Down into the Desert

We still remember that we had fled Flagstaff on a trip in the 1990ies quickly because it had started to snow. We drove down to Sedona, and that's what we did now, too, but not because of the weather, but to get to Scottsdale.

Sedona is a picturesque little town surrounded by an impressive array of red sandstone formations, pinnacles, spires, buttes and domes. The town consists of a vivid main street with little shopping malls, galleries, bougiques etc. and outfitters in abundance. Activities like hiking and mountainbiking, but, also, jeep and helicopter tours and horseback riding are offered. Also, it seems like spiritual/esotheric pursuits, like energy centers, are pretty popular, too. And, judging from the houses (and resort/spa hotels) in the area, it's mostly the high-end part of the society living or visiting here.

Down we drove after our little stroll and some coffee in Sedona, down the Colorado and Mogollon Plateau into the Sonoran Desert, and suddenly the landscape changed and cacti - Saguaros - appeared. Temperatures rose, too, from about 53 deg. F. (12 deg. C) in the morning in Flagstaff to about 85 deg. F. (30 deg. C) in the Phoenix metro area. Traffic was growing as well, and we saw more cars in an hour than we have seen in the whole two weeks before. Up to twelve lanes on the highways in Phoenix - I had to get used to it again, but traffic went smooth (it was not rush-hour yet) and we even had time for a little shopping in the Phoenix Outlet Mall, where we got a couple of great deals at Under Armour, Jockey, Converse and Columbia, before we drove on to our friends' Lisa's and Sara's villa in Scottsdale.

They were still busy accomplishing their very elaborate, frightening Halloween decoration in front of the house, the patio with the pool was already set up as sort of a cave-like horror movie, music included. When it got dark at around 5:30 pm candles were lightened and groups of kids with their parents dropped in to trick-or-treat and get candies and a little toy. Most were in costumes, more or less elaborate, and we had fun watching the little ones, being frightened on one hand side and attracted on the other.