zions

this week we had a family vacation to Southern Utah.

there was Grandma, Aunts, Uncles and lots of cousins.

 we were in Zions, St. George and Cedar City. 

its a family tradition to stay at this luxurious spot called The Desert Pearl and its always filled with Europeans. (which means speedos at the pool. mainly worn by old men......)

the hotel is nestled right up next to the red rock- its beautiful 

last time my sister, cousin and i met some handsome dutch boys.

 we proceeded to then hike the Narrows together. 

proof: 

 his name was robert. 

its also tradition to take a picture at the same bench every time.

(last year)

 

(this year)
poor stefi couldn't come this year being married and living in DC and all. we missed her

Zions is so pretty and always makes me proud that I am from Utah. 

here is Riley and her bf Connor

(note how we are matching in blue tank tops)

 the girl cousins + Lisa Marie from France

In St. George we basically just swam at my Uncle Rogers and in Cedar City saw two plays.

the first was 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and it was pretty good. 

Atticus was no Gregory Peck, but who is

Scout and Jem were a little too doe eyed and flat for me, not very authentic 

the whole time I wished there was more background music.

Elmer Bernstein was the composer for the movie and it just adds so much to the whole feel of each important moment. it makes the intimate moments between Atticus and Scout more touching. 

the next play was Les Mis. 

Superb! 

That play is just so dramatic and stirring, I love the plot. 

And the whole theme of redemption and ethereal ending- woof. 

the only part I didn't like was when Valjean rips his shirt open to show is 24609 tattoo and this Valjean was pump.... so i wished he hadn't of done that. 

Connor at one point said he looked down the row at us girls sitting together and we were all crying. 

We have a French foreign exchange student staying with my family, who came with us on vacation. I felt bad because seeing a play in a different language is rough, but at least one of them was about France right?

and so ends my summer travels. i had a good run this season- i got to go many a place. 

i've had so much fun that i almost don't want to go back to school.

almost.