A Few Magical Days in Arizona…..

I was blessed by the good fortune of a complimentary Day trip to the Miraval Spa in the Catalina Area of Northern Tucson. This is the destination Spa that Oprah put in the map of Spas. Luxury at its finest….you are greeted at a gated entrance by name, as they are expecting your arrival. Waterfalls, birds chirping, cold water, wind chimes await. They tell you exactly where to park as a kind lady greeted me at a particular door entrance. I was whisked away after check in to a complete property tour. Just in case I should ever win the lottery and get to experience the 3/4/7 day packages they offer. Not just in case, but the day I do 🙂 Speak your future make it happen!

After I get changed into my soft, buttery, silky white rob, I enter the quiet relaxation room to await my treatment for the day. The quiet room overlooks the Sonoran desert mountains landscape. Serious beauty, if you have never experienced such scenery. This room was filled with comfy pillow topped bed-like chairs, accompanied by cozy blankets. As I awaited my name to be called I stared into the distance of the floor to ceiling beauty and listened to the serenity of silence while truly being present to the moment in complete relaxation. I then had the treat of a massage that was seriously comparable to slip and slide, the childhood game. I was drenched in oil and my skin is still thanking me. 🙂 This was all part of a wonderful staff training from an incredible attorneys office I work for, gratitude is an understatement. For the intense work we do, this yearly spoiling is something I cherish and am grateful to be included in the day.

I also had the opportunity to attend a Mindfulness class while here, which was mind blowing and a serious learning moment. It was held in a Yurt, a circular outdoor earthly structure. Google it, as my description wont do it justice. I will be attending more Mindfulness classes, as it was eye opening and inspirational. I would highly recommend you seek out a session, it was better than my usual meditation practices, as their was more direction and tangible results.

Now Im in Flagstaff with Boots, ( my mommy)……went from Southern AZ to Northern AZ. After a few days of work, ha ha. I happen to have a work appt in Cordes Lakes tomorrow afternoon, so why not get out of the AZ yucky, sweaty, unbearable heat(whose complaining) for 24 hours?! Thats how my brain operates….escape 🙂 We arrived this afternoon(Fri) and were greeted by serious brisk fresh cold mountain air cool breeze! It was so dreamy… this special town brings me such peace, old college memories of when life was truly care-free with little responsibility.

We got all checked into the historic Monte Vista Hotel, you remember the big neon sign in the movie, “Forrest Gump”. Tom Hanks runs down San Francisco street crossing over the infamous Route 66. Yes, my mom is roughing it with me in an old dingy hotel where we are sharing a queen size bed, in a tiny room with a sink in the bedroom and thankfully a private bath. That was her request….I understand. This hotel is booming…..in the middle of downtown, today/tonight is a Gay Pride festival of some sort. There are rainbow flags everywhere on display and the place is booming with cross dressers and extremely eccentric people expressing themselves. I LOVE THIS SHIT!! Anywhere that you are free to be YOU!! Serious entertainment at its finest.

We had ventured out for dinner after shopping and learning about the new restaurants in town. If your ever in Flagstaff, I highly recommend a restaurant called, The Tinder Box. We had a wonderful meal- grapefruit/avocado chèvre honey salad, flash fried Butterfish, insanely delicious- smoked gouda grits, a few too many craft cocktails, and a yummy creamy creme brûlée with toasted marshmallow. Yes, you can roll us home 🙂 Don’t worry, I made Boots walk longer than she wanted when dinner ended. We made our way to my all time favorite Spiritual store, Crystal Magic. I bought some cards and incense. We have now made our way back to our Freak Show hotel scene. Wow…..im feeling my age, as I remember the days when this place was my stomping ground and I was doing gymnastics here, dancing on the dance floor 🙂 lol

So many memories of my youth…..and all in my home state. Crazy, you can drive 2 hours and be freezing, surrounded by free love, hippies,  grunged out friendly homeless people, hear live music on the streets, watch people of all walks of life unite. I do love this magical mountain town. 

I write this post while sitting in the lobby watching the real-raw, salt of the earth of our society. And the best music of the 1980’s is playing full blast in the background. Boots is sound asleep upstairs.

Sweet Dreams, Hugs and Kisses……
Love Laurie Sue, AKA Dora the Explorer 😉