What I'm Listening To: "Bus Stop"

Before Rihanna and her umbrella, there was the Hollies, a bus stop, and a shared umbrella. 

Wonderspaces

My friend Nicole recently moved back to Arizona (so glad she did!) and invited to Wonderspaces this afternoon with some of her friends. It's an art installation piece that you experience rather than just look at. You interact with the art. There were virtual reality pieces and pieces that changed when you moved your body around.

My favorite was probably the wall of rolled-up notes. The piece was about those words you didn't get to say. It felt like a mix of Post Secret and fortune cookies. People wrote notes on pieces of paper and stuck them in. Some were heartbreaking, some were deep, some were silly. It was addicting to read them. It felt refreshing to put one of my secrets on there that has been eating at me for a few months now.

What I'm Listening To: "This Girl"

Makes me dance at the climbing gym. 

Luckily, I was able to ask my friend (who works there) to check out the name for me.

What I'm Listening To: "Luck"

Zion Day 3

Our last morning in Zion. I wanted to wake early to run the park road before the shuttles started, but I couldn't get myself up. But by 8 am, I was ready to tackle the Pa'rus trail. And an spontaneous trip to the Lower Emerald Pools and run down the horse beach trail. Legs were not feeling good, but my soul felt so alive, running along the spectacular forces of nature.

Zion, I will be back.

Zion Day 2

Church of Sunday hike. With many of the trails closed due to rock slides, it was Angels Landing again for us--except I took West Rim Trail instead of scrambling over people along the chains to the end. Just ten minutes past the hustle and bustle of those seeking the thrill of Angels Landing. I snacked and watched rock climbers ascend the rock. I laid down and let the sun lull me to an almost sleep. I could have sat there all day.

After my descent from paradise, I found friends of friends dipping their feet into the cold Virgin River. They had created a little pool from rocks to chill their beers. 

That bliss was over a few hours later when I felt nauseous on the shuttle back to the campground. My lunch and snacks came hurtling up on the side of the road. But with some salt packets, water, and couscous, I felt better later that night. Dehydration, maybe?

Zion Day 1

The first hike in Zion was Angels Landing--one of the park's most famous. The first two miles alternated between slight uphills and steep switchbacks. The last half mile is a harrowing crawl along the spine of the mountain--literally only a few feet wide with sheer cliffs on both sides. I almost turned back because I was nervous about falling--and rightfully so, handful of people have fallen to their deaths on this hike. But the views from the end were awesome, 

with Zion Valley spread out around my feet.

We followed up with a visit to a waterfall near the Narrows. With all the rain and snow this year, Zion had many spectacular waterfalls, which is pretty unusual in this desert park. The deep valley made everyone feel small. I was in awe of all the natural wonder that abounded in Zion.