A Warmer Homecoming!

So as most of you dear readers (all five of you,) probably know, last month I went home to the grand ole USA for a sojourn of a month to see family, friends, and partake in a collection of my favorite cultural revelries like; eating Mexican food and burgers, and watching baseball. Yes indeed, I experienced it all. Like all visits out west in the summer I enjoyed the same comforts of home I always expect; great heat, coastal fogs, barbecues, micro-brews, sipping coffee on sidewalk benches of Berkeley coffee-houses, sandwiches, stunning landscapes, bustling cities, cheap clothing, sleeping on my dad’s uncomfortable floor, and the wonderful opportunity to use my native language with anyone who happened to cross my path.

The only difference on this visit was that I would be landing in a different state-Arizona, and to be completely honest I didn’t know if I would like it or not. The typical adjectives that had flashed to my mind were the ubiquitous adjectives like; hot, sweltering, boiling, and crispy. Hot and crispy or not, I was going to base myself in my mother’s beautiful new home (with a pool!)in Arizona first before I headed up north to see friends and family in Cali. So in a nutshell, Arizona was hot-hotter than I imagined. Regardless, I spent a good deal of time in oven-like Phoenix, despite the fact that Phoenix is too hot to bear outdoors in July *, when I did venture outside, I was surprised at how much stunning scenery abounds in Phoenix-especially the sunsets. Anyway, it’s only too hot to handle for one or two months. After that it’s much more comfortable.

What was even more special about Arizona is the amount of parks within a few hours’ drive of Phoenix, which offer different landscapes and historical wonders. Three hours north is the Grand Canyon, which seeing in person is grander than any canyon you will ever see. Just a bit south is the chillier mountain town of Flagstaff, which has a pretty downtown lined dotted with historical looking hotels, shops, cafés and everything else you’d expect from a breezy mountain town. There are also places like Red Rock Park, Sedona, Wupatki National Monument, and Montezuma’s Castle. All of which I was able to visit quite conveniently. In addition to being home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the state of Arizona is also opens its doors to a handful of MLB teams in February and March who come to get ready during spring training, which makes it a good time to come and watch baseball.

After seeing so many nice things in Arizona, I packed it up and headed up north to see family and friends in California. It was truly great to see everyone, as well as the new editions to families, (who will most likely be too big to recognize when I return.) I did so much that I can’t possible begin to expound in detail. Regardless, I will say I had an awesome time! After about ten days I boarded a south west plane from Oakland back to Phoenix. Back in Phoenix I enjoyed the last days of my much needed summer holiday home relaxing watching baseball, tubing down the Salt River, and eating fish tacos and pizza with the family. Anyway, it was a truly memorable month that in the end made me a tad depressed to see the time come to an end. If you are interested please see my slideshow of pictures from my sojourn home.