Phoenix Nights.....and days!

Should anyone reading this posting decide to visit Scottsdale then I would definitely recommend checking out the Holiday Inn Express, as it really punches above its weight in every way! Scottsdale is a special place for me and its no accident that its regarded, by some, as the best run city in America.....and (in 2010) held the 'number one' slot as the city that people aspired to migrate to. Anyway, we decided to have a laid-back-day, as it gets mighty hot around here, and drove out to the nearby "Desert Garden", a 'must see' for any visitor.

The garden has been extended since our last visit and is even more amazing now.....its a tranquil oasis of cacti and desert plants, teeming with butterflies, lizards, and a host of birds including Humming birds and red Cardinals.

Having walked in the sun for a while, we took refuge in the shade with a coffee and readily offered to share our table with two ladies who were also visiting.

Well, we began to chat about travel and moved-on to just about 'every subject under the sun'! At one point, the subject of 'theatre' cropped-up and amongst other thing we talked about and agreed that "Judy Dench" is a fine actress.....at this point, another passing visitor introduced herself and said that having overheard our conversation she just had to say that she was a close personal friend of the actress and would feedback our comments to her! We left the Garden soon after and headed for Scottsdale Old Town, to walk between its air-conditioned shops....then it was back to base for another laundry session followed by pasta in "The Olive Garden"!

You gotta love Scottsdale (and you should see the car showrooms here!!) And an appropriate piece of music for today? Well.....