Life is a Kaleidoscope, Part IV

We were going into the second week of our vacation as Wei drove us north from Phoenix toward Sedona, Arizona.  A quick breakfast left us with an early but leisurely beginning.  The sun was out and already getting hot.  One advantage to heading north was that we would leave the desert behind us and climb in elevation into more pleasant, cooler weather.

We took the highway to get out of town and then wound onto a more scenic route to our destination.  We saw some hillsides of tall, shapely saguaro cactus and watched as they slowly but surely were replaced with scrub brush and small pines.  The mountains of northern Arizona were getting closer and rolling hillsides were becoming more mountainous.  I would miss the cactus but I would not miss the heat.

Previously, I mentioned Wei had volunteered to take a couple of days off work and drive us to Sedona and then beyond to Flagstaff.  I thought it was wonderfully generous of him, but he also told us he loved to visit both places.  He liked seeing the differences between the desert in his city and the small towns in the higher elevations covered with both deciduous trees and evergreens.  He told us that we would look for a local native that had a fry bread stand along the way for a mid point snack.

We found the fry bread stand along the road.  It was a simple set up.  Again, fry bread is a flour concoction of native Indians' recipes, and it is crispy on the outside after being fried like a pancake or a funnel cake.  These didn't have the restaurant meat toppings.  Instead there were only two choices, powdered sugar or sugar/cinnamon mix.  We took one of each and shared them - truly tasty, and a great snack.  We were also more than halfway to our destination now.

We had left the fry bread stand when we saw a scenic area and got out to look around.  We had barely returned to the car and started off, when Wei yelled, "Roadrunner!"  Toshiro was excitedly talking too, and even though he was in the back seat,  had been able to spot him off to the left shoulder, standing on the side of the road.  But I could not see him until he took off right across the road in front of all of us.  We were all really thrilled to see this speedy bird and I know Wei was glad to finally log his first sighting.  The bird of so many cartoons as we grew up, I must note that no coyote was in sight.

The roadrunner is not real clear, but we finally all saw it.

Soon the famous rock formations were also starting to appear gradually, each one a different shape, unique and totally stunning.  I had only heard about Sedona a few years before, but everyone that ever mentioned it since then has said, "If you go to the Grand Canyon, you MUST go to see Sedona."  I was pretty certain that I would be glad I followed that advice.

Since it was not the weekend and still mid May, there were not quite as many tourists and it did not seem too crowded.  We pulled into the Visitors' Center outside of town and gathered some info, already snapping our first scenic photos of the red rocks.  And while we were there, ran right into a couple from Maryland that we had met on the train.  It's always fun to travel and run into someone you know!   Armed with maps and brochures, we headed into town to check into our hotel and find some lunch.

We could see now why everyone said, "Don't miss Sedona!"

The formation in the center is named Bell Rock. 

As we were nearing town, we saw the first main tourist attraction, Chapel of the Holy Cross and decided it would be a good idea to stop now rather than make the trek back south of town later.  It was easily visible from the road and had a most commanding view over the valley below it.  There was available parking and then a walk up the hill.  Volunteers were driving golf carts down the incline and picking up those who were not comfortable with the climb.  It was a welcoming place and well organized.  The climb proved short but scenic as it wound up to the top of the rock it was built into with some plantings and a walkway with railings where it neared the steep edges.  There were benches for taking a break and taking in breathtaking vistas in all directions.  But right in front of us was the outcrop of the tall, windowed, but stark design of glass, stone, concrete and steel that certainly fit into its surroundings.

The view from the climb going up from the parking lot.

Awe inspiring scenery surrounds the church.

Chapel of the Holy Cross sits high and pretty in Sedona, Arizona.

A wall of windows behind the altar allows for spiritual communion to those of any faith.

Going to church is a personal thing for me.   Sometimes I can find my spiritual needs met better by being alone outside than in a building meant for that purpose.  But I never pass up a chance to ask that my family be blessed, and kept healthy and out of danger.   I took my time inside and out and thoroughly enjoyed my quiet time with God.  A steady stream of tourists were going in and out and walking around, but it was not so busy that one could not think quiet thoughts and say a prayer or two.  We took many photos of the beautiful scenery on the outside of the church and went on our way.

