Exiting from Montezuma Wells or returning to the crossway Montezuma Castle, in a half an hour ride, or a short cut but you must use a dirt road. Chosen the first way, got to the highway I managed to get lost on the exit number. With a little patient I got the right exit took the US179, classified as “scenic route” it is considered one of the most suggestive in all Arizona.
After a few miles we are absorbed in a small Monument Valley, made of red rocks that grow out of thick bushes. The first we see is Bell Rock, a type of small hill. We decide to stop for some pictures; it is very beautiful to see the difference of the red rocks and the blue cobalt of the sky. The parking of the vista point is full of tourist groups, and they asked to take them a picture. A young girl offers to take a picture of my mate and me with the Bell Rock at our shoulders. After so, we continue our trip and are close to the center of Sedona, when on our right, on the top of a hill we see an impressive and strange church of Holy Cross. A structure in a natural framework so marvelous assumes a fashion of its own. The church projected towards the sky is surrounded of a new age music that comes from small cases on the tiny aisle; surely a new way to present a sacred place. The view is marvelous from the square in front of the chapel, permitting you to see all Sedona and the valley.
After a few minutes we reach our hotel, obviously not without mistaking the stop to take. I’m a lost case. The structure Comfort Inn is nice; spacey rooms without the typical smell of American motels, the breakfast area warm and cozy, a relaxing room with two internet terminals for the clients. The position is excellent, within a few minutes you reach the center of Sedona. Center is the commercial square Tlaquepaqua, practically a small tangle of streets changing by sculptures and fountains and under the porches myriad of shops that have from artistic to souvenirs; all in pseudo Mexican style that makes the joy of the tourist that want to lighten there wallet. We are on vacation and a walk threw window shopping is relaxing. But the evening is coming, so we take the direction in the vortex towards the airport.
What is a vortex? The real estates agents narrow that Sedona grew around energy nods scattered threw the mountains, hills and valley. In these points at sunrise and sunset all the santon and follower of the new age philosophy, gather up in silence hoping that the first sun beam and the last give the energies of life. Arriving near the airport was all the cars are packed in a parking make me realize I found the vortex. I notice that every stop at Sedona necessities of a Red Rock Pass, a kind of day pass ticket necessary for seeing, walking or stopping in the most famous areas of Sedona. Five dollars and all are set. We start walking and realize that the vortex is on the top of a steep hill made of live red rock. In a few minutes we reach the top, realizing that this philosophy is mostly commercial.
The peak is consisted in a large slab of rock with in the middle a small plant, twisted on its self, grows exuberantly threw the splits of the stone. A sort of small miracle, as to show that life can exist also on an inaccessible land as this. The silence is total, no one permits to speak or disturb; a group of people turned towards west are sitting with their legs crossed, strained their eyes closed to catch the last rays of warmth from the sun. It’s probably because of that strange suggestive atmosphere, almost unreal; a light breeze as the earth breathing and the silence sounds like a sweet melody. I sit also; the horizone is marvelous with the long shades of the hills reflecting on the red rocks of the valley. It makes you feel to want to pass the night there. Turning towards the other hill close but far, on the peak I see a person who is also meditating towards the sun rays; a town paralyzed from the sunset, unbelievable. It reminds me Key West in Florida, were the “sun set celebration” blocks the traffic, shops and tourist every evening for devotion to the sun diving in the ocean.
We remained their till the darkness took over, we left a lot worn-out; the states always manage to amaze me with its scenery and its atmosphere. Well its time for dinner and Sedona offers the best choice in the whole area; on suggestion of a lady in the tourist office we opted for Mexican food at “Javelin Cantina” a nice place not far from our hotel. Good food, but overall great margarita! We are slowly getting into our vacation; we are getting the rhythm of the southwest, with its colors, aromas and atmosphere. Starting to feel the zone time we go towards our hotel hoping to get used to the American zone. Woke up really rested, a nice sleep was enough to catch up 9 hours. But opening the shades; it was still dark outside. Only 4.30 am I noticed my mate was still sleeping strongly, lucky her! What can I do until 8? Still an hour before sunrise, so a crazy idea came up to me, dressed up silently and decided to go see the sunrise on the peak we where last night.
While the darkness starts to fade away, I point towards a panoramic point half way from Schnebly Hill Road; to bad it’s not a dirt road, but it’s a real rocky street. Slowly I arrive the place while the first sunrays are starting to cut threw the mountains of Sedona; surprised I see two cars with girls ready for picture and move camera. And I thought I’d be the only nut. I pointed towards vortex on airport road, the one of the night before. Even here I notice cars parked, thinking there is no one at 5.45 am? I clime up with a heavy breath, the blood pressure is always lower in the morning and Arizona’s average height is around 1500 meters, quite high for me who lives near the beach bay. On the peak there are already a few women, turned towards east. Four women before, two now….but men I have seen very few in this place. A few minutes to set my camera and the show begin: the sun rays start hitting here and their tips of the peaks in the valley, lighting up tones of orange. Stupefying!
I decide to take a walk on a trail looking for new colors: but a couple of rattle snakes crossed my why, and reminded me not to forget safety rules, remember that I am a guest in there territory. Directed towards my hotel not wanting to worry Babe and think I got lost a day after the beginning of our vacation. During the morning we will be going to Cameron, crossing Oak Creek Canyon; today we have quit traveling. A quick stop at Crescent Moon Ranch to take a few shoots of Cathedral Rock Valley; and extra day in Sedona would have been great, many things to see and a nice atmosphere to live. Directing our Ford Explorer crossing Coconino National Forest. The horizone around is typically mountain and the tempter also; in a short time we find our self over 2000 meters and the smell of coniferous is in the air. Following a river, crossing also Slide rock State Park, a sort of natural fairy park, were slides are made of smooth rocks that slide in the river.
In less then an hour from Sedona we reach the summit of Oak Creek, where a small shelter welcomes all the visitors arrived to steel pictures of the valley. In the parking lot many huts with Indians that want to sell you their merchandise: chains, bow and arrows, hats and the Indian dream catchers. The scenery is suggestive, seams to touch the clouds from how low the pass. This makes so that the forest underneath with scenery that only Mother Nature can do to stupefy. It’s time to leave again, Page is still very distant. |
