Mexican Hat is a rock that looks like a hat. Probably not the only Mexican Hat we'll see on our Mexican adventure, but this one holds a special sentimental nostalgia for Ian, as he took a high school trip out west and came to see this particular oddly-shaped rock. It was as thrilling this time around as he remembered. Lorraine enjoyed a brief off-road jaunt into the dusty scrub brush.
The Grand Canyon, while absolutely breathtaking as a natural phenomenon, is deplorable as a Govermnet-run establishment. Maybe it was due to us visiting during the "off-season" but from the moment we drove into the park, we could make neither heads nor tails of the place. Even with spotty internet connection, we could not figure out where we were supposed to go, how we were supposed to get there, where we could eat, where we could sleep. We stopped at a number of official looking buildings: general stores, main lodges, guest services, etc. Everything was closed, no maps available any where, no information posted for the pathetic and the road-weary. What we did find were signs such as "Stop for children in the road" and "Don't drink water from the toilets". Thanks, USA.
We finally found a human being, working the front desk at one of the hotels located inside the park, who handed us a map that looked like the kind of thing a 5-year-old colors on while you peruse the menu at your local steakhouse. Were were grateful for the help, but using the map to navigate ourselves to the campground in the dark was next to impossible!
We finally found a campsite, parked Lorraine, and jimmied ourselves into the back to sleep. Also, it was about 30 degrees outside. Sleep was intermittent, and fitful. But the Grand Canyon! The next morning's vistas were plentiful and resplendent. And we saw a ton of Elk. And there were cougar-crossing signs, though no cougars to be seen. Worth every minute of confusion.