Sedona

Yesterday we went to Sedona, a town named after the wife of the first postmaster. It's actually a collection of related villages including Oak Creek, Sedona and West Sedona. It's the signature red rock formations of  Schnebly Hill sandstone that are the attraction and pervasive influence of the area. Sitting at the lower end of Oak Creek canyon, these rock formations occur nowhere else. They are just breathtaking and are a constant presence as you travel through the area. Even if you've never been to Arizona, you've probably seen some of Sedona. The town has been the setting of over 44 pictures from 1938 up to 1973.

Most of the pictures that we've seen of the red rock formation are careful to exclude the context of the area. Unlike Monument Valley, which is entirely in Navajo reservation territory, Sedona is a heavily settled area. It can be very difficult to get a clear shot of some of the formations without including signs of the surrounding settlement. I tried to minimize them but they are a part of the landscape and I think the pictures are more honest with some included.

This is called Coffee Pot Rock. We drove around and around a neighborhood trying to get a clear look at it.

This Bell Rock because it's supposed to look like a dinner bell. I guess you have to be in the right mood.

As you go about in the community, you're surrounded on all side by these imposing rock structures. The houses and businesses back right up to the lower slopes. The town has strict housing codes to make sure that any new structures blend into the outdoor color scheme. Even the McDonalds has turquoise arches instead of yellow.

The Cholla (choy-ya) cactus was in bloom and made a good foreground for this shot. We started out shopping at a little outlet mall in Oak Creek and then went in search of scenic views. One of the complications is that while there are several good picture taking pull-offs, the town requires that you have a permit in order to stop at them. So we cheated and just shot out of the window for the most part.

One of the more striking viewing spots is at the Chapel of the Holy Cross which is integrated into the sandstone rising from the valley floor.

The chapel has soft music playing and people are encouraged to enter and enjoy a moment of peace. Looking down from the parking lot on the village below, we saw this house (estate, mansion?)

There are reputed to be homes belonging to the rich and famous in the area. We saw one spot where there was a house once owned by Lucille Ball. I assume real estate is quite expensive here. The houses are of moderate size but most have little to no area around them. Yards are practically non-existent at most of them.

After wandering around the town for awhile, we stopped at an up-scale shopping experience called Tlaquepaque (tell-ock-a-pock'-ay). It was once a walled Mexican hacienda and is now converted into a series of galleries and shops.

The first shot is of the motor entrance and the second is the pedestrian entrance. The interior is full of courtyards and each seemed to have a fountain.

There was also a variety of sculpture at every turn.

Sedona is a fascinating place that is going to take several visits to absorb. There are high end, very wealthy parts and ordinary down home parts. There's a micro-brewery to investigate. All of it is continually watched over by the fabulous red rocks.