The Big Trip: Sedona, August 2009

With the economy as it is, pay cuts, and slow business building, we've minimized big trips this year, but have been able to enjoy a few smaller ones along the way - occasional camping and weekend adventures, and a week trip to a Timeshare in Sedona, Az (one of our favorite drivable places).

Sedona is a place of many facets. It was named after the wife of the postal clerk there way back when, but long before that, was inhabited by several American Indians including the Paiute, Anasazi and Navajo. It is a magical place for many, with dark red stone from the iron in the earth giving it a classic "South Western" look, and its "vortexs" which some atribute to the iron, others to earth spirits, and others to the smart travel planning folks at the local chamber of comerce.

It has become a Tourist Mecca, with so many two-bit psychics, chotsky dealers, and make-a-buck stores, mixed with a big new-age community (with both its up and down sides), some rugged adventure sorts, along with spa-centric and enlightment seeking (often tied in with any number of the above).

Highlights of our trip included a talk by a Navajo guide, a "critter petting", a lovely rain-sunset, a Pink Jeep Tour, and swiming in the lovely pools.

Picts below, in a reverse order (blogger annoyances!)

Visit to Arcosanti on the way back - a designed community, supposed to be low impact, green, etc. Problem is that the archetect designs buildings, not communities. It doesn't have a life of its own - no soul. Part of the problem may be the very name which is translated as "Archetecture against the system" - which feels like a fight the whole way... This is the courtyard

Pool with 50 ton crane

A strange place - they are trying to attract 100 people to start a 5,000 person villiage, but it doesn't have anything to attract folks with... They should have talked with us - make an eco-spa destination, with retired residential, artists lofts - run with the Sedona theem... They missed out big time...

They do make great use of space - this is the area above the stage.

Outdoor stage area - note the moat around the stage that fills with water. Our guide was an odd bird as well, with memorable quotes such as "We have a summer concert season here. Some of the folks are actually ok sounding..."

Also went to some indian ruins.