Nebraska sure is beautiful...

Finally time for our trip to visit Tiffany in Arizona and the fun began the minute Gwyn and I got to the airport- and to keep me in check Gwyn threatened to mention her dead puppy every time I mentioned how much I missed the kids. This seemed to work. This is our first tourist attraction- Montezuma Castle, billed as a "prehistoric dwelling" and nestled along the mighty Mississippi or some other river.

The trip is off to a promising start.

First views of Sedona. We stayed there 2 nights before heading to Tucson.

View from our hotel's (Amara Resort) pool.

Another view from our hotel...Snoopy Rock!

Oak Creek runs along the back of the resort. We strolled down there with our complimentary wine...

They also gave me a free pedicure in the spa!
ok it was Gwyn and this wasn't in the spa.

Nightly bonfire.

We went hiking in the mountains. I actually go hiking all the time in case you didn't know that about me- I hike a lot as a matter of fact. Hiking up mountains, long trails, etc. It's not like this was the first time I went on anything that could qualify as a hike or anything like that. Anyway, they offered some advice for how to deal with a mountain lion encounter. Basically, they want you to dance around like an idiot.

There was a really cute shopping village. Too expensive but lots of cute alcoves and courtyards, notice the little fireplace.

These are obviously not local shells...

Cool store selling furniture made out of rocks, and metal wind sculptures.

Almost at the Grand Canyon!

This is just inside the entrance, which by the way was not at all as I'd imagined it. I thought you'd be driving through the desert for a while until you finally saw something off in the distance...then as you got closer you had to slow down and kind of park behind some cones or something, and walk the rest of the way over to the canyon's edge (which would only be about 50 yards from the cones. There would be a little kiosk over under a tent where you could buy Grand Canyon magnets and postcards, and some soda).

Incredibly, my first reactions to the Grand Canyon were caught on film.

More feel good signage!

If you look closely you can see mountain goats.

Crazy man at the canyon- didn't you read the sign???

Bird waiting at the shuttle bus stop for his food delivery...

Don't know what this thing is but luckily it didn't come any closer than this.

I made Tiff and Gwyn wait in the freezing cold so that I could get a picture of the sunset. Thanks guys, sorry! To make up for it I'll give you guys a pedicure back at the hotel...wait, I've got that backwards...

Some shopping in Sedona before heading to Tucson. Beautiful sunset around Phoenix.

I just don't think I can pull off the Mary Kate and Ashley look.

Secret Message Prickly pear cactus near Tiff's house.

Tiffany and Jason's beautiful backyard.




This may look like a normal yard to you, but apparently it isn't wise to walk onto the grass, definitely not in barefeet (scorpions, snakes...)




And don't even think about venturing down to the other end of the yard to get that one plump juicy orange...

Here's a grapefruit, just growing right in their yard! I can't believe it, they can just walk out into their yard (in thigh high rubber boots) and pluck fruit off a tree! Incredible. I'd like to plant a yogurt tree in our yard.

Beautiful and delicious Prickly Pear margarita and the worst service in the world, but still a great last night in Arizona at this Mexican restaurant. The main thing Gwyn and I noticed was that Baltimore has some pretty good Mexican food. The only thing different at this place was that a burrito is called a burro, and that's what I got even though I ordered a chimichanga.