IAMX.

I’ve been sitting on these pictures for over a month, still in awe and disbelief that this actually happened, whilst wondering how to put the experience into words. In short, it was legit the single greatest experience of my whole entire life. The whole experience was magical, surreal, mesmerising, ineffable and just out of this world. I’ve been listening to IAMX for years and years and years (I think I first heard them when I was in year nine or eight – so just under a decade) and I’ve been blogging about them since the beginning of this blog; so to actually get the opportunity to see them live was definitely INSANE. It was absolutely mad, being in the same venue as Chris Corner and the rest of IAMX, singing along to songs I had only imagined hearing live. The atmosphere was just gjaghbfjfb. Oh my god I don’t even know. It was so moving and incredible, and sometimes when I looked through the pictures and watch the videos again, I still can’t believe I was there and that these are now memories for me. I feel so lucky and happy that I have such a great experience to look back on. Anyway, I think I’ll stop rambling now and share some of the pictures (though they in no way do how I felt or what I experience justice).

I don’t know when IAMX will next be in London, but to me, they’re worth travelling to another country for.

alice

xo

Bye, Bye Vegas…

Waking up after our last night in Vegas was bittersweet. At same time as finding all of the previous night’s happenings hilarious, we were faced with the end of this American adventure, two daunting flights and a return to reality and work commitments. It felt ACTUALLY saying goodbye to a land and lifestyle we had grown so accustomed to living over the last two weeks. As soon as we were all packed up and ready, we drove back to the Vegas sign for one last group picture.

Then it was back to the rental service to return the vans. I wasn’t too keen on saying goodbye to the Fun Van that had served as not only our means of transportation, but as the root of many of our jokes.

As our flight was at 1.20pm, we loitered around the airport for a bit and grabbed a bite to eat before boarding.

Only in Vegas…

Once we had boarded, it was time to make the long journey home.

I’m sure it goes without saying that I had such an amazing time in America and that I’ve loved the opportunity of being able to relive it all again by sharing my adventure with you. It was nothing like I had expected it to be, and if I could, I would do it all over again (only I’d bring several pairs of shorts). Something tells me that this isn’t the last I’ll see of American land and I can’t wait! You can go back to the beginning of my American adventure here and see what I got up to over the two weeks.

alice

xo

Rock Houses and Returning to Vegas.

It seems strange to be saying goodbye to Marble Canyon, after two fun days spent in such an isolated area. At the same time as saying goodbye to Marble Canyon we’re also preparing to say goodbye to America and to this amazing experience. But anyway, before I dwell on that and get all depressed, I’ll move on. So, we started our long drive back to Vegas by stopping off at some really cool rock houses that ACTUAL people used to live in. now obviously because I’m (kind of) short I could live in there no problem, but what about the odd person that might have been (god forbid) 5”5?!

Then it was back on the road again for a couple of hours before we made a stop at Jacob Lake.

I can’t remember where, but we stopped for a quick group picture, and I have to say it had one of the best views that I’d seen all trip. Which says a lot because there were some amazing views!

By the time we stopped for food, I was gagging for some wifi and a burger of some kind, so it was pretty awesome there was a Burger King with BOTH! One thing that I’ll never be able to get over from my travels is the way Americans size their food. Is this actually a small?

We drove through a Mormon town, which I wasn’t able to get any pictures of, but believe me when I say that it felt like being thrown back in time. If you’ve ever seen The Village, it felt exactly like that! I’m also starting to think that in America, ‘towns’ are simply long roads with buildings coming off at the sides. One thing I was able to get many pictures of, was the scenery, which even though I’d seen a lot of over the past two weeks, it still felt like seeing it for the first time.

By the time we got back to Vegas, it was late afternoon, and after several hours of driving, it’s fair to say that we were all pretty tired. In some weird way, returning to the Travelodge felt like returning home, after all, we had spent our first few days here. And what better way to celebrate returning home? By going out and getting drunk hahahaha.

Georgia, Natalie and I hit up a bar called La Salsa Cantina, who had the yummiest cocktails and an even nicer waiter.

As you can see, we had a great time!

Tomorrow it’s off to the airport and back home to England. It’s going to be quite an emotional farewell.

alice

xo

Posing in Monument Valley.

Today was definitely the posiest day on trip. Personally, I blame our surroundings… I mean when you’re in such an incredible environment, you can’t help but get a little silly and enjoy yourself. Anyway, aside from all the posing, today was the day we left barren Bluff and made our way towards Marble Canyon. It was also the day that drove from Arizona to Utah and back again. Did I also mention that there’s an hour times difference between the two states? Hahaa, so yes that was a bit of a mind fuck too!

Check out my cool hat

I do feel like most of our driving was done on this day. But it was totally worth it because we got to see some truly spectacular stuff! It’s so hard to believe that Monument Valley is one hundred per cent natural. It honestly blows my mind how nature can be so freaking AMAZING! Speechless…

Let the posing begin…

After a tiring photo session, it felt good to be on the road again.

Our motel in Marble Canyon was by far the most remote place we stayed. This was because the television in our room didn’t work (I know, I know, first world problems), and the wi-fi (like in every place we stayed aside from Vegas and Safeway) was temperamental at best; so that didn’t really leave a lot of options. Just like Bluff, Marble (as I’ll affectionately call it), was basically one road with motels, a restaurant and a gas station coming off it.

Our only room key that was ACTUALLY a key

We went out to dinner in a big group, and considering there was only one restaurant, we didn’t exactly have much of a choice of where we dined.

The food was good and I indulged myself with a Thor burger. It had bacon, avocado and some other lovely bits, and just thinking about it, I could definitely eat one now.

After dinner, and an incredibly long days drive, it was straight to bed, to rest up for an even busier next day.

Tomorrow temperatures rise to an absolute ridiculous degree and we go on yet another challenging hike.

alice

xo