There is something about driving on certain US roads, like the ones around the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley. I am not quite sure if it is the beauty of the landscape, the immensity of the sky, the rarity of fellow drivers or a mix of all that but every time it awakens in me a feeling of freedom, of understanding and envisioning all the opportunities lying ahead, a bliss that could last for days. In our convertible Mustang, roof top open, hair flying around, sun kissing my skin, I felt that day like I was driving to conquer the World!
And finally we reached Page. The canyon is only a few miles away although somehow, not that easy to find.
When we saw the first sign indicating the canyon, which was just at the end of the little road, my body started shaking in excitement. I couldn’t believe I was there again, at last. I couldn’t really recognize the place, but it didn’t matter. We were escorted to the entrance and from there proceeded on our own. I was so exited and intimidated that I thought I wasn’t going to be able to go down the stairs and ladders. When my feet reached the sand which covers the ground of the canyon, all my apprehensions vanished, I was back in Heaven!
I looked around, caressed the walls, took off my shoes, and moved forward in the canyon mesmerized by its beauty. It only took about 3 minutes before I started crying, thanking the Universe for giving me such an opportunity.
After a short walk in the coolness and silence of the place, we started hearing an Indian melody in the distance. As we walked closer, we met with a young Navajo musician who was simply playing the flute and relaxing there. His music surprisingly transcended the whole experience and transformed it into a very spiritual one. As the notes of the ancestral melody he was playing were filling the air, it was as if our spirits were lifted and were merging with the place in time and space.
Ultimately, the canyon got narrower and we saw the ladders and stairs which were going to take us back to the surface of the earth.
Farewell Antelope Canyon. I am coming back soon because I love you forever.
One of my favorite picture of Antelope Canyon is available on Society6. Check it out.
And if you will like to see another one there, just let me know.
The Technical Bits:
Located near Page, Arizona, the canyon is managed by the Navajos.
Website: http://navajonationparks.org/index.htm
Last time we visited, we didn’t have a guide, although it seems to be a requirement. We arrived around 4PM and they were about to close but explaining that I had been there, years before and was dying to be back, they let us go! Only 2 photographs were there at that time as the light was becoming particularly interesting.
We never got to visit the upper pat of the canyon only the lower part, they both look equally attractive from what I have seen around the web.
Don’t miss the Horseshoe bend formed by the Colorado river on your way to or from Antelope Canyon, it’s only a few miles away on the other side of highway 89.
If you wish to see the itinerary of our road trip, you can check out one of the very first hand drawn map I created, on my US destination page. I’m pretty sure you’ll like it!
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What a powerful experience! I’ve never been to Antelope canyon, but as an avid photographer, it is definitely on my bucket list. You got some really beautiful shots too! It’s refreshing to see some different takes on an often photographed scene.
Thank you very much! As you can tell, I’m just starting my blog so I very much appreciate your comment!
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