That's all there is there, but it is good for a good laugh!
The rest of the drive is interesting....a backdrop of mountains all the way. We stopped at a rest stop to gaze at a particularly pretty backdrop.
We haven't a clue where we're going to stay....there are about 150 of these RV resorts in the area. We concentrate only on the ones that have a 5 star rating, but we've learned these ratings mean little or nothing. Since we're coming in from the north, we just pick the closest one in the West Valley of Phoenix named Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort (robertsresorts.com/pueblo). It is yet another tres bizarre place! The public buildings and facilities are beautiful.
It has a Fuzzy Zoeller course, tennis courts, lawn bowling, clubhouses, fitness center, library and buildings for about every activity you could think of from woodworking to silversmithing. It could be great.....except
to call this an RV resort is rather ridiculous. It's mostly what we have learned are called "park models" which are essentially permanently installed mobile homes. The RVs are stuck out on a dirt field with nary a picnic table, let alone cable TV (things you always find even at very modest resorts.)
It's beyond me....they could charge twice as much (which we and many others would gladly pay) and make it a terrific place.We don't like it very much, but we have two weeks until we're due in Indio and we decide we'll just stay put for awhile.
Taliesin West
We settle in and immediately head to Scottsdale to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's western retreat and school of architecture (franklloydwright.org). This is one of the most fascinating things that we have done. Depending on the tour you pick (there are six choices differing in length of time and depth of what you see). We opt for the 90 minute "Insights Tour" which includes entrance into the architect's personal quarters. These tours are not inexpensive, but discover they are discounted on Tuesday and Wednesdays, this one to $26 per person.
Taliesin West is described as one of Wright's greatest masterpieces showcasing his ability to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces. He and his apprentices literally created this facility out of the desert gathering rocks from the desert floor and sand from the washes. I personally can't imagine living in it, it's very hard edged. But the overall effect of how it would feel to be living as part of the landscape is captivating. It is elegant in a ruggd sort of way and so suits the archtects rather electic and eccentric personality.
We are seated in the very large living room in Wright designed furniture. Asian and Southwestern art and artifacts are displayed throughout. We are told of the grand parties, musical events and speakers that the Wrights hosted in this room and also in a cabaret theater, music pavilion and a lecture hall that he built in out buildings throughout the 550 acre property. We tour his bedroom which frankly looks stark and rather uncomfortable and peak into the studios where 33 students are currently enrolled. Unfortunately we are not allowed to take pictures of the private quarters nor the studio.
We wander a bit on the property near the house and discover a lovely sculpture garden of pieces designed by a woman who originally approached Wright as a potential student. He felt that sculpting fell outside his discipline, declined her application, but allowed her to display and sell her work, which she still does.
It's funny, both Rick and I leave Taliesin West inspired to build and/or renovate another house!
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