{Our Dinner at the 1905 El Tovar Hotel | Grand Canyon National Park Lodges}

Historic El Tovar Hotel that got opened in 1905, is really quite a landmark at the Grand Canyon's South Rim. The good thing with all of Xanterra's Lodges is, you can dine at any location you want. So we did walk from our Maswik Lodge to the El Tovar Hotel for dinner. We'd loved to stay here too but because of Labor Day weekend, they were fully booked!

This is the historic hotel from the outside, Nikon photo, taken around 18:00 o'clock in the evening.

THE ELEGANT EL TOVAR

Grand Canyon Lodges El Tovar ←click it.
With its mix of luxury and charm, it is widely considered a crown jewel among national park lodges...

Lovely veranda in the front and also to the side where you can sit and watch the Navajo Hoop dancers in the afternoon, at next door's Hopi House... seen to the right on the previous photo.

We also ate lunch on their back porch, overlooking the Grand Canyon.

A magical place...

At nearby Verkamp Visitor Center, they have the Grand Canyon history laid out on the floor...

With my iPad, I captured the all wooden structure as good as I could.

Do you see the wooden beams, to the right from Pieter?

Such unique atmosphere!

Even though we were dressed casual, we felt like making a trip back in time at the Elegant El Tovar!

We traveled light with only one carry on each!

Their Menu is excellent, also for lunch!

Nine years ago, El Tovar Hotel celebrated A Century On The Rim...

Pieter had taken already a few bites before I took my iPad out for capturing his selection of: Sautéed Rainbow Trout with Red Pepper Marmalade...

My choice of: Loch Duart Scottish Salmon Tostada on OrganicGreens was delicious as well!

A nice dinner and well deserved after having hiked for a part into the Grand Canyon that day.

To the right you can see the spectacular view over the rim, from the veranda...

Those are the combined restaurants at the Grand Canyon Rim.

The Story of El Tovar

When the Santa Fe railroad reached Grand Canyon, construction of this first class hotel began.

Built of native boulders and Oregon Pine, the majestic, 100-room hotel opened on January 14, 1905.

Named El Tovar in honor of the Spanisch explorer Pedro de Tobar who had led the first expedition to Hopi Indian country in 1540.

Related links:
{Hiking Part of Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon} | previous post by me

{Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour} | previous post by me

{Riding the Grand Canyon Railway} | previous post by me

{1881 Williams, Arizona - Gateway to Grand Canyon & Wild West} | previous post by me

{Hiking Part of Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon}

Yes we did go down this 9 mile trail for a couple of miles... Just to get a taste how it feels like, descending the steep, around 15% incline, narrow path.

Tuesday, September 2nd we're on the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon...

Yes... Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon - America’s Most Dangerous Hikes ←click it.

We are aware of this dangerous hike, so we only did stay for about 2 hours on the trail; that is down and the hardest part, climbing back up!

Starting at 6,840 ft or 2,085 m and soon you will see the Upper Tunnel, mentioned at the top.

You can find the above info in Grand Canyon National Park's Pdf on pages 13 and 14, just click the pink link.

Here we both look down onto other hikers, passing through the Upper Tunnel...

When mules pass, stand to the inside of trail and follow mule guides instructions...
We were lucky as no mule passed!

Now it's me, reaching the Upper Tunnel.

The trail is wide open, into the depth that is...

Pieter, standing next to the same rocks that he did capture on camera in the previous photo.

13 minutes later I took this photo of Pieter with the Nikon, a sign just before some steep hair-pin bends!

Do you see the trail ahead of us?
Look at that line in the center of the photo...

Here again you can see the trail in the center of this photo, taken two minutes later...

Pieter ahead on the trail, looking at the vast view of the Grand Canyon.
Different behind each bend we take, winding down to the bottom where the Colorado river runs.

Three minutes later, Pieter gave up and sat down but I wanted to still see what's around the next bend!
Pieter argued that our way back up would even be harder!!!

