Around the World with Marsha & Joel

The trip is done. Arrived home safely last night, tired and sad that it’s over, but full of great memories. As Marsha always says: “Your know the vacation was good…if you need a vacation when you get home!”

We were too busy spending quality time with Jane & Mike, getting last minute visits in, and organizing for our return — to finish the blog with info about our last two days. They were great days, so here’s a synopsis:

Edward Cactushands

In the last blog (with the video preview of the Botanical Gardens) we promised a couple of more shots. It was an absolutely perfect day. Large saguaros and other large variety cactus can hold some 900 pounds of water to sustain themselves. That requires an extremely strong skeleton to keep them from collapsing. The guy above was exposed to a freeze, and the relatively young arm’s skeleton softened; result seen.

The Spring Blooms Were Just Beginning.

Just Imagine a Desert-Full!

Unrestricted, Joyful Growth!

Jumping (for joy?) Cholla

Marsha's Fav...Purple tinted Prickly-Pear

Genetically Altered Cacti???

Nope. A Dale Chihuly installation left these amazing glass sculptures at the entrance…. Which leads us to our next stop, the very man-made SMOCA (The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art).

A Dramatic Entrance to a World-Class Museum

Around the first corner a spectacular installation by James Turrell, an artist we’ve come to love and follow for his incredible ability to link natural light and space. Here a round enclosed structure with a couple of built in benches and a hole exposed to the sky on top. You can watch the ever changing progress of the sun, or clouds, or birds, or planes crossing the real space, or their reflections or shadows around the walls in beautiful abstractions.

Historic Downtown Scottsdale....

…is charming and beautifully designed/restored with endless opportunities for souvenir or serious shopping, sightseeing, and great dining.

The Sunset From Jane's & Mike's Patio...

…was enhanced by some brush fire smoke in the distance.

Frank Lloyd Wright at the Phoenix Art Museum

Another first-class museum….

...With a Surprise Otterness Outside...

A Sol Lewitt Sphere in the Main Gallery

...And an Extensive Permanent Collection in a Beautifully Designed Space.

We went back for a hike along Lost Dog Trail near Jane & Mike, dinner, and pack-up for the long day home.

A Rare Crested Saguaro on the Lost Dog Trail

It’s stood there over a hundred years,

Every day before a different sunset.

Today’s is deep purple with blood orange fringe

Reflected in its fluted green,

Outstretched, welcoming arms.

Arms we dare not touch.

It’s faced so much,

Yet its back

Has never once seen the sun.

Hey…. See you guys in India!

Starting up the Sunrise Trail with Mike

Some great trails right behind Jane’s and Mike’s house. Mike and Joel took the “sunrise trail”, about a 1,000 ft. climb and 4.5 mile total walk. A beautiful day for it, and some tired feet.

Mike the Local Guide

At the Peak....

That’s their house…third street on the left at the cul-de-sac.

At the Phoenix Native American Fair

Demonstrating the carrying basket suspended from the woman’s forehead. They can carry 80 pounds or so. Some beautiful crafts and local food. An interesting afternoon.

Our Gracious Hosts at, of Course, the Fry-Bread Stand

A stop at the Arizona Biltmore

If it's Monday it must be Sedona

Our third trip back to the beautiful red-rock country. Unfortunately a little overcast, but still spectacular. Cathedral rock above.

An Old Friend Stops to Greet Us

The Palatki Ancient Cave Paintings

A hurried, long, dirt road drive to make it just 30-minutes before closing. but we do get a chance to hear a ranger explain some of the extraordinary hieroglyphs and petroglyphs.

Very Early Native American Art

The Ancients View from This Pristine Valley

Black Paintings on the Smoke-Stained Walls

Misty View from the Red Rocks Loop Road

There wasn’t to be the usual spectacular sunset viewed from the Sedona Airport, so we took the long ride back to Scottsdale for another beautiful dinner with Jane and Mike.

The next morning we headed for the Desert Botanical Gardens. Here’s a little video taste for you. Click on the link below. The next post will have some still pix from this amazingly beautiful place. Hope you’re having fun too!

Desert Botanical Gardens

It’s our last day in Tucson before the drive back up to Scottsdale and our visit with Jane and Michael (good friends of Steve & Arlene — and ours, and our gracious hosts last time we were in the area).

Recommended by several sources is the Mission San Xavier del Bac in the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation.

A 1783 Franciscan mission. Missionaries were forced to leave in 1828, and returned in 1911 to continue as church and school of the Tohono O’odham. The ultimate in Spanish Mission Architecture.

The story of the interior and exterior restoration is a bit of a miracle in itself. An eclectic, international gathering of historians, architects, art restorers, fund-raisers, local tribes-people and contractors, saved and created what you see.

The beautiful local symbol of the passage of life; birth through the maze of discovery, self-discovery, gathering, contemplating, and readying for the world beyond.

I guess a Tohono way to get more quickly into the next world, but sure good slathered in honey on a cool morning.

Back into town for a walk of the old Barrio and Presidio sections. At the edge of what’s left of the Barrio after razing most of it for the new Convention Center is a shrine to someone’s lover in an unconsecrated grave. The Barrio still has rows of brightly colored adobe “row homes” and small businesses.

The imposing Spanish-Style of the St. Augustine Cathedral reflecting desert themes in its decoration.

The walls are decorated with faux paintings that do look three-dimensional from distance.

Down the street a pretty wild bank building that is not Frank Gehry, but pretty cool in its setting.

One of many interesting modern installations as you enter the pristine Presidio area.

One of Tucson’s most beautiful historic structures. Spanish-Colonial style with a mosaic tile dome.

Around the beautiful setting of the Museum sits a cluster of charming historic homes in their original condition.

We drive back to the park for a long loop drive and mile hike to commune with the beautiful saguaro and quiet before the drive back in congested Phoenix area traffic.