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Sedona What is great about Sedona? We had to visit to find the truth.
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| What is a vortex? | Pink Jeep tour | Shopping | |
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I had been hearing about Sedona for the past few years. Various folk reported that "it is great" but I could obtain no explanation for its alleged greatness. "You have to see Sedona!" is the extent of testimony. We had allocated only a day. This did not allow time to arrive, study and then improvise. "Pink Jeep Tour" was recommended by Kay's vet colleagues with roots in Arizona for tourists with limited time. "All over the West, a housing crisis is causing workforce shortages, crippling local businesses, and threatening the culture and existence of mountain towns as we know them." It's about extreme inequality Americans are embracing with utmost speed. See: https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/essays-culture/how-to-save-a-ski-town-west-tourism-economy | |||
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Apparently, this is the biggest deal. In the information office one finds two rows of brochures dedicated to vortexes. We felt out of the know. How could we be ignorant of the basis of reputation of such an important place?
My spin: Artisinal coffee is almost unavailable in the towns of Arizona. I walked all over Scottsdale looking for so much as a Starbucks. Nil! But Sedona has two or three Peets-quality coffee places every block. I think the nice views and sort-of-impresive hoodoos were observed by over-caffinated (or stoned) urbanites who labeled their sensations "vortex." | ||
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_21may07-k_2057.jpg WTF? In our first 30 minutes in Sedona, waiting for the jeep tour to begin, I began to perceive Sedona's gravitational force. How could The Word not have reached me?  |
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Good; An expensive way to be introduced to the land and some back stories. Best of all, it is removed from the car and shopping madness of the town.
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_21may07-k_0949.jpg Off we go.  |
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_21may07-b_1006.jpg Our talkative and knowledgeable driver steadily described and provided back stories regarding what we passed. For example, the hiking trailhead from two two miles of parked cars were lined; at the climax of the short steep hike each tourist must wait half and hour for their turn at the "must snap" picture.  |
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_21may07-b_1015b.jpg Mistletoe, adapted to the native trees. I had thought it limited to oaks.  |
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_21may07-k_1022a.jpg In a jeep you can't get too close to the rock; Supposed the more expensive tour is better but that was fully booked.  |
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"Tlaquepaque is designed as a charming and romantic Mexican village with lush gardens, tall Sycamore trees, and open-air courtyards on the banks of Oak Creek." This bit of Sedona is ronowned for the sycamores which the early owner preserved. He artfully wrapped them with arcaded walkways and courtyards. Now encrusted with shops and surrounded by parking lots in which you cannot find a space, it hosts a fever of tourist shopping.
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