Arizona Desert

Phoenix - Passing time 1

September 23, 2008
by CyclChef

I am accompaning my wife to a conference here in Phoenix, Arizona.  We arrived on Monday afternoon, the conference began that evening.  After taking her to the convention center early yesterday morning I set out to find a bike shop that might have a group ride that meets during the week.  I had brought my bike along so I could keep training for a century ride coming up in less that 2 weeks.  After striking out at three different shops - they all have organinzed rides on the weekend, but none through the week this time of year.  I spent the rest of the afternoon walking the trade show floor with my wife.  Today after dropping her off I took a different route back to the hotel.  I noticed the Phoenix Museum of History and other musuems in the surrounding area.  I really need to get some riding in, I am going to see if there are any suitable (less traffic) areas to ride in.  Coming from a small town in Arkansas the traffice is a bit unnerving to say the least.  Most all streets that had bike lanes were under construction for Phoenix's new light rail system, plus there was a late summer heat wave going on with highs around the 105 mark every day.  I decided I would go check out some of the museums that I had seen earlier.  We are heading to Sedona tomorrow it would be at least 12-15 degrees cooler up there and much less traffic.  After walking a few blocks I am standing at the entrance to the Phoenix Museum of History. The fee to enter is nominal..  It is the perfect day to be here, no school children and barely anyone here at all.  The exhibits are very quite except for the recorded narration.  I am learning alot about the early Indian cultures that lived here more than a thousand years ago.  The fact that I find most interesting is their use of irrigation canals, some which are still in use today, or at least the location is the same.  Why the white settlers decided to settle in these harsh conditions in the 1800's was beyond my comprehension.  Life was definitely rough out here.Upon exiting the museum I noticed a group of older buildings across the street.  I decided to investigate.  This is Heritage and Science Park a block of homes that have been restored to their turn of the century glory.  The one that really stands out is the Rosson house built in 1895 this victorian mansion really looks out of place in the desert, not to mention a modern metropolitan city.I got here just in time the next tour begins in 5 minutes, its only 6$, and the house is air conditioned.  There is only one other person waiting to get in, this is going to be a real intimate tour.  The tour guide is from South Carolina originally but had lived in Phoenix for 12 years, she was very knowledgable of the property.  The furnishings are draped in black for mourning of a death, a ritual during victorian times.  The guide explains the curator tries to make the experience real by observing different rituals during certain times of the year.  The woman accompaning us is from the Netherlands, she finds the house intriguing.  The thing I find most unusual about the house is the tiny kitchen, much unlike the large kitchens in todays homes.  The guide explains that due to the heat 8 months out of the year, most cooking was done in an outdoor kitchen.  Today that would definitely make sense.  Looking at my watch I see that I might be able to meet Jamie for lunch, as I talk to her she tells me she's just ordering at  Brooklyn Pizza, about 5 blocks away, I want a slice of supreme and a cold beer, I'll see you in 5 minutes.  Off I go.

Tags: Sight Seeing