DAY 1 - LAS VEGAS (NV)

We expected Las Vegas as a giant amusement park, were gambling is a must and we have not been surprised: plenty of casinos open 24h a day and the most bizarre hotel resort we have ever seen. We decided to visit two of the luxury hotels that try - in our opinion with no results - to replicate the "Italian Style": The Bellagio and The Venetian.
Unfortunately the jetlag forced to not shooting in the night, so that we probably missed the most impressive landscape of this big amusement city: it will be for the next time...

DAY 2 - GRAND CANYON WEST (AZ)

Only recently a new access road to Grand Canyon has been opened: only 120 miles (2h30) from Las Vegas. On the way, we passed the Hoover Dam over the Lake Tahoe, that produces electricity for the whole Nevada state and mark the border with the Arizona state; then we crossed the desert. In the last 49 miles we entered in the Hualapai Indian Reserve and the road was not paved.
But finally the Grand Canyon: from Guano Point and Eagle View the landscape is breathtaking.
For sure we won't forget it for a long time...

DAY 3 - DEATH VALLEY (CA)

Death Valley National Park is only 130 miles from Las Vegas, but is wide other 100 more, so that we decided to pass the night inside the park (at Stovepipe Wells Village) so that we have been able to enjoy the beautiful light on the evening and on the next morning. It is the last high season week, then it will be too hot for visiting the Death Valley out of the car. We have been lucky: 25° and the sky is terse.
We visited Zabriskie Point, Furnace Creek, Bad Water, Artist's Palette, Stovepipe Wells and the Sand Dunes, up to Mosaic Canyon.
The most impressive feeling is the silence: only the wind noise and nothing more. One of the occasions were the man is alone on front of the nature.

DAY 4 - ROUTE 66 (CA)

On the Route 66 (in the trunk from Las Vegas to Los Angeles) for capturing the '60 atmosphere. Close to Barstow there is Calico Ghost Town: funded in 1881 for exploiting one of the richest US silver mine, in 1892 it was already out of the market and it became a ghost town in 1929. It is one of the oldest Far West settlements where the original structure has been preserved.

DAY 5 - THE PACIFIC COAST (CA)

Starting from Pismo Beach, we traveled on part of "El Camino Real", the US101 that historically corresponds to the path of the first Spanish Missions, since crossing the US1 that runs on the Pacific Coast. Stops at Morro Bay and Cambria, before reaching the Big Sur, where unfortunately a thunderstorm prevents us from shooting in one of the most photographed "Scenic Way" in the world. Next time... ;-)

DAY 6 - SAN FRANCISCO (CA)

Based in San José for a meeting, we have only a few hours for a short tour in San Francisco. We passed on the Golden Gate;  stop at Fisherman's Wharf and at Pier 39, till Pacific Heights for shooting the Victorian houses. It is not so much, but it is all we can afford...

DAY 7 - MONTEREY PENINSULA (CA)

About 80 miles from San José, Monterey Peninsula hosts one of the most scenic drives of the whole Pacific Coast: the 17mile Drive. Starting from the pearl village of Pacific Grove, we touched Spanish Bay, Fanshell Overlook, Crocker Grove, since the luxury Pebble Beach Resort, were the golf court is only a few steps from the ocean...