As I looked toward starting my fourth year in Copenhagen, I was filled with excitement and anticipation. This July, instead of being in Denmark my brother and I embarked and headed across the ocean to Arizona. A trip to the United States to visit our parents! We had not seen them in person for over a year, so we were eager to hug them and catch up on everything we had missed. We packed our bags and boarded the plane for our long-awaited reunion.
After spending some time at home, we headed west to our beautiful home state of Colorado. There, we visited the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, a stunning national park with deep, narrow gorges and towering cliffs. The rugged beauty of the canyon was truly breathtaking, and we couldn’t wait to explore the rim and take in the breathtaking views. The park is named after the Gunnison River, which carved out the canyon over millions of years. The canyon walls are so steep and dark that some parts only get 33 minutes of sunlight per day!
We drove along the South Rim Road, stopping at various overlooks to admire the scenery and take photos.
In addition to the Black Canyon, we also visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park, home to the tallest dunes in North America. The towering sand dunes, which rise up to 750 feet, offered endless opportunities for hiking, sunset watching, and for the bold, stargazing. The park is located at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, creating a striking contrast between the sandy desert and the snowy peaks. We camped overnight over at the state park, on the reservoir, where we enjoyed a clear and starry sky. The park is an International Dark Sky Park, meaning it has very low light pollution and excellent night-sky viewing.
As we embarked on this new adventure, I was filled with a sense of excitement and wonder. From the rugged beauty of the Black Canyon to the towering sand dunes, there was so much to explore and discover in Colorado and at home in Arizona.
I was also grateful for the chance to spend quality time with my family and reconnect with my roots. I realized how much I loved both Denmark and the United States, and how lucky I was to have two places to call home.
As we boarded the plane to return to Denmark, I knew my fourth year would hold something special.
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