Home Again, part 3.
Part 3: Arizona.
I was a little leery of going out to Arizon to see Erica because I was afraid I’d melt and I was right – it was hot as all blazes out there. Seriously, Arizona recorded the hottest day in March (99 degrees!) EVER while I was there. You’re welcome, Arizona. I know that was all me.
Anyhow, I was glad to go visit – Erica has a lovely home. (I was feeling some major guilt because I had never been to see her house.) It was good to see Mr. B as well, but I’m not sure he remembered me. Friday night after I landed she took me up to one of the fancy resorts to have drinks while overlooking the city. SO pretty! I was fascinated to see how different the terrain was from anywhere I had lived. I’d been out to Arizona twice before – the last time had to have been 6 years ago, easily, but had forgotten about the landscape. It’s just so different from where I live now…we have so much rain that things are very green. Not much green in Arizona unless it’s by these places that are just wasting water trying to keep grass alive. I find that ridiculous – it’s the desert, people. You’re not supposed to have grass.
Saturday we went to downtown Scottsdale to shop and eat. We had lunch at Dos Gringos and it was fantastic. Hands down one of the best meals my entire visit back to the US. I had some sort of chicken pita thing with a spicy ceasar sauce. OH, an a margarita, of course. I loved all the little shops too, but didn’t manage to find any jewelry. Obviously, I have to go back. I’m a sucker for jewelry.
Saturday night was St. Patty’s day and we went out with a few friends of hers – she wanted me to meet her friend Jennifer. It was nice to finally meet someone Erica enjoys spending so much time with! It felt weird to be at a ‘college’ type bar, tho, I think I was one of the oldest people there. *sigh*
Sunday we drove out of Phoenix into Carefree, Arizona. Just the name alone makes me smile! We had lunch at Big Earl’s – the big, greasy burgers were great. We poked around the cheesy frontier town section and Erica drove us by some of the big homes that are dotted around the hillsides. It makes me understand why she loves Arizona so much.
I was supposed to head home Sunday night, but since I was flying standby, it didn’t look like I’d get out. It was the end of spring break and all the flights were booked up. It was great I got an extra night at Erica’s because it meant I got to see Alison on her Road Trip 2007 around the US. She & Maude hit Phoenix in the late afternoon and Erica cooked us up a nice, light pasta meal. We all geeked out in the evening – 3 of us on 3 laptops in Erica’s office. hee!
Erica had to work Monday, so it was just me & Alison. We stumbled across Soma Cafe for lunch and really enjoyed it. (at least I did – hopefully she did too!) We also went to see Cosanti Originals. It’s a studio & residence for an artist named Soleri. He & his students make bells there, of all sorts, to support the main campus/project, Arcosanti. The website calls it an Urban Labratory, but it strikes me as some sort of a commune. Regardless, Alison and I had an good time poking around. Very unusual sorts of buildings. I really wanted one of the bells, but they were too pricey for me. (this was one of my faves)
Alison dropped me at the ariport in the afternoon and I managed to get out to DFW later than evening. That left me with just one evening home with the parents and then I was off home for Germany. I had hoped to try to see some of my wonderful tribe friends again, but it was not to be. I was just too tired and too dispirited about coming back. Living so far from my family makes me sad sometimes.
But I was very glad to get back to my loving husband and of course the Sophie dog! Jason took off work and picked me up at the Brussels airport super early Thursday morning. It was terrific to find him waiting for me with a smile as I came out through customs. He’s a great husband. But that’s for another post.
(my Arizona flickr album is here)
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:37 am
Thanks so much for coming to visit! It was wonderful spending time with you. I hope you come again and J gets to come with you!