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Published: August 6th 2007
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The Desert
This is the type of Desert wilderness we enjoyed on our walk. So its been a while, for once through pure idleness rather than lack of access though. We arrived in Phoenix just under a week ago now and it is such a different place than anywhere else so far. We've done a huge city, tropical marshland and now the desert. Its nice to be mixing it up. The flight was good and it had the bonus of landing 40 mins early amazingly. Still had to wait when we got there though because we didn't see Rebecca who was picking us up. We were both stood at opposite ends of the baggage claim and didn't notice each other! Luckily it was only a few minutes before it clicked.
On a slight aside, baggage claim is really wierd here, instead of collecting your bags and then heading to the terminal and the exits, the bags just come out on conveyor belts into the middle of the arrivals building! Was very suprised the first time I saw that!
Have been keeping busy while we've been here. The first day we just relaxed by the pool and did a bit of washing and settled in which was nice. Its so good to have home
The View
You could see for miles (I'm glad they were both taking it all in!) The View
You could see for miles (I'm glad they were both taking it all in!)comforts again. Especially the 56" TV and surround sound. The pool doesn't hurt either.
Aunty Linda took us to a covered market the second day. It was massive but we were told its over twice as big when the 'Snowbirds' are here (old people who migrate down the the warmth of Arizona for the winter). We also went to a TK Max type store to get a few essentials.
On the Friday mark took us hiking out in the desert. The views and the wildlife were amazing, Just walking round and seeing hundreds of cacti stretching in every direction is really stunning to see after being used to the green fields of home. We walked for a couple of hours across the base of a mountain and then partially up it before heading back. As you can see from the pictures it really was breathtaking to just sit and look out. In the whole of the area we could see there was only a single building to spoil the view and even that was miles away.
Saturdy we hit old town Scottsdale
Hookah time
Enjoying the Desert evening with a Hookah which is where the old cowboy settlement used to be. We acurately had it described
Hookah time
Enjoying the Desert evening with a Hookahto us as the Blackpool of the desert. Its just full of tacky gift-shops and restaurants, though it did have a saloon with a proper swinging door! ( Come to think of it, I should have got a picture!!!) That night we went to Leolina which is an Middle Eastern restaurant were we drank Almaza with our Shish Kebob and followed it up with belly dancing (not by us!) and a Hookah. Its a large pipe thing that you put fruit stuff in (ask Nana if you're still confused). It was a really nice night and again, something completely different.
Now up to date, we went out to an old mining town yesterday. It was just a small settlement out in the desert and had stories of the 'Old Dutchman' who apparently found millions of dollars worth of gold up in the hills which he hid and brought some of it down with him. Propltly after returning, he died, as has anyone else who subsequently found it. For that reason, it is still lost today (apparently,
Allo, Who Iz Eeet?
Chevy doing her French knight Monty Python impression. but you've got to love a fairytale!) We had a wander around there and went into the saloon for a beer and buffalo
Allo, Who Iz Eeet?
Chevy doing her French knight Monty Python impression.wings which were nice but the whole place wouldn't have stuck out if it was dropped into Disney!
Will try to keep more up to date now...
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