Catching Up

For those of you who didn't receive Segment 1 of 'Journey to Lower Latitudes', I will one day post the whole thing in all of its verboseness (which as Owen says, is a bunch of BS in all it's glory). And for those of you who did, and so I can get on with what is happening right now, I am starting with a few little stories of what we've seen and what we have been doing since we reached Red Rock Country.

Our first 10 days in Sedona were cold. A few days ago, a local told us that on a normal basis, Sedona experiences winter from December 5th until the 15th. Well guess what, we arrived on the 5th. What do they say about Murphy's Law! But we bundled up and ventured out everyday whether we were going for a hike/walk or being tourists and visiting the many cliff dwellings, ruins, petroglyph/pictographs, museums or galleries. And for the past few days we've been able to do it in our shirt sleeves and a vest unless we go out in the evening when it's close to freezing. We understand it's the same everywhere, even further south in the low desert and Mexico, days are warm and the evenings are super cool comparatively.

The immediate area of Sedona is made up of the Village of Oak Creek (where we are), Uptown Sedona (5 minutes away) and West Sedona (right next to Uptown Sedona). Uptown Sedona is home to every type of tourist shop you would ever want to visit. Art, art and more art. Jewelry, glass blowing, carvings, sculptures, pottery and rugs. Native, Western, modern, local and imported. We didn't see too much tourist/tacky items. Mostly nice stuff. And the real nice stuff is major big bucks. I really wonder how some of the galleries stay in business but I guess it only takes one sale a month to pay the expenses at the prices of some of the art. Wowzers.

And like most tourist attraction sights, they have 'time share hawkers'. It only took some poor fellow one 'stab at it' with us, and we caught on. We are now practicing being seasoned locals. Just tell them you are not interested and look away. They are smooth tho and profess "absolutely no pressure". Bull!!!

Mexican Food: We know we are heading to Mexico after our visit to Arizona but the Mexican food in California and now in Sedona is excellent. We went to Oaxaca's for lunch one day. The prices are are reflective of Uptown Sedona - who cared - lunch was fabulous. I'm the gal who could live on rice and beans. Yummy, infact, I've made a pact that if we dine in anymore Mexican restaurants that is all I'll be ordering. Except maybe the chips and salsa although most restaurants bring them to your table with your menu's. Fresh chips and salsa. The best. All meals come with the rice and beans and it's the first thing I check when I get the menu. Would you like that with fries, soup or salad, same thing. If you know of a excellent Mexican restaurant in Vancouver, be sure to let us know when we get home.

We spent one rainy afternoon wandering around the shops Uptown. Found Pandora's. Talked to a couple of galleries about the Zuni bracelet and ring that my mother gave me years ago. There are obviously some very knowledgeable native experts around here. The fellow we talked to confirmed that the pieces (a set) are Zuni/Navajo and that the inlay work is very good as well as the stones. Ox Blood Coral, Turquoise, Mother of Pearl and Onyx and the inlay depicts a dancing warrior. I'm hoping to find out who the actual artist is. We have a signature on the silver work done by a Navajo artist but the inlay is Hopi. We have a first name - Amy. Still asking and talking around.

More later. P.S. Owen was just kidding about my ramblings. He really does like it that I'm staying in touch and we are connecting with all of you.