We are on our final days in the USA. Time for washing, shopping, thanks giving, family dinners, family tree researching and a pedicure.
Our greatest challenge yet will be getting all our gear home again.
We have had a wonderful time. It really makes you want to get out and see some more. Back home soon so we can make some more money and do it all again.
Where do you think we should go next time?
Monday, November 3, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
On a Mission
Friday 31st October First up this morning we headed to Mission San Xavier del Bac which is located on an Indian reservation in Tucson. The Indians call it "White Dove of the Desert". It was built in 1783. The paints on the inside walls have recently been restored and they have now started on the outside. This mission also has some lovely cactus gardens.
After some "Fry Bread" cooked by the Indians just outside the mission we are back in the car and heading to the De Grazia Gallery. What an interesting place! I love his paintings and I thoroughly enjoyed the gallery and gardens - unfortunately the camera battery died - but wait, Mary Lou to the rescue, she handed over her camera.
On the way back to Mesa, Phoenix we visited Biosphere 2 which was a world self sufficiency science project in the 80's and 90's. It was not totally successful but they learnt many things about sustainability. There was a lot of information about recycling etc but we have not seen very much of that happening here in USA.
Back to Mesa tonight.
After some "Fry Bread" cooked by the Indians just outside the mission we are back in the car and heading to the De Grazia Gallery. What an interesting place! I love his paintings and I thoroughly enjoyed the gallery and gardens - unfortunately the camera battery died - but wait, Mary Lou to the rescue, she handed over her camera.
On the way back to Mesa, Phoenix we visited Biosphere 2 which was a world self sufficiency science project in the 80's and 90's. It was not totally successful but they learnt many things about sustainability. There was a lot of information about recycling etc but we have not seen very much of that happening here in USA.
Back to Mesa tonight.
The Wild Wild West
Thursday 30th October After breakfast at "The Good Egg" we drove out to Kartchner Caverns a beautiful cave system discovered in 1974 and kept secret until 1988 - very interesting. When Ed Schiefflin said he was heading out west people said "All you will find out there is your Tombstone". Ed found silver and named the town Tombstone (what a sense of humour!). The main street in dirt and is for horse traffic only. The sidewalks are still all wood and most of the buildings are circa 1880's. We drove over to Tombstone just in time to see a re-enactment of the gunflight at OK - Corral from the cowboys perspective. Just on dusk, we drove over to a little town called Bisbee and had a quick wander around before heading back to Tucson for the night.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tucson
D and I started the day with a swim in the pool. Just about had the whole grounds to ourselves just the 10 or so grounds cleaners, gardeners, step sweepers etc. It was a shame to leave Mexico but we must go on. We travelled up to Tucson from Puerto Penasco today. Nothing much to report. No princess accommodation tonight.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
South of the Board
Monday 27th October This morning we packed “Old Blue” up and headed for Puerto Penasco Mexico. There is a bit of a dust storm on the way down, it’s nothing like we had in Wagga just before we left. There is very little to stop and look at on the way. We purchase additional car insurance in Ajo (Aa-ho). Looks like an interesting little town but we don’t stop.
We pull in at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (National Park) check out the visitors centre and have our picnic lunch with a friendly woodpecker.
You definitely know when you have crossed the boarder, the signs are all in Spanish (in many places in America they have English with Spanish underneath) the road is full of potholes, they have killer humps in the road to slow people down (and they do) it is very sandy and there are shells of buildings all along the roads. I am not sure whether they have started to build dwellings and run out of money or if they were lovely buildings once that have been semi-demolished.
We arrive at our condo complex is called Las Palomas – reception was very ordinary but the rest - how nice. I would say that most of the 380 condos here are owned by Americans. Ours is beautifully furnished by the owners. You look out over the many pools to the Cortez Sea. After a sunset swim we try out the on site restaurant – it is a big plate, small dinner, big price (especially when the bill is in pesos!!) restaurant.
Tuesday 28th October Shopping Mexican style. We take the back roads, which are sand, to the main tourist shopping located right on the point in Puerto Penasco which is traditional a fishing village. There are so many colourful little knick knack shops here. They look very small at the front but many of them go way back and have many little rooms, nooks and crannies all stuffed with trinkets, ornaments, plates, silver, puppets, sombreros, blankets etc etc etc.
Time for a swim followed by a walk along the beach where we locate a lovely, reasonably priced restaurant that we returned to later for a very nice meal.
It is the low season here and there are not many people about at all. One of the security guards told us that they only had 90 condos occupied but there are cleaners, gardeners, security etc workers all around – we were the only people in the restaurant tonight until the family of the head chef came in! There where at least 7 staff working.
We pull in at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (National Park) check out the visitors centre and have our picnic lunch with a friendly woodpecker.
