Collaborative travel journal for lovers of the American West! (page 22 of 41)

Well, not very flashy in terms of colors, but the blue corn pancake at breakfast with the HOPI Indians really surprised me. I didn’t know blue corn (or red corn, for that matter) even existed.



Good evening Florence,

Yes, surprising—I’ve never seen a pancake like that before.

Breakfast for one or more people?

Good evening, It was for two people, at the breakfast we had at the restaurant of the Hopi Cultural Center hotel in Second Mesa, where we had slept. I can’t remember if it was maple syrup or honey on the side. The day before, in MV, we had tasted Navajo frybread, served with a sweet blue corn mush—well, bluish-gray, but this pancake was *really* blue! Since the Hopis are anti-photos, at least for the exteriors, I asked them if I could take a picture of our plate, and they said yes with a big smile. And here it is... Yes, because the Hopis we met in Second Mesa were pretty smiley overall... at least more so than the Navajos we encountered in MV...

Black bears and grizzlies in Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Hi Florence. Yes, the Navajo people do remain quite reserved and distant—they won’t smile at you either and rarely make eye contact, except for those trained in tourist hospitality. It’s part of their culture, so there’s no need to take it as rudeness or hostility. They stay natural and don’t try to please with the kind of warm smiles we’re used to, which often feel forced anyway. I’ve noticed this a lot in shops, gas stations, and anywhere that isn’t tourist-focused. Best regards.

Hello everyone! 🙂 Hey Christine!!! If I understood my lesson correctly, clam chowder is a specialty from the Northeast of the USA made with clams, cream, potatoes, and little bacon bits. It’s served in a bowl. However, at Fisherman’s Wharf, they have a version called Pacific Clam Chowder that’s served in a bread bowl. Several restaurants there offer it. I’d read about it in a travel journal and didn’t regret trying it—I loved it!!! I’d said I’d try making it at home, but I never did!!! It’s making me want to try again!!! Congrats to everyone on your photos!!! They’re gorgeous!!! Keep enchanting us!!! Marcalamar 🙂

My comment wasn’t a value judgment. Just an observation. The Navajo people were always very courteous with us. We weren’t expecting any special smiles, knowing full well that it wasn’t part of their culture. We’d prepared for this trip for a year and had fully taken this aspect of their culture into account. That’s why we were so surprised when we arrived among the Hopi people and saw more smiles in 24 hours than in 4 days with the Navajo. We didn’t think two such neighboring peoples could have these differences. Or maybe we just stumbled upon an exceptional situation? I was only sharing my feelings, not making a value judgment. Best regards.

Yes Florence, I understood perfectly, no worries, Bernard.

Brown bears and grizzlies in Yellowstone and Grand Teton



Your photos are gorgeous!

Hi Fabienne, We’re loving this travel journal! Yes, I totally agree with you—all the photos are stunning. How lucky to have seen so many bears! We’re heading back to the American West for the 5th time in September—we’re total addicts. Traveling there is pure freedom: the wide-open spaces, the wildlife, and that breathtakingly beautiful nature. A real treat!

1st photo I love: that gorgeous pronghorn in Lamar Valley. 2nd: A photo idea—how about "scavenger hunts"?

Have a great day, Michèle, aka Philippe McGayver

In pure American style, a really cute gas station in Nevada between LV and DV



With a side entrance labeled "entertainment for adult only"

Now I get why there were so many trucks parked out front....

it was for two people

Hi Florence,

I asked because that breakfast seemed really hearty.

at the breakfast we had at the restaurant in the Hopi Cultural Center hotel in Second Mesa, where we slept.

We slept northwest of Second Mesa—in Tuba City. We spent a night at the "Quality Inn Navajo Nation," but I don’t remember any Navajo culinary specialties. The "Navajo Museum" was right next to the hotel. We found it interesting: voyageforum.com/...st=7666743;a=7666743

But what really stood out for us was the "Trading Post" in Cameron, dedicated to Native American art, which I mention here: voyageforum.com/...st=7667830;a=7667830

I don’t remember if it was maple syrup or honey on the side

Seeing it in the photo, I thought of maple syrup, which is often served with pancakes, but maybe the Hopi tradition is different.

