Last we left off, we were heading from Puerto Peñasco to Phoenix.

 

Zipping through the Sonoran Desert:

 

 

 

And we arrive at the border:

 

We grab snacks at the Gringo Pass, and await our shuttle (on left) to whisk us off to Phoenix):

 

My S.O. and I were the only US citizens on board. When we were about 5 miles north of the border, we encountered a roadblock set up by the Border Patrol. Everyone else started fumbling for papers, pulling out folders, you name it. I figured no big whoop as I'm about as cracker as a Saltine. Imagine my surprise when the patrol opened the door, immediately stared at ME and said "what's your citizenship?!?". I replied "United States of America" and showed him my license. It then occurred to me that I had spent about six days basking in the sun - and with my dark brown hair and eyes... So let this be a lesson to any of you brunettes who plan to cross the border :-)

 

Back to the show - I preface this by apologizing for window smudges, I think the shuttle's windshield was held together by bug guts so they didn't wash them off.

 

More mountains:

 

We pass through the "lovely" (retch!) town of Gila Bend, Arizona:

 

 

We finally arrive in Phoenix:

 

Not too many historic buildings here:

 

Though their new City Hall is a nice high-rise:

 

Phoenix's tallest:

 

The outskirts of downtown:

 

In Scottsdale, they've renovated this funky-retro hotel:

 

We hit the art walk in Old Town in Scottsdale - lots of nifty stuff:

 

 

I strike a pose - albeit not a good one:

 

We grab dinner at Bada Boom! Pasta Room. This is the ceiling of their patio:

 

The next day, back to Old Town:

 

Some high-rise construction:

 

Damn tourists and their cameras!

 

Cacti! Flora! CactiFlora?

 

I would have loved to have taken more pics, but I had a reflexology appointment at Rainstar. If you're ever in Scottsdale, give them a call and get set up with Keno - sooo relaxing!

 

Later that day - the Barry Goldwater memorial:

 

Oh look - they've built their houses INTO the scenic mountains. How tacky, yet unrefined :roll:

 

Bug smudge:

 

Ahhh, lovely mountains - too bad people feel the need to scar them:

 

On our way to the Biltmore, I catch a nice glimpse of the skyline. Since it's the weekend, we can actually SEE  the mountains as well:

 

We arrive at the Biltmore - although much of what I saw of Phoenix wasn't my cup of tea, I gotta say this place was amazing. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright:

 

 

The main pool:

 

 

One of many of the "Biltmore Sprites":

 

Main lobby:

 

I believe most (if not all) of the furnishings are original FLW:

 

I tried to convince my friends that I could stuff the stained glass in my camera bag, but they weren't buying it:

 

The lighting fixture in the main auditorium:

 

Back in front of the main building:

 

 

In typical FLW fashion, not a single detail is left to chance:

 

The grounds are so colorful and immaculately kept:

 

The sculpture isn't FLW, but the base is:

 

Heading to the airport - and more mountains!

 

Taxiing onto the tarmac - and more mountains (and an unclear window, dammit!):

 

Off we go!

 

And about 4 hours later - a very comforting sight, indeed :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My S.O. and I were the only US citizens on board. When we were about 5 miles north of the border, we encountered a roadblock set up by the Border Patrol. Everyone else started fumbling for papers, pulling out folders, you name it. I figured no big whoop as I'm about as cracker as a Saltine. Imagine my surprise when the patrol opened the door, immediately stared at ME and said "what's your citizenship?!?". I replied "United States of America" and showed him my license. It then occurred to me that I had spent about six days basking in the sun - and with my dark brown hair and eyes... So let this be a lesson to any of you brunettes who plan to cross the border :-)

 

I strike a pose - albeit not a good one:

 

 

 

I don't know. If I were a border patrol officer and I saw this face looking back at me, I'd be suspicious. Looks like your planning something... :-)

The Biltmore looks pretty fabulous. What's a nice place like that doing in Phoenix?

The "Desert Gem" in Gila Bend would be awesome if it was in good shape.

Wow at that Biltmore!

yeah the biltmore looks very cool. nice hotel pick.

 

i love the mountains, cactus and flowers. not the city tho. that chase building is awful.

 

i recalled hitting your border crossing stop a few yrs ago on part of my la frontera tour. not much to see.

 

what a fun vacation you guys had, i'm so glad you took the camera!

 

Downtown Phoenix looks atrocious.

Thanks for the pics, glad you had fun!

Biltmore- very cool!  Good stuff, MayDay.

 

How was the weather in Phoenix?  I was there once in early March and it was 95ish, and the weather and news critters on TV were going on about how hot it was outside, as if this were not the place where the summer temperature is 8 million degrees!  Sure, it was unseasonably warm, but it hardly seemed hot by Phoenix standards!

Biltmore = very nice.

Great landscaping shots indeed!

Fantastic set (all three).  Looks like a great time.

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