Hoover Dam - 29th December 2013

The Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over one hundred lives. The dam was controversially named after President Herbert Hoover.

Hoover Dam has Lake Mead on the upper side, the largest reservoir in the United States by volume. The dam is located near Boulder City, Nevada, a city originally constructed for workers on the construction project, about 25 mi (40 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. During construction the the city imposed a ban on Gambling and Alcohol, so all construction workers would travel to Las Vegas for this form of entertainment. This situation was the foundation of the Las Vegas we know today. Boulder city still has a ban on gambling, however they did remove the ban on alcohol. The dam generates enough electricity for public and private utilities in Nevada, Arizona, and California.

Sunset over Boulder City

Grand Canyon - Arizona November 18th 2012

The Grand Canyon has been carved out to the living rock by the Colorado River, and is considered one of the "7 Natural Wonders of the World".

 The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide at its widest point. It attains a depth of over 1 mile (6,000 feet / 1,800 metres). Nearly two billion years of geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River has cut a channel through layers of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted.

We stayed in a Hotel complex in the Canyon National Park on the south side of the canyon. The accommodation was basic but served its purpose. The best place to eat in the park is the El Tovar Hotel, which has a small bar that faces the canyon and is perfect for watching the sunset.

Montezuma Castle - Arizona - 17th November 2012

Montezuma Castle National Monument is a must see destination for  tourists travelling from Phoenix towards Flagstaff in Arizona. In 1933, a 45-50 room, pueblo ruin was excavated, uncovering a wealth of artifacts and telling the story of the Sinagua people who inhabited this oasis along Beaver Creek for over 400 years.

Early visitors to the monument were allowed access to the structure by climbing a series of ladders up the side of the limestone cliffs. However, due to extensive damage to this valuable cultural landmark, public access of the ruins was discontinued in 1951.

Now, approximately 350,000 people a year gaze through the the windows of the past during a visit to Montezuma Castle. Even 600 years after their departure, the legacy of the Sinagua people continues to inspire the imaginations of this and future generations.