The night before, in MV, we had Navajo frybread with a sweet blue corn porridge

I’ve been to Monument Valley several times but never saw that dish. Which restaurant did you try it at?

Have a great afternoon!

Christine

Maison de la Femme - Mission District - San Francisco... colors galore

Ah! Frybread! It was outdoors, on the road between MV and Goulding’s. A woman was cooking them in a kind of trailer. Since I’m from the North, the whole "fries shack" vibe had us laughing. They were cornmeal flatbreads she shaped, fried, and topped. We really felt for her—it was scorching hot, and frying in that trailer with barely any ventilation must’ve made the air unbearable. It looked a bit like pizza, but didn’t taste like it. Us curious French travelers ate at a table set up in the blazing sun, while the Navajo folks pulled up in air-conditioned 4x4s, grabbed theirs, and ate in the car. So, it was basically their food truck. Actually, during our 4x4 tour of MV, a woman had bought some from a Navajo frybread vendor at the John Ford Point stop and explained it to us. So when we spotted the trailer with a sign advertising frybread, we had to try it big-time. Here’s a photo of the dish:

If I understood my lesson correctly, clam chowder is a specialty of the Northeast USA made with clams, cream, potatoes, and little bacon bits. It’s served in a bowl. However, at Fisherman’s Wharf, they have a version called Pacific Clam Chowder that’s served in a bread bowl. Several restaurants there offer it. I’d read about it in a travel journal and didn’t regret trying it—I loved it!!! I’d said I’d try making it at home, but I never did!!! It’s making me want to try again!!!

Hi Martine,

Thanks for the explanation. It sounds really tempting 😛

At Fisherman’s Wharf, I mostly remember the crab we enjoyed one evening, but I’ve never tried the clam chowder.

Congratulations to everyone for your photos!!! They’re gorgeous!!! Keep delighting us!!!

I love the photos too. This travel journal is such a great idea!

Christine

Ah! Fried bread! It was outdoors, on the road between MV and Goulding. A woman was cooking it in a kind of trailer. Being from the North, the "fries shack" vibe really made us laugh. They were corn cakes she shaped, fried, and topped. We felt so bad for her—it was scorching hot, and frying in that trailer with no real ventilation must’ve made the air unbearable. It looked a bit like pizza, but didn’t taste like it. Us curious French travelers ate at a table set up in the blazing sun, while the Navajos pulled up in air-conditioned 4x4s, grabbed theirs, and ate in the car. So, it was their Food Truck. Actually, during our 4x4 tour of MV, a woman had bought some from a Navajo fried bread vendor at the John Ford Point stop and explained it to us. Here’s a photo of the dish:



When we went back in July 2016, at lunchtime, we drove that road between Monument Valley and Goulding’s Lodge, but I didn’t see the woman cooking in the trailer 😕

This afternoon, we ate at the restaurant next to Goulding’s Lodge, but we were disappointed.

Do you have a photo of blue corn mush?

No, sorry. It wasn’t too pretty—served in a plastic cup, a grayish mush rather than blue, and sweet. Not bad, but the look wasn’t exactly appetizing; it looked like wallpaper paste. I was there in 2010, so no surprise things have changed! Apparently, Navajo frybread is pretty common. You might come across some on your trip! 😏

No, sorry. It wasn’t too pretty, served in a plastic cup, a grayish mush rather than blue, and sweet. Not bad, but the look wasn’t exactly appetizing—it looked like wallpaper paste.

Oh dear, the look really didn’t make you want to try it 😕

I was there in 2010, so no surprise things have changed since then!

Before our 2016 trip, we stopped at Monument Valley in 2013 and 2007, but I didn’t notice this lady.

Apparently, Navajo frybread is pretty common. You might come across some on your route!

This summer, we’re heading back to the American West. We’ll be in Utah, but not Arizona. If I see any, I’ll grab some.

Wolf and coyote, Yellowstone NP

Perfect timing—I’m staying at Goulding’s in 3 weeks!

I’d much rather try that than hit the McDonald’s in Kayenta.

I’ll try to get them to eat local, but no burgers overload.

Wolf and coyote, Yellowstone NP

I love it! !