Scotty's Castle

Front View, photo by Chris De Barros

side view

Of course your first trip to Death Valley has to include the everyday places to visit like Scotty's Castle. They have the coolest tours ever.... they are called living history tours, which means the tour guide dresses and speaks like they did back in the 1930's! They have tour starting like every 15 minutes or so on busy days. My personal advice is to use the restroom before leaving on the tour... cause there aren't any restrooms inside and you can't leave and come back.... they have no sympathy!

DV Scotty, borrowed Picture

Everything is as it was from back in the day when Scotty & his benefactor,  the millionaire from Chicago, Albert Johnson built, designed and lived in it! Well is was actually somewhat designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Albert was a engineer so he put together a way to create electricity for the house! See picture of tile above!

You have to walk on special rugs so nothing is disturbed by the 100's that trek through it on a weekly basis. The house is filled with unique hand-wrought iron and tile, custom-made furniture, hand-selected tapestries and European antiques. I really liked all the wrought iron.

Our Irish Friend!

awwww how cute we are! photo taken by Alan

Ok so our Irish buddy emailed my pictures from us in the pool ... so I thought I 'd share them! Just what you were waiting for huh?
So Alan came over last week and made Chris & I his Irish Stew... which turned out to be delicious! Parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, potatoes, onions, & hamburger!

Alan cooking in my kitchen! Looks like fun huh!

Thanksgiving in Death Valley can bring you new friends and new experiences! The desert is a place where your heart can be renewed and in it's silence peace comes over you. 

Totally yummy!

Swimming in the Desert!

Surprisingly as cold as it was this past week, we went swimming for the first time in Death Valley. Now mind you I have been camping in Death Valley for over 5 years and we always take a shower at the Furnace Creek Ranch... it's only $5.00 and you can't believe how good hot water feels after a night in a tent. I know, I keep my tent pretty plush with a thick rug on the floor, fluffy felt covered air mattress and a quilt but still ... a shower is always delicious! This year the camp Volunteer told me I have to go in the pool because it is a spring fed pool, fed from a warm spring that has minerals. So I took her advice and jumped in t-shirt and all! What a pleasant surprise. I liked it sooo much I went on Monday too! I know... it doesn't look like we rough it at all lol

So the second visit, I took the picture above which has people in it that I don't know... but on Sunday when we went for our first swim we met an Irish bloke, Alan and he took pics of Chris and I.... so when he emails them, if they are kosher, I will post them too! =)

My Step-Dad

I love this photo! Lambert Lelevier, just turned 82 on Nov 12, 2010. He is an amazing man and he was so good to my Mom. She picked the worst men ever in her life until she met Lambert, who treated her like gold.

He loves old movies with Burt Lancaster. He still rides his motorcycle at 82. And he is willing to camp every year with us in Death Valley. We went over to Rhyolite this year, an old ghost town. Lambert retired on his birthday and now wants to become a gold prospector.

Here's our space 87

Breakfast sizzling, coffee percolating in space 87! Next year we are aiming for space 90! Furnace Creek Camp ground... best camp ground in Death Valley. You are welcome to join us.

It's a Family Tradition

About four and half years ago I lost my Mom to heaven and when Thanksgiving came around I decided we should do something different. I called my little brother Chris and my step-dad Lambert and asked them if they would join me camping in Death Valley. Surprisingly they both agreed to attend with me! Thanksgiving 2010 is our third time in Death Valley, we took a year off and camped at Aqua Caliente.

Arriving at sundown... such a sight to see!

What I love most about Death Valley is how huge it is, the greatness of it, the awe of it all. You can see forever and the stillness is heart stopping.