We are so lucky! this is the second time that we could see Dale Chihuly’s magnificent glass works installed at the Desert Botanical Gardens here in Phoenix. Last time we went in the evening, but this time we opted for early morning which gave us a different perspective with the lighting.
There is a section of Saudi Arabia called “the empty quarter” and we discovered a very similar area on our drive through south eastern Arizona – a loop detour we made on our way to Phoenix.
3,530 miles!
We made stops at Lowell and Bisbee – two former copper mining towns.
I remember my first impression – 32 years ago – of the southwestern USA and thinking back to watching “The Lone Ranger” and other such westerns as a kid. The impression that cowboys or indians could be lurking behind craggy rocks still stays with me.
We took Route 90 (rather than I10) from San Antonio. The drive was very easy on ramrod straight roads with virtually no traffic. We saw antelope grazing, sheep and cattle; bright blue skies with some whispy clouds. Very few people inhabit this part of Texas and one wonders what those few do. We were very close to the Mexican border at times and I couldn’t help but think about those attempts to cross the Rio Grande and the border.
We came across a beautiful reservoir and the Pecos River.
We arrived at our destination of Alpine, Texas and were amused to see that the local newspaper is named “Alpine Avalanche” – I don’t think there have been too many avalanches around here! The town is a veritable cultural oasis in these parts with a lively downtown and a university campus. Our overnight accommodation was at the quaint and cute Maverick Inn. What a delight! so truly texan looking with cactus, cart wheels, adobe buildings and more. We loved it!
We had dinner in town at The Century Bar & Grill – recommended by both TripAdvisor and the inn staff. It was delicious and the menu was much more upscale than I would have imagined.
From Alpine we had just a short drive to Marfa, a little town I’ve heard and read about. Unfortunately there wasn’t much activity there – we forgot that today was a Holiday. Nonetheless, we walked around the downtown area and had the place to ourselves.
And onward to I10 where the speed limit is 80mph! Woohoo! not since Germany have we done this.
A short distance from San Antonio are two lovely little German settlements – Gruene (evidently pronounced Green – the translation of gruene) and New Braunfels. We spent the morning browsing around an arts market in Gruene and strolling around town and then a walk around the center New Braunfels.
A three-day interlude visiting friends on our drive from Maine to Arizona. The lovely warm weather, being able to sit outside, and their tremendous hospitality has made this a welcome break.
We took in some of the sights of San Antonio – the Alamo, Riverwalk, and two of the four missions on the Mission Trail.
Firstly the Alamo and Riverwalk.
And then to lunch at The Green restaurant at the Pearl Brewery complex and near the Culinary Institute of Arts.
I loved the pipe warmers!!!
Then on to the Mission Trail for Missions Concepcion and San Jose.
We were lucky to have a spectacular day on November 30 to drive the coastal route to Cannon Beach. We spent so much time stopping and enjoying the scenery, having lunch, visiting cheese factories, tasting wine, etc. that we arrived in Cannon Beach too late to see Haystack Rock. Our hotel, The Wayside Inn, was very nice and we especially enjoyed the upgrade to a two bedroom suite with gas fire.
Unfortunately we awoke to drizzly, misty weather that turned to rain. The beach with crashing white surf and the rocks shrouded in mist was still worthwhile.
Exhausting trip with long layovers, red-eye flights, etc. but we are here and ready to start our Peru adventure.
Arequipa at 7600 ft should acclimatize us for Colca Valley and Puno at >12,000!
Great guide – Rene, and nice group of fellow travelers.
Enjoying Belfast and Midcoast Maine, but also a short camping trip to Moosehead Lake with moose safari …
We’ve been kumi himo-ing, having fun with Lucy, and making pizza …. That’s so far! With doubtless more to come.
When I booked the tickets – months ago – it didn’t seem quite real, but entering the Times Union Center in Albany, NY and taking our seats, which were excellent, the excitement started building.
Bocelli, seemed so diminutive standing there in front of the microphone, but my goodness, there is nothing diminutive about his voice! I could feel it down to my bone marrow. The guest soprano, Maria Aleida, can only be called an instrument! She controlled her voice to such an extent that it could have been one of the orchestra instruments! it was amazing. I was wondering how Fantasia would hold up against Andrea Bocelli and Maria Aleida, but she certainly held her own and her rendition of Summertime was beautiful, and her duet with Andrea equally beautiful. The most amazing part of the entire concert was that he came back for FIVE encores!!! The crowd of 10,000+ were going wild! The performance started on the dot of 7.30 and we left just shy of 10 p.m. (with a 20-minute intermission). It was such a gratifying feeling that he hadn’t come, sung his songs, done the obligatory encore and left. Kudos to Andrea Bocelli!
Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 7:30 PM
Bocelli is currently finishing up his Fall US tour in which his performances has received continuous “rousing ovations,” making the June tour the perfect welcome to the summer season.
The June 2013 Tour will come in support of Andrea Bocelli’s upcoming release Passione which will be released on January 29, 2013. Passione is a lush collection of Mediterranean love songs featuring duets with global pop stars Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, and the late Edith Piaf.
With one of the most recognizable voices in music, Andrea Bocelli is a global icon who continues to defy categorization bringing his music to millions world-wide.
A fun afternoon at the beautiful Keeneland racetrack…
I love this part of the country with its tidy fields and pastures surrounded by fences or stacked stone walls; tree lined “pikes”; friendly people, and did I mention the incredible Kentucky Ale aged in fresh bourbon casks to give the ale a delicious flavour.
Saturday at the downtown farmers’ market where fresh herbs and more were in supply.
