AZ - Day 2 (PD)

Day 2 started off in the wee small hours when we finally arrived at the Papago Inn.

For that reason we both had our eight hours and were up without the larks at 9am.

The room was pretty good and there were people around the pool. From the outside it was very unspecial. But inside it was four sides of the square around the pool. Claire took a photo. It looked good. The room also featured a fridge and coffee maker. We made use of the latter and the coffee bags before leaving.

With six hours before we could check-in at the Timeshare, we needed something to do. By 11am we were checking into the Desert Botanical Garden. And what a find. A reduced entry fee as we are old and we were in. With no breakfast we went into Gertrude's and ended up with brunch.

Then it was a walk around the large and varied gardens. If you like the desert and don't want to travel, this is perfect.

We were lucky as some of the cactii were flowering and many are only in flower one or two days a year.

They are brightly coloured to attract butterflies, insects and hummingbirds. We saw one of the latter but it flitted about too quickly to get a photo.

There was time for a terrible selfie before we set off again, eventually to arrive at the timeshare.

The idea was to get the reddish rock and saguaro in the background as well. My arms simply aren't long enough.

Here are some other wildlife we saw....

Where to next? On leaving the gardens I set the TomTom for the airport. The idea was to see where the car rental plaza was as we couldn't see much the night before. All seemed okay until TomTom decides to go into night mode where it is impossible to see the screen. Luckily we had voice instruction. 

Th next stop was a Walmart. TomTom had no idea and so Claire had to use my iPhone to find one. That was successful and we got stuff for dinner and also for breakfasts for adequate says. It is nice to eat out, but sometimes even better to stay in, eat "at home" and have a beer or two without worrying about driving.

Plus of course what we call the "man's doorstop"

NB: after drinking one it might have been better to leave it there!!!

Once TomTom was back in day mode we were off for a tedious westerly loop of Phoenix heading for Scottsdale and the Sheraton Desert Oasis. 

We were a little early checking in. But they handled that okay and even though we say we will never go, we signed up for  "the talk". They know we own and they won't get a buyer here, but the $100 prepaid VISA will be okay. We only got $50 in Weston FL two years ago. That paid for our petrol to the queues. 

So as evening draws in we are both sitting with Miller's chemical pee in a bottle beers on the balcony, the birds are creating a fuss outside. What I guess are American Blackbirds and their chicks. 

A short walk before dinner and we found the quiet pool, away from the noise and not frequented by kids.

So what about tomorrow?