Good Times in Sedona, AZ

So I'm at this awesome hotel in Sedona that happens to have, along with daily 8am duck feedings, a wine and cheese reception in the lodge every day from 6-7pm. I was so proud of myself because I went out without knowing anyone, and sat down and joined a large group of people (this is my Mt. Everest, folks) and conversed.

All I wanted was some good wine, polite company for a short time, and to get back to my Sherlock Holmes book, and my punishment for my efforts was that I go to spend two hours in the company of New-Age nutcases (In case you're not familiar with Sedona, it is supposed to have multiple "spiritual vortexes" in the rocks…I'm not sure what a spiritual vortex is, but I do know that they attract a LOT of hippies and New-Age enthusiasts).

The scene unfolds: Three couples and one empty chair. They looked normal enough. They were all sitting in the prime seats by the fireplace, which is where I wanted to be, so that's who I joined. One nice normal couple that was there at first shortly left….left me to the wolves…er….New-Agers.

Here is a sample of the conversation for the next two hours (if you're asking why I didn't leave earlier, I literally couldn't get a word in edgewise, and being in the middle, was somewhat wedged in - I could've escaped, but it would've looked awkward):

· The nice lady to my right was working on adjusting her fourth chakra, which in case you were wondering (and for the folks in Rio Linda) is located four finger-widths below your belly-button. I didn't even ask how one goes about working on this. The reason she's working on it is that it is very "bound up" due to some recent litigation at work. (????)

· (Side note: much like your face can hurt from smiling too much, my face now seriously hurts from two hours spent trying to retain a perfectly straight, credulous face)

· The lady on the right had an "experience" at one of the spiritual "vortices" that are supposedly in the rocks here. She told me that her spirit tour guide had them lay down and meditate, and while doing so, she decided (I didn't ask why….) to leave her body. When she tried, she found that she couldn't (I was loath to tell her that I have this same experience every time I try to put on my "college-size" jeans)

· The lady to my left discussed all her various "readings" with different astrologers and the various crystal shops she was planning on visiting in the morning. She also taught me the importance of having copper near/on the crystals as it helps keep the good energy in (or something like that, honestly I wasn't taking notes)

· I also got to hear about the lady-on-the-left's various past lives, her monk who is her guardian angel, though she cannot discover to which order he belong(ed) (assuming he is no longer with us), and how she and her husband knew each other so well when they met because in a past life they were orphans who were raised together…Hmmmm…..

So all in all it was an entertaining experience all round. I don't think my companions meant it to be so, but it was indeed. Unfortunately two of them are leaving tomorrow, but I am confident their equally-loony replacements will prove no less entertaining.

Hiking in Sedona, etc.

So today was my first full day in Sedona. I got up and had the coffee and scones they have in the lobby every day. They were yummy! I read the paper (with the funniest article by far reporting on how 25% of American Muslims are pretty much A-Okay with homicide bombings, and was inexplicably titled "Muslims reject extremism." (???)) and of course, spent some time watching Fox News and playing on the net.

I wanted to get started hiking, so after driving around for awhile, I purchased my Red Rocks Pass (without which you literally cannot park anywhere in Sedona, especially anywhere scenic), and off I went. The New-Agers from last night had told me about Schnelby Road (where you can drive up on a 5-mile dirt/rock road if you have an SUV) which has a great view from the top. For about a mile, my car was probably so happy that for once it was being used for the purpose for which it was designed. However, it was really bumpy and had some sharp rocks, and after about a mile I decided a good view of (what else?) the red rocks was not worth 4 new tires, new alignment, new suspension, and new shocks. So I turned around and went back to a turnout and parked where some trails started. I took one that ended up following next to the road for 4 miles, and then split into two others, with no indication of their lengths/destinations. I was bored by then anyway, so I turned around and followed the road back. I was the only person on the trail almost the whole way, and aside from the numerous Pink Jeep tours that kept driving by, it was really quiet and peaceful. Here are some views of the red rocks from the trail and road. They all have different names like "Snoopy Rock," "The Nuns," and "Cathedral Rock," but as far as I can tell, none of them resemble those things anyway, and I have no idea which is which.

So now I'm back at the hotel, and having scrubbed off my red rock-dust "tan" from my legs, I'm back to my Sherlock Holmes book and eagerly awaiting the New-Age enthusiasts I'm sure to be inundated with at the wine and cheese reception tonight.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday and today:

This is my patio that I really haven't spent much time in yet but it's beautiful.

I have to say - this hotel is the best. I am having so much fun with all the random little things they do. As if the nightly wine & cheese reception and the daily coffee and scones weren't enough! So each night when they do the turn-down, they even lay out the bath mat in the bathroom for you, and they leave these really neat chocolates on the table - tonight it was orange and crispy chocolate, and last night it was cinnamon chocolate. I'm not a chocolate person but I felt like I had to try them and they were actually really good! Then they turn the clock towards the bed so you can see what time it is when you wake up. And I'm not sure what happened to the dirty clothes I left on the floor this morning, but I am really hoping they are at the complimentary laundry service....I don't remember reading anything about that, but I am hoping they are not going to charge me to clean every clothing item I leave on the floor....because if so, I'm going to have to find somewhere to hide my laundry. :-)

This is the area with a bunch of chairs and fireplace that's right outside my room.

Here's the other side of the same room. 4 steps to the right is my room.

This is this really neat jasmine-covered arch between the hotel and the cottages by the river - it's smells so much even I can smell it, and it's soooo good!





This is a view of the red rocks from the hotel:

Here is a sign right when you drive in the gate:

And here are the ducks on the river (but they're really hard to see in this pic, sorry!)

Here is a view of the red rocks from the trail I was on:

More red rocks.....

Even more red rocks.....






More pictures of red rocks to come tomorrow!