Taken with the telephoto as we stepped out of the church.

This variety of cactus had both yellow and pink flowers on it.

Our hotel would be the Cedars Resort of Sedona, nothing particularly fancy and really a hotel not a resort, but roomy and very comfortable and clean.  It was high above Oak Creek which we could see from our balcony.  We looked through a treed,  steep slope down to the edges of the meandering stream.  Gorgeous rock formations were framed by the sky as a backdrop beyond the trees.  It was a wonderful view.  We could hear the creek, and get all the breeze of fresh air coming right into the room. And it was pleasantly cool.

We checked in quickly and got the feel of the room, but headed out again, because we still had not had lunch.  Besides the red rocks, tourists are happy to seek out what is described "Sedona's visionary arts village ".  Tlaquepaque,  (sounds like Telawka-pawka), which was built to reflect the  tiled courtyards and plazas in Old Mexico, has shops, restaurants, beautiful fountains and an outdoor courtyard.  There was plenty of seating and birds like the beautiful yellow headed blackbird and hummingbirds all flit about from plantings to trees and trellises.

It was truly a wonderful and most beautiful place.  It was a dream of a fellow named Abe Miller to build it and he promised the former owner he would leave the sycamore trees on the grounds.  The parking lot is shaded from many trees and the courtyard areas offered intimacy yet openness.  Mr. Miller worked on this project in the 70's and went all over Mexico collecting pottery, tiles and wrought iron grill work to make the place look authentic.  It was completed in the early 80's.  Literature on the village says that throughout the year it is a place to visit not only for the arts but for many festivals, especially during the holidays.  When it first opened the artists came and opened shops, held open studios and many lived right on the premises above their shops. 

Beautiful fountains and tile work abound at Tlaquepaque.

Side entrance to the chapel.

The chapel can be used for small weddings.  What a wonderful place!

One of many, many beautiful shops.

We headed straight for the French restaurant Rene's to order some escargot as Wei told us he had not ever tried them before.  We wanted the French experience at appetizer prices, rather than the more expensive dinners that would be featured later, and that was the basis for ordering.  Two orders of escargot, a zucchini appetizer, a salad and a chicken salad on croissant proved very tasty and we just shared all of it.  Wei found that the snails were quite good, but unfortunately they were already pried out of the shell, so he will have to have that part of the experience another time.  I figure anything drowning in butter, garlic and parsley is worth eating.   We ate outside on a tiled terrace with the sound of water falling into a beautiful tiled fountain and the birds and foliage all around us.  It was heavenly.  I still don't understand the vortices, but I believe I found one at Rene's!

Rene's was the perfect choice for a light lunch.

Toshiro enjoyed our lunch  in front of the pretty tile work all around us.

Wei enjoyed his first taste of the French dish escargot.

After taking a walk into several of the shops admiring jewelry, hand blown glass, oil paintings and ceramics, we left to take a break back at our rooms to get ready and go out to see more rocks and the sunset from the airport mesa, and then have a late dinner.

We took some photos on the way to the airport mesa, the highest viewpoint in Sedona with lots of parking (and an airstrip).  There were about 100 other tourists up there with cameras ready, but the sunset itself was a non event.  Perhaps the air was too clear and cloudless skies prevented any drama.  Everyone left a little perplexed as to why they had made the trip for that specific time,  but with the pleasant weather and good views in all directions, many photos were still being taken.

Love to see the moon in the light of day.

Shadows playing on the rocks.

We chose a little western style restaurant with a home cooking sign and enjoyed too large platters of trout, pulled pork, and a chicken dish.  It was good but we were tired after being outside most of the day.  We took the leftovers back to the hotel, and Toshiro saved it for his breakfast the next morning.

After a good night's sleep the shops beckoned to Wei and Toshiro, who is always game for finding new galleries.  I chose to eat the hotel's continental breakfast of bagels and cream cheese on the balcony overlooking Oak Creek with binoculars and birdbooks at the ready.  When they returned from hunting down art work, we were ready to head for Flagstaff via a very scenic route.  The stay in wonderful Sedona had come to an end.