Song and Dance

JWise Photo of the Day

Native American performing the chicken dance

A busy day of entertainment was in store for us today. It all started out at the new football stadium in Glendale where a travel trade show was going on. During the course of the day, various groups of musicians and dancers took to the stage to perform but we were here for a group of Native Americans, playing flute, drum, singing pow wow, dancing the hoop dance and as this young man demonstrated, the chicken dance.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo performing in Scottsdale, Arizona

Later in the day, we headed over to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform. This a cappella group from South Africa is probably best known for their collaboration with Paul Simon on the song “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Feet” and while Paul didn’t join this all-male group of singers this evening, it was a thrill to have the opportunity to have seen these legends in the flesh.

Hoop Dance

JWise Photo of the Day

At the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona during the annual Hoop Dance competition

For years Caroline and I have wanted to attend the annual hoop dance competition held at the Heard Museum but time and again it seems we had scheduled travels taking us away from Phoenix. Not this time, with Jutta visiting we thought this should be the year we would make time to see the hoop dance performed in person. All three of us were thrilled to be here; Caroline and her mom both left with black hooded sweaters emblazoned with information about the contest. Hopefully, we will pen this into our itinerary for a return visit and arrive a lot earlier to get better seats.

Over the Rez

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Navajo Nation, Arizona

It is the day before the 4th of July, and Caroline and I are on the road traveling north. Our ultimate destination is Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, but this evening, we will only go as far as Richfield, Utah.

On the border of the Navajo Nation in Arizona

The route we follow is well-traveled by us at this point, north on the 17 freeway out of Phoenix to Flagstaff, on to the 89 over the Navajo Reservation, past Tuba City, then crossing the Colorado River before making our way towards the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on the Kaibab Scenic Byway.

Navajo Nation, Arizona

Fredonia on the Arizona side of the border gives us one more “Marx Brothers” laugh, and then Kanab, Utah, slows us down, letting us know that Moqui Cave is just ahead. Past Mt. Carmel and the junction leading to Zion National Park, further north past the turnoff to Bryce Canyon National Park until we finally arrive in Richfield. And as in previous stopovers in Richfield this time of year, the chairs are out on the side of the streets, reserving sitting rights for the 4th of July parade that will start hours after we leave – one of these days, we should hang out for the festivities.

Indian Border

JWise Photo of the Day

A marker on the border of the Salt River Pima Indian Reservation near Scottsdale, Arizona

Living in Arizona offers us the opportunity to live amongst quite a few Native American tribes. Not that we immigrants to their land actually live with these indigenous peoples, they are kept (um, offered to stay on) their reservations. Running east of the 101 freeway from Tempe to Scottsdale is a stark reminder of this delineation where the Salt-River Pima Indian Reservation lies. This border marker identifies the western edge of the Reservation; on one side are fields, dirt roads, mobile homes, a landfill, a couple of casinos, and trash that blows across their lands. On the other side of the border are multi-story brand new luxury office space, restaurants, shops, and expensive single-family homes with swimming pools.

Driving North

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

El Conquistador restaurant on 32nd Street in Phoenix, Arizona

Attention: This post, like so many travel entries I made in the earliest days of blogging, was a mere one photo. Here in late 2022, I’ve been repairing them.

Admittedly not a great photo to open a post with, but I recognize that one of our all-time favorite restaurants was very poorly represented here on my blog. El Conquistador Mexican Food was owned and operated by Maria Altmaier with a lot of help and love from her husband, Mark. Maria passed away nearly 11 years to the day after I took this photo and so my sentimentality for her rose up this evening as I’m writing this. Countless late afternoons on our way out of town, El Con would be our last stop before hitting the road. The place wasn’t fast, but the quality of her Jalisco-inspired fare was always perfect, always.

17 Freeway traveling north in Arizona

With stomachs full, we were out on the 17 freeway going north.

Sunset north of Flagstaff, Arizona

The sun is about to take its final dip as we are now north of Flagstaff.

The Gap Trading Post on the Navajo Reservation in northern Arizona on Highway 89

We try every time we pass The Gap Trading Post to stop in and buy a little something to help support the local Navajo economy.

North Rim of the Grand Canyon on fire in Arizona

We are on the way to Salt Lake City, Utah. This evening, we will drive over Page and Lake Powell on our way to Kanab, Utah, as the route over the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed due to fire that can be seen in the distance.

Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico also known as Sky City

Caroline and I love visiting the Native American cultural locations dotting the southwest and this trip to New Mexico was one of the best. Sky City, also known as Acoma Pueblo, lies just off Interstate 40. The guided tours of the village atop a tall mesa are offered daily from a nearby visitor center. One of the highlights, besides the great historical sense you get, is when the guide allows you to leave the Pueblo down the old trail. Today, a graded dirt road takes you up and down the mesa, but years ago, a small cut through some rocks and a steep climb on some carved footholds were the only way to come and go, and it was the way we chose to go. This visit was back on September 1st, 2003.

Click Here to view that trip.