California back to Texas :(

So Julie left Monday am for San Antonio. I stayed in Fresno, Cali hoping to get a new assignment in the area soon!! After 2 days with nothing to do in the fruit farm capitol of California and the only job prospect being in LA I left Fresno and went to Carmel.

Seaside Beach- Monterey State Beach

There I stayed with my grandparents wonderful friends- the Bigbee's. Last time I was in California over 3 years ago I stayed with them at their home. They are a wonderful couple with a great big heart! They let me just spot by and stay with them for 3 days!!!! I am soo thankful for the warm bed and delicious meals and time with them!!

Laguna Seca- Monterey County

Thursday I went the Monterrey Bay Aquarium- which is absolutely amazing and I highly recommend to everyone! Last time in Carmel I made a visit to this aquarium and I was totally impressed! This visit there was a special exhibit about seahorses- which was just beautiful and breath taking!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

For lunch I left the aquarium and went down the pier for fresh fish lunch- fish and chips. I can honestly say I have never had before and it was delicious. After lunch I had 2 telephone interviews in LA hospital. Both interviews went great and I was offered the position . . . but by now you all know that I am not in California or in LA.

Monterey California

Then on Friday I waited by the phone all day talking with my recruiter hoping to hear all the final details about the job in LA . . . waited and waited and waited. Finally at 530pm my recruiter called with the sad news that the LA hospital requires additional background check and drug screen and the next date for orientation after those items are completed is in 3 weeks. I could wait in Cali for 3 more weeks but I would be on my own for housing and meals. That was something I was not willing to do and wait. So I decided to head back to Texas and just wait there for a new assignment. There at home I would be with family and friends and a have free place to stay.

I left California Friday night. Saturday making stops in Phoenix Arizona at the Capitol, Tucson at Sagauro National Park and dinner in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Phoenix, Arizona- capitol

Saguaro National Park

Sunday making stops at the Sonora Caverns and finally arriving back to San Antonio.

Caverns of Sonora

Roadtrip FRIDAY pics

grand canyon

julie and i at the grand canyon

fountains at the bellagio

margaritaville

dealertainers at imperial palace

Roadtrip to Cali . . . FRIDAY

goal- see the Grand Canyon

Julie and I enjoyed continental breakfast from the hotel and were off to the Grand Canyon!

Grand Canyon
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Located in northwestern Arizona is the Grand Canyon. The canyon is 277 miles long and averages 10 miles across. Elevations range from 1,200 feet on the canyon bottom to 9,000 feet on the north rim. Yearly over 5 million visitors come to the Grand Canyon.

Arriving just after 11am we were both surprised to see only a few other visitors and empty parking lots. The weather was perfect- few clouds and sunny and the grounds were covered with snow!! First stopping point was the Yavapai observation station, which was really cool!! They had binoculars inside and maps of the canyon everywhere as well as tons of information about the canyon, rocks, and the Colorado River. Next we made our way to Market Plaza to get souvenirs and I got a t-shirt for only $9!!! Then we tried to make our way towards the watchtower but got lost inside the park and ended up near all the lodges and Kolb studio. So we got out and took a couple dozen more pictures and then headed in the right direction. The Watchtower was built in 1932, is 70 feet tall and built from stones in the canyon. From the top there are excellent views of the river, the canyon, the desert, and the forest!!! Just wonderful!!!!

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After 6 hours we had seen enough and taken hundreds of pictures we headed out of the park.

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Williams, Arizona

Population 2,842 Elevation 6,752 feet

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Dinner on Route 66 at the Route 66 café and it was wonderful!! Over dinner we discussed our next route and plan. It was decided that we would drive to Las Vegas and stay either downtown on Fremont Street or on the strip. After calling several hotels and all having available rooms we decided we would just figure it out once we got to Vegas.

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Hoover Dam

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Built from 1931-1935 in Black Canyon on the Colorado River for flood control and water storage, it impounds Lake Mead- one of the largest man-made lakes in the US.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Population 478,434 Elevation 2,174 feet

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Highlights from the night

<!--[if !supportLists]-->* <!--[endif]-->Fountains show at the Bellaigo

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<!--[if !supportLists]-->* <!--[endif]-->Margarita at Margaritaville at the Flamingo

<!--[if !supportLists]-->* <!--[endif]-->And the rest stays in Vegas!!

Finally made it to bed around 3am and slept at the Flamingo hotel & casino!