Sedona, Arizona 3/27/2014

MARCH 27, 2014 (Thursday)

Woke up to sunshine but by the end of the day it was cold and overcast (again).

We got moving and out of our “home” at around 11:00 AM. First stop, find something for breakfast. While driving we stopped at a cute little place called the Heartland Cafe. (Found out later this place is dog friendly.) We were asked if we wanted to eat inside or out, we chose inside. It wasn’t very busy when we walked in but it got pretty crowded by the time we left. The restaurant was very cute and nicely decorated. We each got coffee, Michael and I hot coffee, Lexi, iced coffee. After that – Michael got pancakes, Lexi got a chicken salad sandwich on a croissant, and I got an avocado/bacon/cheese omelette. Everything was delicious. Would highly recommend the Heartland Cafe in Sedona.

I apologize, it is so hard to not post pictures of Sedona. Went overboard, I know.

Lex's iced coffee. The waitress promised there was no booze in it, despite the shape of the glass. — Lex’s iced coffee. The waitress promised there was no booze in it, despite the shape of the glass.

Lex's chicken salad sandwich, which I mostly ate. — Lex’s chicken salad sandwich, which I mostly ate.

Once we left there, we drove towards the airport and stopped at the vortex. Lexi stopped and sat down at a tree while Michael and I walked to almost the top. Love it. Easy hike even in sandals. Great view. Once that was done we got back in our little Prius and drove up the hill to the airport, then drove down roads to kill some time. We had a 2:00 PM appointment with Diamond Resorts for them to try to sell us a timeshare. We like Diamond but their maintenance fees are way too high. This was one of those things where we got our hotel room for nothing but we had to go to this timeshare presentation. It was pretty painless – we told them if we bought, we would buy resale. That pretty much ended anything. The salesman, Dyke, said he had to kill an hour so we went on the computer for awhile and talked. We were out by 3:00 PM.

One of the twisted "vortex" trees. — One of the twisted “vortex” trees.

Lex working on her meridians, or something like that.

Grump in a tree. — Grump in a tree (or Grump in a stump).

The tour center sent us to check in at the lodge lobby.

It was a nice walk with some pretty flowers.

Nice lobby and staff, they sent us back to where we walked from.

We met our salesman and he showed us a three bedroom that was of course wonderful.

We wanted to see the “tree of life” that we had seen on our Sedona Segway Tour we took a little over a year ago. That was so much fun. Anyway, we drove to and then looked around Jordan Historical Park but couldn’t find the tree. It’s a tree that draws huge iron deposits with the water and when it gets hit by lightning, part of it acts like a lightening rod and part of it survives. It draws the lightening away from the other trees and spares the forest a forest fire, thus, “the tree of life.” We also drove around the neighborhood. So beautiful.

Neat sculpture on the side of the street.

We left and drove to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It’s a beautiful church that fits perfectly with its surroundings. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Michael and I had been there before but it’s such a beautiful place – we wanted Lexi to see it. She wasn’t feeling well so she stayed in the car while Michael and I walked up to it. We also wanted to see the gaudy house that was built near the Chapel. It wouldn’t have been so bad if it had been built in a Southwest style, but it is so out of place and ridiculously large. Would hate to have to clean it is all I have to say.

I wanted Lex to sit on this for a photo, she refused.

Would've looked neat. — Would’ve looked neat.

Zoom in, tenacious life, roots clinging to rock, waiting for water.

People have taken to throwing coins on the little ledges.

As you look you see it is all over the rocks.

We got back to our “home,” and I am doing laundry.

Pretty woman., wonderful woman, hard working woman, loving woman, wow, I'm a lucky guy. — Pretty woman., wonderful woman, hard working woman, loving woman, wow, I’m a lucky guy.

We leave tomorrow for the Grand Canyon (Tusayan) and need clean underwear. We’re hoping our place in Las Vegas has a washer/dryer. Michael went out to get dinner (KFC), and Lexi is chilling in our “home.”

That was our day. Hope yours was great!