette, Eli and Tom

They are such BIG balloons!!

Some of the beautiful view... I could put LOADS of these photos on but I will restrain!

Me and Eli... just chilling!

Once we landed we had a champagne toast and a quick bite to eat before it was back to the tour bus and on our way to Durango for snowmobileing.

Cheers!!!

Hot air ballooning crew... too many to mention!

Now I have never been to the snow before so I was excited enough about just seeing snow on the mountains as we drove into Durango. It really was beautiful. BUT I was absolutely in awe when we got to the place where we were starting our snowmobileing and everything was covered in snow. It was everywhere. It wasn't very wet either which is good. It wasn't too cold. It was just perfect. I fell in love.


THEN me and Keri shared a snowmobile and we were off. I have never had so much fun in my life. It was sooooooooo fun! I can't even describe how much I loved it. On our way back the guy who we were following took us through the forrest. Before that we were just on roads but he said cause we were all doing well and we seemed a little adventurous, he thought we could handle it. Oh my lord, you should have seen where he took us.


We barely had room to squeeze the snowmobile's through and there was the biggest drops we had to go down. IT WAS AMAZING FUN!!! Again I cannot ever describe the fun I had in the snow. I really want to go back. I wish I could do that all day and New Orleans nightlife all night. I would be in heaven. Anyway, here are some cool photos:

Me and Keri in the snow

Ahhh, so beautiful!

This was amazing... even better then any rollarcoaster I have ever been on!

Some of the trails we drove through

I am in love with snow!!!!!!

Snow Angels!!

Some of the snowmobileing people (from back to front, left to right) - Mel, Dan, Eli, Mel Keri, Jenny and Me!!

Then we didn't get back into Durango until 6, straight on the bus and off to Cortez to eat and sleep. Thank god because all that excitement has left me absolutely WRECKED!!! Tomorrow we go to Monument Valley and then the GRAND CANYON... or what I like to refer to it as THE GRAND DITCH! Apparently I have been told not to call it that around the locals! I'll do my best.