its always sunny by the beach

Brady has been waiting for me to post these pictures...ha ha. This was one of his favorite places to go I guess! Weirdo. I took a geology class in college--actually that was my last class so it is the freshest in my mind--and Geology 101 says that the Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun. Tough concepts. Also,   because it is the innermost planet and orbits the sun once every 87.10394 earth days, NOTHING is there! Way too hot and deathly. It is barren sandy and full of hot things and hot ground and dirt. (So Professor Geologist says)

Well we travelled to its twin sister! If you ever have dreamed of visiting Mercury- this is your destination! A place that is most like Mercury on earth. People call it DEATH VALLEY. 

Bradshaw Intl. (Brady's employer and one of our life sources) work with businesses in Guatamala and Costa Rica. The top dogs came attend the Housewares show that Brady went to in Chicago and then flew to California. Well, someone thought it was a good idea to take them to California's best---DEATH VALLEY. 

 They drove from Las Vegas (the other highlight of the US) and we drove from Costa Mesa and we met in the middle in Death Valley.  

There are 2 hotels in the 'valley' which are called Furnace Creek Inn and Furnace Creek Ranch. Honest advertising! 

 The FURNACE CREEK INN have very comfortable rooms. I think because they are aware you probably need to rest from the heat 3 or 4 times a day. And although it was very hot, the 2 hotels were booked full!!!! Crazy tourists. They always migrate to the outdoorsy venues of the US; like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellow Stone, Zion's and Death Valley. I wonder if they have heard of Disneyland or the Movie Theatre? Or McDonalds? And we wonder why 'they' are more classy and thin.  

ha ha funny, there is no water.

ok except this small patch. It is the last that is left. 

 That little sign says SEA LEVEL. Death valley is so deathly because it is below life. 

 Barren...salt flats

A Guatamalan said to me, "Can you imgaine being a pioneer and coming up over the mountains and seeing this?! I would sit down in the hot sand and cry." Ha ha now she probably knows that places she wouldn't want to live. 

I think the goal of the trip was to diversify the landscape and show our visitors something new. Well done. They were definitely shown diversity which is not found in Costa Rica. It was great to be with them. They are so kind and welcoming! It is amazing to me how open and trusting and friendly people can be. I can't wait to visit them in their beautiful area of the world.