Phoenix 2 ~ The Boulders and a Little Golf

December 2 ~ 10

We spent this week mostly just hanging out.  Christmas presents to shop for and wrap, cleaning, washing etc.  Kind of tired of running around. Phoenix is fortunately a good place to do that, we didn't find a lot of things of interest.  And did I mention it's freezing!  Literally!  In the 50's most daytimes....upper 20's at night.  The storm that hit the midwest and east coast hard was in full force here.  One night we had over 2 inches of rain (which, BTW, is near their yearly total!)  It was the 73 mph winds that scared the heck out of me.  Tor held up fine....I, on the other hand, was not happpy!

One day we went downtown....not much there except convention spaces....we went to what is supposed to be a cute shopping district in Glendale and to see their Christmas decorations....didn't even get out of the car. 

But, then there's The Boulders (theboulders.com)!  It's raining and foggy, but the views on way to the resort are still glorious. 

We come to The Boulders for lunch.  I'd been to the resort many years ago, but wanted Rick to see how deftly this complex has been tucked into the landscape.  You actually don't realize there is a substantial structure there until you're on top of it.

Everything is tucked into, under or around the boulders.

We score definitely the best table in the house and have a wonderful view of the beautiful, but soggy, golf course.  We both order from the appetizers, and start with the Roasted Sweet Corn Chowder....it is terrific.  Rick wins the second appetizer with Blue Corn Crusted Crab Cake with Popcorn Shrimp and Saffron Aioli and a Watercress Salad....it gorgeous and fabulous.  My Sonoran Desert Grilled Quail is good, but I find the Citrus Achiote Glaze a bit odd for the meat.....perhaps it just because you see quail running everywhere around Phoenix and I feel a bit badly about eating one!

Got in a couple of rounds of golf before we left Phoenix.  The Pueblo El Mirage Resort where we are staying has a Fuzzy Zoeller course on property.  It's not bad...not difficult, but challenging enough for the first time out in a long while.  Played lights out until 17, when I pressed too hard and ended with a double/triple to totally destroy a potentially wonderful round.  Next round was like a whole different person holding the club...couldn't hit a thing. 

It's time to move on to Tucson.  Didn't like it here all that much, but we were just tired of moving around.  Think we need to stay places longer.  Looking forward to two whole weeks in Indio for the holidays.