Grand Indeed

… was the Grandest of all Canyons! Stunning really –just hugely gorgeous, an awesome natural wonder that is so magnificent, it knocks the wind straight out of you. Barely glimpsed the Colorado River from the South Rim whirlwind tour we took, but still, rubbing our eyes in the blinding sunlight, pinching ourselves in the scorching heat, making sure it wasn’t just a mirage. When I go back, I really want to go white water rafting on the Colorado –you know, get right inside of it – ’must be absolutely spectacular! My aunt and grandmother from Vancouver ended up joining my mother and I in Sedona, Arizona (which was the home base for our 5 day trip, where seeing the Grand Canyon was just a one-day thing). It was a lovely surprise. We lived it up in our opulent four-star West Sedona hotel (yeah Expedia hotel deals!!!), taking advantage of the spa and pool facilities (even enjoying massages, steam rooms, Jacuzzis, cucumber and lemon water, lobby fountains… I tell ya, this is the life we were all meant to lead –one of relaxed contentment). Of course, we only did this when we weren’t exploring Sedona (which is breathtaking in itself, with its Red Rock “vortexes”, canyons, creeks, and little town) or visiting Grand Canyon.

After a rather long and turbulent journey (beginning at 2 AM when I drove us from Montreal to Burlington, VT (which by the way really has the cutest little airport) from where we took a plane to Chicago, followed by another flight to L.A. and then another to Flagstaff, AZ, this last being so choppy you literally felt like you were on a roller-coaster), we all kinda just chilled out at the hotel, going for a refreshing swim in their pool, lazing in the hot tub and having dinner at Red’s (the hotel restaurant) –a nice rib-eye steak and crème brulée for dessert –and then getting an early night.

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, we set off on our audio-guided, otherwise self-navigated tour (you play the tour CD as you drive around) of the sights of Sedona. We (well, mostly just me –the altitude of over 4000 ft. above sea-level was a bit much for my grandmother, and the heat was somewhat overwhelming for my aunt and mother) then made stops and did little hikes, amidst Prickly Pear cactus and Juniper trees, up Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Airport Rock, the Chapel of the Holy Cross (which is a serene Catholic monument built right into the natural red rock of the area –a Frank Lloyd Wright piece, incidentally –I swear, it moves you to tears the moment you enter –quite a special place!). We also drove by a bunch of other places, including the windy road along Oak Creek Canyon, and to the sacred Native American Boynton Canyon, keeping an eye out for ‘shapes’ in the rocks –like a ‘sleeping elephant’, ‘sky-gazer’, ‘Snoopy’, ‘tea pot’, ‘chimney’, etc. By the end of that day, we were shedding what looked like eraser shavings, namely dust mixed with sunscreen and dry skin, exhausted, but satisfied, and happy to enjoy a delicious dinner (I had Cajun Shrimp and Scallops with rice) at Judi’s, a local favourite.

The following day was our Grand Canyon Tour –everything felt a bit rushed, but for our situation, it really was the best option. Some great views, and a stop right at the beginning to watch the eighties IMAX film on Grand Canyon, as well as a historically, geologically, herbologically and in-other-ways informed (what sticks out most in my memory was the explanation of ways to get right into Grand Canyon –unfortunately, our own experience was not quite so interactive with this ancient, majestic place –particularly, the treacherous and stamina-requiring mule-rides –did you know that mules were a cross of a jackass and a mare, and that they are sterile?) and funny, old tour guide, a gourmet lunch at the famous El Tovar hotel’s restaurant, some light shopping on the Navajo Indian reservation and such (I had some ‘opinions’ about the state of affairs of all this –really you’d think the government could do just a bit better for a people that have contributed to the cultivation of such a rich cultural history!) –arriving back in time for dinner at the only Chinese restaurant in Sedona (which had some pretty awesome Chow Mein).

The next day we kinda just chilled out –it was our Spa day (already described somewhat) –three of us had a sugar-shea-butter body treatment, which was amazing, especially as I’ve never had anything like it before! Also, I had never been in a steam room before –you don’t really feel like you’re going to suffocate and die as much as I thought you would –actually, once you get used to it, it’s even quite pleasant, and when you come out, your soft skin glows beautifully! Before that, we explored Tlaquepaque, which is the artist gallery village part of town and picked up some fabulous bargain Arizona turquoise, took some fun statuesque photos (we posed with the statues and the fountains –good, silly fun!) and had some refreshing pink lemonade at El Rincor, a Mexican place right in the heart of it. That night we ate at the famous Cowboy Club Silver Saddle restaurant in Uptown (i.e. just ‘town’) Sedona, trying out tender barbequed buffalo brochettes, and cactus fries dipped in a zesty Prickly Pear tequila sauce –really yummy local flavours here (I did not get up the nerve to taste Rattlesnake -as my aunt says, "I can't eat things that could potentially eat me" -that's where we drew the line, much to my mother's adventurous chagrin)!

On our last day, we were up at the crack of dawn to drive grandma and aunt to the airport, and then Mum and I re-visited some of the Red Rock sites, and hiked all the way up Airport Rock just as it began to drizzle, making it back down before any heavy rain. By afternoon, we were on our 24-hour-long journey back home via LAX (lovely Hibiscus and palm trees at the airport by the way, which is officially all that I’ve ever seen of L.A. –the same goes for D.C. sadly), D.C. and Burlington, with delays nearly everywhere.

Nonetheless, a truly, spectacularly, enjoyable trip –arriving happily home to the much-missed father and younger sister, and her two house-guests, including le boyfriend, and la British friend –both sweet and lovely people. Goodness, can’t believe over two thirds of my last real summer are over. What a good way to have it though. And still more to go with the Mexican Mayan Riviera coming up in just over a week! ’Hope you enjoyed this first adventurous taste of my post-grad summer.

Flowers outside the Chapel of the Holy Cross: "Please don't pick us, we're smiling at God..."