You definitely know when you have crossed the boarder, the signs are all in Spanish (in many places in America they have English with Spanish underneath) the road is full of potholes, they have killer humps in the road to slow people down (and they do) it is very sandy and there are shells of buildings all along the roads. I am not sure whether they have started to build dwellings and run out of money or if they were lovely buildings once that have been semi-demolished.
We arrive at our condo complex is called Las Palomas – reception was very ordinary but the rest - how nice. I would say that most of the 380 condos here are owned by Americans. Ours is beautifully furnished by the owners. You look out over the many pools to the Cortez Sea. After a sunset swim we try out the on site restaurant – it is a big plate, small dinner, big price (especially when the bill is in pesos!!) restaurant.
Tuesday 28th October Shopping Mexican style. We take the back roads, which are sand, to the main tourist shopping located right on the point in Puerto Penasco which is traditional a fishing village. There are so many colourful little knick knack shops here. They look very small at the front but many of them go way back and have many little rooms, nooks and crannies all stuffed with trinkets, ornaments, plates, silver, puppets, sombreros, blankets etc etc etc.
Time for a swim followed by a walk along the beach where we locate a lovely, reasonably priced restaurant that we returned to later for a very nice meal.
It is the low season here and there are not many people about at all. One of the security guards told us that they only had 90 condos occupied but there are cleaners, gardeners, security etc workers all around – we were the only people in the restaurant tonight until the family of the head chef came in! There where at least 7 staff working.
Recharging in Mesa
Saturday 25th October Mary Lou and Roger went to a friends son’s wedding whilst we took “Old Blue” the blue Oldsmobile to meet up with Mike, Maria and friends who took us “tailgating” before the Arizona via Oregon football match. Quite a different atmosphere this time, much closer to the field but more difficult to see as the stadium was not as steep and barracking for the under dogs this time but these supporters have tremendous spirit. We had a fun time with great company.
Sunday 26th October Caught up with the rest of the washing and went to the “Swap Meet” which is like the Queen Victoria Markets. We had another “Costco” experience and a "Walmart" experience too. These shops are huge and most products at Costco come in bulk. To give you an idea of how inexpensive food is here, even with our dollar in the toilet it is still cheaper to buy groceries at these stores than it would be at home!
Sunday 26th October Caught up with the rest of the washing and went to the “Swap Meet” which is like the Queen Victoria Markets. We had another “Costco” experience and a "Walmart" experience too. These shops are huge and most products at Costco come in bulk. To give you an idea of how inexpensive food is here, even with our dollar in the toilet it is still cheaper to buy groceries at these stores than it would be at home!
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Red Rock of Sedona
Wednesday 22nd October Detlef and I walked back to Mather Point to check out the morning view. Very fresh in the morning – best to keep moving. After breakfast we head for Sedona with a stop at the Tusayan Ruin and Desert View. The view points in this area give a much more remarkable view and the watchtower is a very fascinating piece of architecture. The Indians have scattered road side stalls once we leave the national park – they mainly sell jewellery and pottery. After we check in to the Hyatt Pinon Pointe we head up to the airport plateau to take in the changing colours before dinner at the airport restaurant – the dinner was very nice, far too much for me. Unfortunately our waitress should have been working in a dirty run down truck stop!
Thursday 23rd October This morning we headed to the Chapel of the Holy Cross a beautiful church which is perched on and incorporated into a rock ledge; built in the 1950’s it is still very modern. We then drove over to Jerome an old cooper mining town turned Ghost Town turned tourist destination. It is located up a very windy road – perfect for a Sunday bike ride!
We were entertained by Wolfe Robe an American Indian traditional flute maker and player who told us about the history and the traditions of the flute amongst the different tribes between playing the different flutes.
Friday 24th October This morning we took a Pink Jeep Tour into Broken Arrow Trail, two hours of fun. On the way back to Mesa we stopped off at Montezuma’s Castle a very old native Indian ruin (some of the ruins are not very ruined). White explorers thought that the Aztecs built this dwelling for their Emperor Montezuma. They were wrong but the name has stuck.
We met Michael, Maria and Breanna Ruehmkorff for dinner. It was great to finally meet them.
Thursday 23rd October This morning we headed to the Chapel of the Holy Cross a beautiful church which is perched on and incorporated into a rock ledge; built in the 1950’s it is still very modern. We then drove over to Jerome an old cooper mining town turned Ghost Town turned tourist destination. It is located up a very windy road – perfect for a Sunday bike ride!
We were entertained by Wolfe Robe an American Indian traditional flute maker and player who told us about the history and the traditions of the flute amongst the different tribes between playing the different flutes.
Friday 24th October This morning we took a Pink Jeep Tour into Broken Arrow Trail, two hours of fun. On the way back to Mesa we stopped off at Montezuma’s Castle a very old native Indian ruin (some of the ruins are not very ruined). White explorers thought that the Aztecs built this dwelling for their Emperor Montezuma. They were wrong but the name has stuck.
We met Michael, Maria and Breanna Ruehmkorff for dinner. It was great to finally meet them.
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