Old Faithful

Old Faithful is, if nothing else, faithful. After a few teasing spurts, the iconic geyser of Yellowstone Park erupted, a thousand shutters clicked, the small crowd cheered, and all was well with the world. Old Faithful, as it had since 1870, delivered.

I had always wanted to see Old Faithful. It's on my bucket list of Great American Sites. I've seen the Grand Canyon, which was grand, and Zion National Park and the Redwoods. 

The remaining big deal is Mount Rushmore. I've heard that it's kind of small, but I don't know about that. Most people are surprised by how big Stone Mountain is, but size is relative in oh so many ways.

Old Faithful, that wonder of natural wonders, is surrounded by concrete and benches. The visitor's center is big, and new, and glassy. There are a few hotels, and a massive gift shop that's full of exactly what you would expect.

I guess icons need all the support system. After all, the tourists on the busses who push and shove to take pictures of water squirting up into the air must stand somewhere. 

And if you're going to take a genuine Yellowstone shot glass with a wolf on it back to the other side of the world, you might as well buy it from the locals.

Don't get me wrong: Old Faithful Village isn't a commercialized island in the middle of the Aspens; it's all quite neat and clean and orderly. The National Park Service doesn't mess around.

As for Old Faithful, things remain the same: build up a head of steam, blow it off, and then settle back down. It's the way it should be, and you don't need a t shirt with a buffalo on it to appreciate it.

Swimming with the sharks and the rays

We will never forget today.

Mark does not swim well and is nervous in the water. It is what it is. Rebecca is an excellent swimmer. Neither have had much experience swimming in a lagoon near Bora Bora where the black sharks and the stingrays come up to be petted and fed. 

So put Mark in a snorkel for the first time in his life, give him his underwater camera, strap on a life vest, and insert him in crystal blue water. 

He loved it. He petted the stingray (feels like velvet,) and photographed the sharks from an acceptable distance.

Rebecca is very proud of Mark. 

So is Mark.

There was snorkeling in a coral garden, and then a traditional Polynesiasn feast. Pork, fish, plantains, breadfruit, yucca, are placed on top of hot rocks, covered with banana leaves and left alone for 3 or so hours. The result is heavenly. We ate with our fingers. We'll be back. And you should come visit too.

Here we are snorkeling at the coral garden. 

We tell you about this adventure because we chose this excursion for its high tourist value. Actually, it sounded a little cheesy. We were wrong. The whole experience was one for the ages.

Sharks and stingrays. Damn. Can you believe it? 

Cooking fresh fish for lunch.

Lunch after a morning chasing stingrays and sharks.