Einstein on the Beach

My parents were in town last week and it was heaps and heaps of fun while they were here. The time seriously flew by, before I could snap my fingers it seemed like it was time for them to leave. But, we were lucky to pack the time they were here with a lot of fun things. The next time they come down we'll have to take them to Tombstone, but other than that, we took them all over Phoenix.

The first day they were here we went to Sedona. I have a few thoughts about Sedona, a lot of people rant and rave about that place. To those people who LOVE Sedona, I say, go to Moab. With that out of the way, Sedona really is beautiful and is more how I had pictured the rocks would be in Phoenix itself. There's also a lot of people that go to Sedona because there are supposed vortex's that will heal you...so needless to say, there are some interesting characters there.

We could not resist the alien. Doesn't he look friendly? And yes, that is snow in the mountains behind them.



We also made the short little jaunt up the hill to the Cathedral in the Rock, it was created by a lady, (who I can't remember her name at the moment) and she was helped by Frank Lloyd Wright in the creation of it. It really is beautiful, its a large structure built right into the rock, supposedly right below there is a healing vortex.



I enjoyed the red rocks and the view.

A word about the shopping in Sedona...disappointing, unless you like crystals or hand blown glass bowls retailing at $650 and up.

The next day my parents spent shopping and cruising around the valley to all of the Harley dealerships, Brando and I had to work. But the next day we started off bright and early up the Apache Trail again. I was extremely excited to go to Tortilla Flat as I have heard that the chili is fabulous and I honestly thought that it wouldn't be as crazy as it had been on President's Day. That was unfortunately not the case. Although, I did get some prickly pear ice cream made from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus...sorry ladies on the health challenge, I most definitely did not earn that point that day.



It was a perfect day to head up the trail though, it wasn't especially warm, just perfect and we were able to stop this time and explore a little bit on the turn-off's. These were way too packed with octogenarians when we went on El Presidente day.

Just to the right of this picture of my little brother Logan is a vehicle graveyard. The vehicles looked super old, so I guess back in the day people would get tired of them, or perhaps commit a crime in them and then push them off to oblivion...reminds me of Pineview Dam.
















When we got to Tortilla Flat I was sorely disappointed, we probably would have had to have waited a couple of hours to get the world-famous chili and there was no way we were sticking around to listen to the honky tonk band playing, although there were plenty of people eating it right up.

Tortilla Flat's claim to fame is that it was a stop on a stagecoach trail...well, and that the city tried to sell itself on E-Bay a few years ago for 5 million.












We also found a saguaro we were all particularly fond of and decided to get our picture taken in front of it.

I just might have to photoshop Megan and Garret in so that we can send out the annual family Christmas card with a little Arizona cheer.

It does put into perspective just how large and in charge these bad boys are.




























To round out the end of that day we stopped in Goldfield and bought the obligatory jalapeno jelly. I honestly dream about the stuff, it is that good.

By that time I was playing with my good ol' lensbaby, so I walked around the edge to take some pics of the old vehicles behind the town. For some reason, mining means that a lot of vehicles have been collected from the past.



The next day we headed out to the Dodger Spring Training facility in Glendale. It was a ton of fun, especially since the players were right there next to you. They were far closer than when you go to an actual game. The temperature that day was 87 and believe me, it felt like it...until I got about 8 gallons of water in me and then I was really to roll.

Tommy Lasorda = not friendly.

Andre Ethier = super friendly.

Too bad Manny doesn't play for the Dodgers anymore. It would have been fun to have gotten an autograph from him...especially since Brando and I spent a game in Mannywood a few summers ago. That is another post for another day though...fyi those fans will throw shoes if you are from an opposing team...seriously.

Mom and Logan decked out in their gear. I am proud to say that I now have some of my own gear to wear to the games, we are truly decked out. Poor Brando...selling out to his beloved Giants to attend all sorts of Dodger games. I think that deep down inside he's true blue all of the way.



















We had a great time and have been missing my family dearly since they left!! I am already planning for the next time they come down. Also, if any of ya'all want to come down and visit, we now have an extra bed for you!