So that's what we did! We flew into Phoenix and drove to beautiful Sedona, where we spent 3 nights. On one of those days we took a Pink Jeep tour to the Grand Canyon. It began snowing as soon as we reached the entrance, and at the rim we saw -- NOTHING!
Our guide tried his best to find a spot where we might see a little something, and eventually the mist/fog/snow lifted slightly in spots just enough that we could see what we were missing. It did have a pretty watercolor effect though.
Sedona was beautiful and we loved it. The spectacular red rocks are everywhere! Our hotel had a beautiful view from the balcony, and was in the heart of Uptown, a short walk to all the shops and restaurants.
We also visited Holy Cross Chapel, built into a rock face, with a gorgeous view of surrounding rock formations.
We were brave girls one night, and shared this fun appetizer at the Cowboy Club. Rattlesnake meatballs, buffalo brochettes, cactus fries with prickly pear sauce and cilantro flatbread with chipotle peanut butter. All good. Really!
Liz had to work Wednesday and Thursday, so we drove to Scottsdale on Tuesday evening. On our way down, we stopped at the amazing Montezuma's Castle, which has nothing to do with Montezuma; nor is it a castle. I was able to buy a (lifetime!) senior pass, which got us both into this National Monument. Had I lived up that cliff, I would have made that climb just once; and then someone would have to bring me food and water forever after!
I chilled out at the hotel on Wednesday while Liz was working; but on Thursday I got the hotel courtesy van to take me into town to a Native American culture event. The costumes, the music, the dancing and the explanations of some of the native culture were all fabulous.
Friday was to be our last day in Arizona. We had originally planned to visit the Phoenix Botanical Garden, but decided we simply couldn't go home and say we had been AT the Grand Canyon, but didn't SEE the Grand Canyon. We found a tour with Arizona Frontiers that would take us there, now a 4 hour drive from Scottsdale, and as luck would have it, we were the only two on the trip that day! Our guides were great, and we learned a great deal about history, geology, flora and fauna, anthropology and the like, which made the trip go fast. AT LAST, we saw the Grand Canyon. Pictures can't begin to show it's depth or breadth or beauty.
Liz and I were very compatible traveling companions. We decided in the beginning that if we came home tired, it would have been a good trip. We both came home exhausted! There are things we would have liked to have seen that we just didn't have time to get to. Sunrise and sunset in the canyon. Mule train to the bottom of the canyon (if I could work up my courage!) In summer I'd love to take the white water raft trip down the Colorado River. We would have liked to have toured Tucson. There are also a number of wine tours, and an olive factory, and of course the botanical garden we missed. And lots more Indian ruins.
And I'd go back just to buy the t-shirt I didn't buy while I was there: It pictured five Native Americans in full regalia on horseback, and was captioned: "Homeland Security. Protecting our borders since 1492"
