Yes, I know, it's been awhile.
The past few weeks have been leisurely ones for us. The first week was spent in swelteringly dry Phoenix, Arizona. On the way there, the heat was amplified by the fact that the Steed's air conditioner had broken again. It turned out to be the same problem it had before, so when we got there, we immediately found another AAA guy to fix it. In the mean time, we rented a really nice car and drove it all over. It's a good thing rental places charge by day and not by miles! We went to a small mining town called Jerome, about a two-hour drive north of Phoenix. And what a drive! It was a potential "up-chuck" road. It seemed like every five minutes we would see another car pulled over on the treacherously narrow shoulder. By the time we got to Jerome, it was already five o'clock, and most of the stores and museums had already closed. As a two-hour drive can sometimes "do you in", we were looking for a bathroom, and followed the public restroom signs to a little museum that appeared to still be open. Upon entering, a loud voice greeted us. "Ooooohhh soooorrry, we're just closing!" The tall, skinny guy with big eyes was obviously expecting us to ask about the museum. "Can we just use the restroom real' quick?". Really, who is going to turn down a mother and three children from a potty break? "Suuure, absoluuutely, go ahead." When we walked out of the bathroom, we asked the man where he recommended we eat dinner. He told us the name of some place (which I've forgotten), and sent us off with the instruction, "Tell 'em Maaaansel sentchaaa!" ....Wait...Mansel?! Who names their kid Mansel?
I can't remember how we decided on our next move, but we sure didn't go where Mansel had sent us.
At the top of the town --Jerome is built into the side of a mountain, so there really is a top and bottom--is a historic hotel called The Grand Hotel. Let me tell you, the only thing grand about this hotel is the view. The place is supposed to be haunted, and after eating dessert in the restaurant there, I'm not surprised it is. We might have been better off taking Mansel's advice. Jerome has its weirdness going on, but I'd be lying if I said it has no charm at all. It's definitely a cute town, and if we had spent a little more time there, I'm sure I could tell a redeeming food story or two.
We left Jerome only about an hour and a half after we got there, and drove back down the mountain, only this time we took the highway back to Phoenix. Despite the blazing weather, I love this city, and it has once again proved to be an excellent stop on our travels. For the whole week we were there, we stayed at my mom's aunt and uncle's house. It was really nice to have our own beds and be able to relax a bit more than usual. I was a little sad to pack up and leave, but I knew what was coming and that took the edge off. To be continued....
