We went to Sunday Mass at Saint Mary's Basilica in downtown Phoenix (which I previous blogged about here). The church still had its Christmas decor up.
Christmasy sanctuary
For the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (January 1), we went to Saint Daniel the Prophet is Scottsdale, which looked unimpressive from the outside but had a beautiful sanctuary.
Saint Daniel the Prophet sanctuary
Side alter to the Holy Family (what is that hammer St. Joseph has?)
Downtown near a geocache I saw the Orpheum Theater, which looks very impressive.
Orpheum Theater
On a second day
We went to a local H Mart and were surprised to see a TinyTAN section in the store!
BTS in Phoenix!
A local park had lots of fountains and statues, part of another geocache. This fountain and the fishing boy were not part.
A relaxing spot
We went to Fatcat Ballroom for an East Coast Swing Dance lesson along with a dance party. They let all the students video the moves we learned:
Action in the ballroom
The local downtown library was impressive, with an open floor plan and indoor water features and art!
Phoenix Public Library
Is this a Borg cube?
Fountain by the elevators
The stacks
Unburied time capsule
View from the top floor
Scottsdale has an interesting "old town" section.
Sculptures
Flowers
A civic building
The downtown plaza has a memorial to Winfield Scott, the founder of Scottsdale.
Winfield Scott Memorial
Nearby dry fountain
Ever present cactus
The plaza goes over a road, or the road goes under it?
Scott is up there
Santa visiting someone in the past
My wife and I were surprised to see some brown, fog-like haze over the city. Was it a sandstorm?
Encanto Park in Phoenix, Arizona, has a lot of stuff spread out all over.
A large recreational lake is at the north end of the park. The Clubhouse and boat dock were built in the 1930s as part of the Public Works Administration. The clubhouse has that period's look, a bit of the Spanish Revival.
Clubhouse
Encanto Lagoon
The lagoon feeds into a bunch of waterways. Fishermen are welcome at the lagoon and the waterways, as many signs provide help to assess catches.
How big was it?
The Little Red Bridge was also built in the 1930s and became something of a local icon. Back in the day, lots of people took family photos or wedding pictures there. A tree crashed into the bridge and local officials decided to haul off what remained. A local contractor took on the task of rebuilding it, helped by local volunteers.
Relaxing waterway with view of Little Red Bridge
Little Red Bridge
I saw some ducks enjoying the water too!
Those who live in the park
A small amusement park is located here though we came too early to enjoy the rides and such. They have a railroad and the oldest working carousel in America.
Enchanted Island entrance
At the southern end of the park is a sports complex with a nice playground.
Encanto Playground
Tennis, someone?!?
An empty swimming pool (it was December)
We had parked up by the lagoon so that's where my son did most of his playing.
Papago Park is a large park between Phoenix and Scottsdale that features a golf course, a garden, a zoo, and a lot of trails for people to explore.
The landscape is classic desert, though I found it odd to be able to look to the horizon and see glass and steel buildings.
Papago Park--a typical view
Civilization not far away
A massive cactus
We climbed one of the mounds that was just behind a volleyball court!
Can we get there?
Walking up the side
People up higher than I would go
Coming back down
Another mound
On top of another that other mound
Relaxing!
One of the stars of the park is Hole-In-The-Rock, a natural formation that is indeed a hole in the rock. Actually, a bunch of holes (called tafoni by the scientific types) are in the top of the formation. The first time we tried to go there the area was crowded with people and we couldn't find parking. The next time we were able to park and to make it up to the top.
Seeing it from a distance
View to the east
A nearby hill
I'm there!
Unnatural stairs
Me and...the parking lot?
Another angle
Buried in Papago Park is Governor Hunt's Tomb. George Hunt was the first governor of Arizona and served for seven terms. He, his wife, their daughter, and other family members are buried there.
Hunt's Tomb
View into the zoo from the tomb mound
Memorial plaque
Later in the trip we visited the garden which will get its own post. We did not go to the zoo though we were interested.
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