As part of our visit to the U.S.A. we visited Williams, Arizona - Gateway to the Grand Canyon. We arrived from Los Angeles with Amtrak. The train was on schedule and arrived at 0420 am at Williams Junction. Williams Junction is 5 miles from Williams with no facilities what so ever, not even a covered waiting area. So, word to the wise, make sure you have your pick up arranged and guaranteed. The van from The Grand Canyon Hotel was there waiting for us.

We were allowed to check in at 0500 am and able to get some sleep before having a great breakfast buffet as part of our package staying at the hotel. The selection of food at the breakfast buffet was amazing in quantity and quality. At 0900 there was a wild west show and by 1000 am we were on the Grand Canyon Railroad on our way to the Grand Canyon. The trip took 2 hours and was quite interesting. Each car had a person assigned to take care of our needs and provide interesting information on the Grand Canyon area, the Grand Canyon Railway and history of the entire area.

On arrival at Grand Canyon National Park we immediately transferred to buses for our optionally booked Grand Tour. The tour was extremely well narrated by the driver, Oscar, who must be the happiest employee any company in the world has. He made the 4 hours we were with him exciting, informative and extremely entertaining.

The trip back by train, again, took 2 hours except that we were delayed by the fact that the train was "robbed" by the same cowboys that had put on the wild west show. This was a very novel manner to ask for "tips" for the entire staff of the Grand Canyon Railway. It seemed that almost everyone happily gave up their "valuables" in some amount to the "bandits". We arrived back in Williams about 5 pm and after getting cleaned up enjoyed a dinner buffet that was just as extensive and tasty as the morning breakfast buffet had been.

We were scheduled to wake up at 0300 am the next morning to get ready for our departure, from Williams Junction at 0420 but received word that the train was delayed until 0800 am. No complaints as this allowed a good nights rest before starting out on the next leg of our trip, which was on Amtrak with destination Chicago.
.
I’ve made thousands of US$$$$$ so far in 2009 with Infopirate. You can too and at no cost to you. Ask me how. Make Money Online with Infopirate - 80% AdSense Revenue Split
.

javaman's picture
Sun, 2009-11-15 18:05 - Subject:  
Topic: , , , ,