Arizona - Phoenix

I spent the night at Chris and Jasons, we got up very early and arrived at the departure gate just as we were to board. Just enough time to grab a cup of coffee to drink on the plane. We arrived in Phoenix (4 hour flight, 2 hour time difference) , picked up the car and were able to check in to the hotel early.

I swam, hot tubbed and read by the pool while the rest were supposed to be napping. That didn't seem to happen

but in spite of the obvious exhaustion ( on all their parts)

the hot tub was a big success.

The roads here are either numbered or named after presidents.

Chris' research procedure consists of googling "cheap eats" and then comparing ratings and reviews. This sent us walking about 4 city blocks to "Taco Boys".

It was packed, obviously popular with locals and vaguely reminded me of Webers on the way up to cottage country....masses of customers, masses of staff taking orders, cooking and filling them, huge grills full of meat, nothing fancy just ample good Mexican food. They called your name when your food was ready and there was an area to fill little containers with salsa, pickled red onions, runny guacamole, salsa verde, hot sauce etc. I had a small vegetarian quesadilla and a large pineapple juice (Cigi drank half) 

Walking back: lots of colourful

street art,

and rental electric scooters.

To bed early after a very long day and the 2 hour time change threw off sleep patterns.

A good complimentary breakfast at the hotel and then off to a park.

Built during the depression, the lake is stocked with fish and

fishing, with a license, is permitted.

Paddle boats and canoes are rented and there is a train loop

and an amusement park.

But we were there to walk around enjoying the warm day with a light breeze,

the environment,

the various geese

and ducks

and then to go to the playground.

Peels of laughter tonight

When I showed her

how the slide effected her hair.

Then hot tub

Pool (hard to get in after the hot tub)

No fear.

It was all designed to tire her out so she would nap before we had to check out of the hotel.

Unfortunately she had to be woken from that nap, not happy about it but I got lots of cuddles because of that. Then lunch at Pita Jungle, another cheap but good food chain.

A street festival helped

fill the time

before we could check into our AirBnB.

Walking the streets, still in her PJs from nap time.

Phoenix is a big sprawling city in a flat valley surrounded by mountains.