Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Phoenix

 
I'm back! Actually I got home Monday night, but after an infinitely tiny amount of sleep all weekend, I really did not return until yesterday, or maybe this morning. How little? Thanks to jetlag, a minor flood and flights home I averaged 3 hours of sleep every night I was gone. Luckily the conference was worth it and I'm glad I've seen Phoenix at all hours of the day.

Here then are an assortment of pictures from the trip. From the left:
1. Sunrise over mountains and city, 2. Camelback Mountain from the airport (the camel is lying down, naturally); 3. native terrain; 4. patio misters working full blast to keep diners cool; 5. dressed up and ready to roll; 6. cactuses at sunrise; center: hotel escalator.

As with every collage, I'm struck by the coincidences. For example, my legs look remarkably like the cactuses to their left, do they not? More artistically, I liked how the hotel hung art that fit with their region (center), and reflected the sunrises that are understandably famous. I was actually glad to be jetlagged and awake at 4 since it gave me the chance to see the beautiful side of the city before it got very hot.

And thanks to being up and about early every morning, I managed to avoid getting rained on when the guy above me fell asleep in his bathtub with the water running. Blessings all around! (He survived with all but his ego intact, my suitcase and bed were not so lucky.)

15 comments:

Lynn said...

Wow -- a person has to be seriously exhausted to fall asleep with the tub water running. Glad you didn't float away!

(Loved the Phoenix photo collage, although I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the concept of patio misters...)

Lynn said...

P.S. Wonder how long it took for that poor guy to wake up???

Kelly said...

My dad lives in Phoenix - last summer he said they set a new record of consecutive days over 100 degrees. Yuck. I'm glad you got a taste of summer though and got to dress up all fancy :) Did you do any shopping afterall for the half-empty suitcase??

Julia said...

Lynn, the guy was not only seriously tired but also seriously drunk. I think they woke him up when the bellhop hauled him from the bathtub!

Kelly, I did do shopping, it was fabulous. I took a taxi to the mall Friday morning and did some serious focus work. Topping it off with a trip to Borders ($1 books!!) I headed back to the hotel just in time to take pictures of my knees and join the conference.

countrypeapie said...

Patio misters sound divine! Sorry you didn't catch more zzzs, but that sunrise was worth it.

Julia said...

I didn't understand the misters at first, then realized that as soon as the water reaches you it evaporates, so you don't get wet at all! And the sunrises were so nice, plus I got to meet all the morning hotel staff in my wanders around taking pictures and trying to find the best views.

Roderick Robinson said...

Legs like cactuses? Ridiculous!

Julia said...

Nono, not prickly but the shadows are the same. The thought makes me laugh every time I look at them!

Anonymous said...

No! that's kind of crazy that he fell asleep in a tub!
My legs look like cacti too--great comparison!

Julia said...

Hi Green Girl! I really do love how collages nudge your eyes into finding similarities in disparate things. I think that's one reason I'm so drawn to them these days.

Lucy said...

At least your legs are like long thing cacti, mine are more like the little blobby fuzzy ones!

Lovely collages, did you get yourslef a nice sticker book in Borders for the trip back?

deedee said...

That guy is lucky he didn't drown.
I'm glad you had a good time. I love Phoenix..my grandparents lived there for over 20 years.

Charlestonjoan said...

I have to go to Phoenix in August. It's already 100 here in Charleston, I can't imagine what it will be like there.

Angela said...

Nice legs Julia.

Julia said...

Thanks Angela! It must have been the angle ;-).