Independent traveler : Hola from Mexican Hat, Utah

Independent traveler

Love to travel, but hate tours? This blog offers insight on how to go it alone, from safe accommodations to seeing the best, and maybe the worst. After all, independent travel is an adventure. Flexibility and traveling on a budget are critical. No five-stars or all-inclusives. So hop aboard. Learn to enjoy travel at your own pace and price. Meet other adventurers like yourself and mingle with the locals. Remember: You may travel alone, but you wonʼt be lonely. gloria.independenttraveler@gmail.com

Gloria Maschmeyer

I've been a traveler since I can remember. I spread my wings as a flight attendant at age 20, then married a traveling man and we've never stopped. While based in Anchorage, we've ventured to India, Peru, Bali, Morocco, Burma, Tunisia Singapore and Ecuador. I love ferreting out places off the beaten path. And when things don't go quite as planned, that's just part of the adventure.

Gloria's photos

PHOTOS

Gloria's photo gallery

See Gloria's photos from her world travels.

READER-SUBMITTED

Vacation shots

That's a tiny Machu Pichu at left. View more travel shots in our vacation gallery.

Submit a vacation photo

Gloria's videos

Floating England's Llangollen Canal

See a little snippet of floating the Llangollen Canal in Western England in a narrow boat.

Fun with Divot

Divot snorkeling at the confluence of Brook's River.

Fun with Ted and Divot

Divot at the Falls and Ted cavorting at the mouth flowing out to Naknek Lake.

Plan your trip

AIRFARES

www.travelocity.com

www.expedia.com

BEST TIME OF YEAR

www.myforecast.com

Click on "almanac," then on "historical climate" and plug in the city you wish to check.

ELECTRICAL CONVERSIONS

www.travel-images.com/electric-plugs.html

For electrical appliances, it's great to know the voltage used in a country and the types of plugs.

CURRENCY RATES

www.oanda.com

For more information on currency exchanges and helpful hints, read my blogs, "Should I change" and "I've decided to change."

TRAVEL WARNINGS

www.travel.state.gov/travel

This site can help you determine the type of crime that goes on in foreign countries against visitors. It also will tell you areas of the country you should avoid.

WORLD TIMES

www.worldtimeserver.com/

Features the current time anywhere and weather. Helpful when you need to call for reservations or want to call back home while away.

WHAT TRAVELERS SAY

www.tripadvisor.com

A favorite sites to see what other travelers have to say about places to stay and visit worldwide

CAR RENTAL

www.hotwire.com

A good site for finding the best deals on renting cars anywhere in the world

TRAVEL INSURANCE

www.squaremouth.com

Web site that compares costs of travel insurance between companies.

Hola from Mexican Hat, Utah

Posted by indietraveler

Posted: October 26, 2009 - 7:55 am

Mexican Hat rock, outside of Mexican Hat, Utah

What a ride! We are now in Mexican Hat, Utah and about to head south to Monument Valley after a couple of overnights.

Getting here from Moab was scenic and interesting. We stopped at Bridges National Monument Park and then headed out via State Route 261 bound for Mexican Hat.

Surprise! About 30 miles down a straight, flat road we encountered a countdown of warning signs for Moki Dugway. We were warned to slow down, slow down even more and then crawl. We were approaching a steep escarpment down Cedar Mesa to the San Juan Valley below. Straight down the front 1,100 feet and three miles of switchbacks.

Switchbacks down Cedar Mesa called Moki Dugway to the San Juan Valley below.

After a washboard ride down the face, we traversed the San Juan valley floor stopping at Goosenecks State Park where the San Juan River cuts down a thousand feet leaving in it's wake yet another deep canyon.

Goosenecks State Park where the San Juan River meanders 1,000 below.

Geologists note that this the best example of an entrenched meanders in the world. Translated, the result of the river meandering for several million years.

After being awed by this natural wonder we drove another ten miles or so to our destination, Mexican Hat. Right along the highway coming into the tiny village, we saw it. Mexican Hat Rock. Glowing in the evening sun it was frosting on the cake after a long day of driving and sightseeing.