Collaborative travel journal for lovers of the American West! (page 32 of 41)

A parasol on a beach in Point Reyes above SF. There was space and not a crowd 😏

Hi there,

Here’s my contribution—some photos from our first trip to the USA in 2011, discovering the "Far West" for real!

Good evening everyone, After 5 trips to the West, I still never get tired of these incredible landscapes, these fiery rocks, this endless solitude, this stifling heat, and those epic trails like the one leading to Little Finland—pictured here. I’ll say it outright: American West, I love you!! Fred

Good evening everyone, After 5 trips to the West, I still never get tired of these incredible landscapes, these fiery rocks, this infinite solitude, this stifling heat, these epic trails like the one to Little Finland shown in this photo. I say it here without hesitation: American West, I love you!! Fred



Hi Fred,

I love the American West too. But beyond 40°C, I enjoy it less 🙂 I prefer when the heat isn’t so stifling.

Christine

Good evening everyone, After 5 trips to the West, I still never get tired of these incredible landscapes, these fiery rocks, this infinite solitude, this stifling heat, these epic trails like the one to Little Finland shown in this photo. I’ll say it outright: American West, I love you!! Fred



Those crêpe-like rock formations are so beautiful—and so unexpected!

The West is magical because so often you find yourself immersed in the world of movies or books you’ve devoured (often as a kid), but this time with the physical experience and all five senses alive: - At Monument Valley, it’s like stepping back into classic Westerns - In Canyonlands, you feel like you’re on Mars or another planet, half-expecting a shiny flying saucer to take off or an unfriendly alien to appear... And you could go on forever with most of the rural and urban landscapes you encounter! That’s why it’s such a rejuvenating experience. Last summer, I was in the western part of the continent—much farther north, in the Canadian Rockies and British Columbia—and there, the Saskatchewan River takes you right back to trapper stories...

Anyway, I’d love to start a new series: one movie, show, or book tied to the mythology of the West = one photo!

And I’ll kick it off below with *Zorro*, the old series that definitely shaped my childhood... So here’s the scene: Zorro is once again being chased by two villains. He’s riding Tornado through rugged terrain, weaving at full speed between rocks and bushes. He hides just past the bend, climbing onto a large rock... and just as the bad guys pass by, he leaps down, knocking them off their horses. He fights one while Tornado scares the other away...

And this is where it happens:



You can almost picture it, right?

The Daltons (they're friends, they're not in costume—it's their everyday outfits)

I loved "Little House on the Prairie," and since I didn’t run into Laura with her braids flying in the fields... You could almost believe you’re in Nelly’s parents’ general store.

Marie Noëlle

Les Dalton (those are friends—they’re not in costume, it’s their everyday outfits)



So is this your everyday outfit too, I guess?

Came across this at a gas station in Arizona. This one’s really "well-equipped." It’s not just the landscapes that are amazing in the States ;)

From Monument Valley, the whole group sets off in pursuit of the kidnappers, but after a while, only Michèle and Philippe continue their relentless quest, which will last five years across the American West. Hope regarding Debbie; according to multiple sources, she still seems to be alive and is "A PRISONER OF THE DESERT".

Well, here we have three outlaws who just robbed a bank and are fleeing into the desert to escape the law... sandstorm, they lose their horses and arrive exhausted at a waterhole, where they find a woman giving birth. She dies right after the baby is born, but not before making the bandits promise to protect her child—so they become the godfathers. They’ll sacrifice everything to cross the desert and save the baby, and only one of them will make it to the village. In the end, they’ve redeemed themselves... It’s a John Ford film set in Death Valley, called *Le Fils du Désert* in French and *The Three Godfathers* in English.

Breaking my usual silence...

It's about two women who responded to men's violence with their own. In the end, if they want to stay free, they have only one solution: to charge straight ahead.



Thelma & Louise, by Ridley Scott, with Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis (in the movie they say it's the Grand Canyon, but it was filmed at Dead Horse Point)

And when the car arrives at the bottom, this is what you get:



Check it out on my blog Fred

TRUE GRIT IN RIDGWAY, COLORADO

We love it a lot🙂. Step into this café and you’ll see lots of photos celebrating the cinematic legacy of star John Wayne. Then head into the adjoining "Timber Creek" shop, where you’ll find some great stuff—art, clothes, hats, jewelry, and more. Both spots are definitely worth a visit. Found online: The True Grit Café opened on New Year’s Eve in 1985 and was built to honor the Oscar-winning film *True Grit*, starring John Wayne. The movie was filmed in 1968 in and around Ridgway and Ouray❤️❤️.

I'm continuing with Hollywood mythology...



Do you recognize this desert? Yes, it's Death Valley, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes... Add two silhouettes to it... a tall, lanky one and a short, chubby one. No, it's not Laurel and Hardy... 🤪 And what if I told you they're made of metal? Got it? Yes, that's right—this little patch of desert was used as a set in the first installment of the saga (and in *Return of the Jedi* too).

The famous car chase from *Bullitt* through the streets of San Francisco, and in a completely different vein, a wacky cartoon character that had us all laughing as kids.

Another cinematic nod to San Francisco with ALCATRAZ in the background, and behind it, the silhouette of the Bay Bridge.

At least two memorable films: *Birdman of Alcatraz* (1962) with Burt Lancaster, and *Escape from Alcatraz* (1979) with Clint Eastwood...



Here, the view is a bit more idyllic...

Yosemite is the setting for the opening scene of one of the Star Trek movies (*The Final Frontier*, released in '89). You can see Captain Kirk free-climbing the legendary "El Capitan," a 900-meter-high rock face.

If you want to watch that opening scene, copy this link into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PRxN-KNqLs

Or click directly—if it works!

Otherwise, here are two photos of Yosemite: one of the valley from the Glacier Point Road, and one of El Capitan from the valley.

Good evening Fabienne,

During our last trip, we visited filming locations from Alfred Hitchcock’s *Vertigo*. The French title is *Sueurs froides* (*Cold Sweat*).

We went to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. In that scene, Scottie follows Madeleine to the edge of the sea, near Fort Point, where she jumps into the water. He dives in to save her. www.lieu-geographique.com/...e-jette-a-l-eau.html

The second *Vertigo* filming location we planned was the Palace of the Legion of Honor. In the film, Madeleine goes there to admire a painting. www.lieu-geographique.com/...e-dans-un-musee.html

Next, we headed to another *Vertigo* location: Mission San Juan Bautista (www.lieu-geographique.com/...lfred-hitchcock.html), where the dramatic climax of the story takes place.

We recognized the Mission, but not the bell tower. The original tower and steeple were destroyed by fire, so Alfred Hitchcock recreated it in a studio using paintings and models. The current tower is shorter.

We arrived too late to visit the Mission. We only had time to snap a few photos, but the light was fading.

Here’s one:

Good night!

Christine

Good evening everyone, Let’s switch things up and head to northern Utah at the Bonneville Salt Flats. I made this little clip: https://youtu.be/65F3CFxVMFE This is where part of *Independence Day* was filmed! Fred