Six minutes into my solo descend I saw this...

Tempting to go on...
In Every Walk With Nature One Receives Far More Than He Seeks ~ John Muir...

A perfect quote!

Do you see the two red ◄? That's where I somewhere left Pieter behind and you can see people on the trail...

Okay, enough... so I climb back up and find Pieter still sitting there.
Both of us went back up and it was good we had plenty of water in our small back packs and also some salty snacks.
We did rest at Bright Angel Lodge, with a coffee and snack, before we walked back to our Maswik Lodge where Pieter took his well earned nap!

Related links:
Grand Canyon Bright Angel Trail 360 panorama view from the bottom up; select 8x speed...
BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL - History info and photo showing steep switchbacks further down...
{Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour} | previous post by me

{Riding the Grand Canyon Railway} | previous post by me

{1881 Williams, Arizona - Gateway to Grand Canyon & Wild West} | previous post by me

{200 Countries Visited and link Back to Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour}

Only 21 days after 199 Countries Visited, the newest country flag of Vanuatu showed up on October 30...

 Somehow I messed up my previous post while I was on the road yesterday; releasing the newer post too soon. SORRY about that! When you are off to the funeral of a good friend who left to heaven at just the age of 65... it takes your mind off a bit.

Here is the link to click on, for going right back to it again: {Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour} ←click it!

Welcome Vanuatu as my 200th different country!
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Thanks to all of my humble readers, all over the world!

Related links:

{Riding the Grand Canyon Railway} | previous post by me

{1881 Williams, Arizona - Gateway to Grand Canyon & Wild West} | previous post by me

{Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour}

From the scenic Grand Canyon Railway train ride, we did board onto the Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach, for viewing the different lookout points. 

This was all included in our Grand Canyon Railroad Hotel package!

Husband Pieter viewing the AMAZING Grand Canyon...

So glad we did also add this Grand Canyon Motorcoach Tour  ←(click it) to our hotel and train package! Below, you will find links about previous Grand Canyon posts.

The ULTIMATE ADVENTURE measures: 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and an average depth of one mile!

No photo can actually capture what you experience while standing at one of the Grand Canyon South Rim's view points...

SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES ←click it.

Grand Canyon Village Shuttle Bus Routes, Points of Interest ←click to open pdf
FREE Shuttle Bus in Grand Canyon Village!!!

This is such a bus stop; Mohave Point and you can see it on the map above, better of course from the Pdf.

This is the view at Mohave point... you better wear good shoes for safety and don't go too close to the rim!

Not bad from my iPad...
Mohave Point, Grand Canyon National Park ←click to see almost identical photo.

Husband Pieter captured me with our Nikon...

Here I am almost out on a limb when taking this photo with my iPad...

 
You can see Mohave Point marked yellow on this Pdf map from Grand Canyon National Park - The official news paper; just click link and select page 7.

Still at Mohave Point, taken with Nikon.
Do you see the Colorado river also to the right, above the red rocks?

Another iPad shot from the red limestone rocks.

Looking down at the Colorado river...

Always climbing over rough terrain...

Pieter holding on to his cap! It flew away once and I just could retrieve it...

We have been so lucky with the weather during our entire 7 days in Arizona!

Talking about winds that make your cap fly away; Hopi Point is at an elevation of 7,071 feet or 2,155 meters.

The above and following photos at Hopi Point, I took with the Nikon camera while Pieter sat down on the curb for a rest.

Amazing views and it is SO HUGE!

Since this was on Sunday, Labor Day weekend, there were lots of people at the Grand Canyon.
These photos I managed to take without anyone obstructing the view.

Hopefully this did give you a little impression of the Grand Canyon's South Rim.
Thanks for watching...

Related links:

{Riding the Grand Canyon Railway} | previous post by me

{1881 Williams, Arizona - Gateway to Grand Canyon & Wild West} | previous post by me