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1:33 pm - Vacation - Day
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Exposition: We arrived in Phoenix on Continental
Airlines at around 11:00 AM local time. We rented a car from Alamo (that was
the best deal we could find with various discounts) and we're staying at the
Pointe Hilton at Tapatio Cliffs. The reason we came here is that, over two
years ago, we (or rather, Beth) bid at a silent auction for a weekend here
and we were the low bidders. The auction took place during the summer and the
rooms were supposed to be used before the end of the year and, of course, we
couldn't get it together to get to Phoenix in that short amount of time.
However, earlier this year, Beth called the Director of Sales
("DOS") and mentioned that she holds that same position with
another Hilton and asked if we could use the certificate in the coming
summer. Naturally, the DOS at Tapatio was hesitant about giving up rooms at
the height of their season. Beth asked about availability around Thanksgiving
and the DOS couldn't have been nicer. Beth asked for a good rate to add some
time to the weekend certificate and the DOS gave us the extra days AT NO
CHARGE! So we'll be here Tuesday till Saturday morning and then drive to beautiful
Sedona, AZ where we'll spend Saturday through Monday. We have a return flight
at around 3:30 PM from Phoenix. Hmmmm… The rental car is due back at 11:00 AM
so I guess we'll have to hang around the airport for a while waiting for the
flight home. Hey, here I am thinking
about departure problems and I just got here! Relax Ed, relax…
Later on 11/21/00
 The
drive through Phoenix from the airport was disappointing. Phoenix proper is
not the greatest looking place in the world (no offense Phoenix dwellers, you
do have that wonderful fall weather!). However, as we headed to the northern
section of the town and neared the hotel, the scenery was beautiful with
magnificent cliffs (those would be considered mountains back in New Jersey)
and winding roads.
 When
we got to the hotel: Wow! The accommodations at Tapatio Cliffs are terrific.
When we checked in, the desk clerk (I thought, jokingly) said, "Oh, I
see you've been put in the Presidential Suite." Guess she wasn't joking.
It’s a suite all right and it's huge. Two bathrooms, two televisions, a
Cliffside view (with a little stretching) and beautifully appointed. The
grounds are gorgeous; there are four separate outdoor swimming pools – all
heated and all with adjoining heated Jacuzzi's. The temperature for each pool
and Jacuzzi is posted at the main pool (which has an enclosed waterslide in
the cliff's interior). It's really got everything we could ask for.
Soon after arriving, we had a quick lunch at La Cantina, a small and
almost empty spot near the front entrance of the hotel. Immediately going
native, Beth ordered a taco salad and I had a wonderful Burrito. We both
ordered Margarita's – mine frozen and hers an "ultimate margarita."
I can see now that this trip will be narrated from the point of view of food
and booze.
Later Still on 11/21/00
We
drove out to Scottsdale and visited Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter
home and long time experiment in Organic Architecture. I've never really
studied architecture and didn't much appreciate Wright's style. After
visiting Taliesin West and learning about the wonders that Wright brought
forth, I am now a fan.
 Wright's four main tenants:
· Destruction of "The Box"
· The Nature of the site
· Natural Materials & Methods
· Building for Democracy
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