Day 13 and 14: Pictures

Vernal Falls

Goodbye and Thank you

I really need to say thank you to all of you guys. Ruby, Caroline, Maria, Ela, Jasmin, Birdie, McKiwi, Phinn, Lorelai, Crazyhorse and el presidente: you guys were the best company anyone could wish for. I'm really happy we all got together in this group. I had so much fun during these two weeks and I bet I'm not the only one wishing today was Sep. 4! I really hope we'll meet again.

Our smelly-group probably would have sucked though if we hadn't had Mike. It was either him making suggestions to pack this trip with even more great adventures or us throwing our spontaneous wishes at him. But he was just always super flexible and super patient with us. Thank you Mike!

I think during the next few days every one of us will appreciate beds, showers and clean dishes even more. And when we get to the point to take these for granted again, it will be time for the next adventure!

I hope you guys have a good time getting back home!

Rayla

Day 14: Yosemite National Park

You can't say you've seen Yosemite National Park if you haven't at least done one of the hikes. Today's goal is to make it up to Vernal Falls. If you do this hike during the months of the snow melting, you will for sure get soaked. Now however, you can enjoy a nice mist when you get close enough to it. In the late afternoon we also give bear-hunting a shot, unfortunately though none of them are willing to be seen today. Or maybe they could just smell the fear inside the van. Treat of the day: Mike is cooking tonight, and although many wish they'd have milk instead of soda, I have to admit it was the best dinner during the entire trip. I think everyone goes to sleep with very mixed feelings: anticipating getting their bedrooms back, but sad that they'll not be sharing them with one another. 

Day 13: Yosemite National Park

The motto of the night: BE THE BEAR! On our ranger-lead night hike - no lights allowed except for whatever is provided by the moon - all of us are forced to trust the senses we usually neglect in favor of our sight. A few games of catch-the-prey-while-blindfolded proves that we can't even catch someone within the limits of a 2 meter circle. On top of that most of us also fail the scent-challenge: while our noses can't even detect a cup of coffee ... from a distance of 3 feet, any Yosemite black bear could smell it from 3 miles away. In face of these facts we should hesitate the next time we so willingly declare ourselves superior to animals. The truth is: we need to hide everything that has a smell - food, shampoo, chapstick - from these super- noses whereas the only reason we  know we even have all of this stuff is because we've seen it while checking our bags. 

Day 12: Pictures

"Devils Golf Course"

Day 11: Pictures

the Venetian

McKiwi, Maria (bottom), Birdie (middle), Phinn (top), Ella, Andrea and Jasmin

Day 10: Pictures

drinking game 101

Lorelai, Ruby, party bus driver "Monty", Birdie, Phinn and Werner (left to right)

Hotel "Paris"