There was no WiFi and who wanted to by typing when you could be viewing the most amazing park I've seen to date. So I wrote it all down and I want to share it with you.
Its currently snowing in Yosemite, its fantastic! Its starting to stick to the road. we are currently stopped on the road out of the park having been waved down by the ranger. He said we'd have a wait while they cleared some cars off the road further ahead of us. We just left the Wawona Hotel. Oh my goodness what a dream place! Adirondak chairs looking into the woods-down to the meadow. Which is a golf course. Who knew? What an amazing place to play golf!
I gave my presentation on Mariposa earlier. It went well I think, people thought I'd been there before which is what I was going for. Mariposa is a town outside Yosemite.
At the Wawona Hotel we had "John Muir" give a presentation. It was really perfectly timed. As he spoke the snow was falling behind him, outside. And we were in the lobby of the Hotel which is as authentic looking as it was long ago. This guy is a park ranger there but looks just like John Muir and speaks with a Scottish accent (Muir was Scottish) he knew his words by heart and you really felt he was recounting his walks around the valley when he first got here. It was very entertaining.
And as a side note if you entered the park from this side you really should make a stop at the Hilmar Cheese Factory. They have a great shop there with tons of great picnic items so you'd have a great feast on the lawn of the Wawona Hotel. It would be great!
So back to being parked on the road. We watched the snow accumulate and then the ranger told us to put the chains on the bus so while our driver Al did that Ted pulled out the box with our "wine tasting" items in it and we had our cocktail party right on the bus. It was hilarious. Trying not to spill and we were able to mingle a little and have some laughs and then Al's wife Pat pulled out another box and it was food to accompany the wine. We we had a regular feast on our bus. We were parked there for 2 hours. When we finally made it through the tunnel we pulled over just in time for the clouds to have parted enough to see the valley. It was spectacular! We took photos and then as soon as it was there it was gone in the clouds again and the snow go heavier so we hurried out of there.
The hotel we stayed out was the Cedar Lodge. I'd say pay extra and stay in the park, this place was okay but I'd say don't bother with it. I think because lodging is so limited most people stay outside and then drive in. Same in Yellowstone I guess.
They called ahead to the hotel only to find that their dining room was closed and the kitchen for bar food was closing soon we he hurried up and got some food (wow, expenive!) I had a sad looking grilled chicken breast on a hoagie bun for 10 bucks, one of the cheapest things on the menu.
After dinner I joined Evan, Chris and Casey at the pool for a quick swim since it was closing soon as well.
We all got dressed again and went back to the bar and hung out for a while there. Lots of dancing to the juke box there.
Thursday morning. We had a really early start since our luggage had to be outside our rooms at 7am. I find that pretty annoying, considering you have to get up early and use everything in it before that time. Its not like sleeping in and just setting it out and off you go. But I guess that is how that works?
We were stuck with a sad cold "hot buffet" from the hotel. It cost a fortune, and no other options. My gosh, make an effort at least. They would have sold more breakfast with a choice of buying only one or two items. Weird. I was not impressed with them at all!
But the sun was shining and we were headed back into the park finally. So it was okay. Yosemite had a blanket of snow on it and it was really pretty. Most Californians hadn't seen it with a dusting of snow so they were pretty thrilled. Some of them had been to the park alot too.
We had a hilarious icy hike up to Bridal Veil Falls (brr!) and then we had a view of El Capitan from there as well. we went up to Awahnee Hotel (wow!) and had a look around there for a little bit before we went to the Yosemite Village which is where Ansel Adams studio is. Pretty neat, knowing he was there. And now I get why he was so inspired. Its a beautiful place!
We did a hike to Lower Yosemite Falls and had some photos and then had lunch at the lodge. It was a long bus ride home but it was okay. they let us nap after lunch which was a first and then more presentations and then we were dropped off. Phew!
There was alot more to it but I was so tired last night and ready to get off that bus! I don't know how people travel that way. Its amazing. Packed on to the bus, hurried along at every stop, drive by sightseeing. I know when you don't have alot of time, its an efficient way to see a place but its not my favorite. I hope that as a tour director I'd be working and not thinking about that as much. (really big hope huh?Since thats what my job will be all about)
I did get car sick for the first time. I didn't throw up but I had to move to the front of the bus. That was a first for me. I was in the back seat (which I hated) and it was nice to move up.
After I got unpacked in the hostel my roommate Sabine wanted to go find something to eat so we found a cheap sushi place around the corner from here. Filled with Japanese. We were the only tourists for a while. The lady waiting on us was hard to understand for Sabine and they got off on the wrong foot. It was kind of funny. The Japanese lady got really ticked off at her at the end and Sabine was like, I don't understand. The lady made a huge fuss about her tip. Right in front of her. I mean, at least cuss her out when she's left but she got really huffy with her right there and Sabine didn't understand what she did. It was hard to explain it to her so we just left.
Good food though, and cheap, you pull these plates off the "boats" that are moving around a "mote" and then are charged according to what you grab. I've always wondered how that worked.
This morning our newest roommate was up at 5am talking on the phone. I don't really appreciate being a part of that at that time of the morning.
Now its time to get dressed and find some breakfast.
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