The Arts and an Evening Swim

There's just something right about starting the morning having a leisurely breakfast on the patio before the heat sets in and its still quiet.

Today started at Cosanti. In 1947 Paolo Soleri moved from Italy to Scottsdale for a fellowship wits Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West. The Cosanti village includes his original subterranean "Earth House," outside studios, student dorms and a performance space. It is a maze of terraced courtyards and shady paths. It is also home to the foundry and ceramic studio where the popular Soleri windbells are created out of bronze and ceramic. Of course, after exploring the village and talking with the workers, we left with a bell of our own.  www.cosanti.com

We spent the rest of the day in downtown Scottsdale in the Arts District. Picked up a very cool mask made by local artist who believes in an organic style of art. The mask is made of small pieces of paper and bits of desert sand, rock and plant life. Should have taken a picture before leaving it at the gallery to be shipped.

So who said every dinner had to be a big deal. That's exactly what we thought, and pizza at the local Humble Pie seemed like a perfect way to end the day. We're not much on appetizers but I couldn't resist a medley of olives after the waiter said they were roasted onsite. Big Daddy just turned up his nose but that just meant more for me.

Since we didn't stuff ourselves at dinner, we ended the evening with a nice swim and dip in the hot tub. To say the pool area (5 pools) is nice would be an understatement. It is a spectacular, multi-level collection of small and large pools, beautiful landscaping, rushing streams and waterfalls. At night large elevated firepots along with artfully placed lights set the area aglow. It's magical.

Tomorrow we head out early to climb the Hole in the Rock, then off to Sedona with a short stop at the Montezuma Castle National Monument.