Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Scottsdale. . .Walkin' in Sunshine

I hate to admit it, but I wasn’t taken with Arizona the first couple of times we visited here decades ago.  But with each return visit over the years I found some new ‘wonder’ which I kept adding to our ‘reasons to return’ list.

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Sunset - Scottsdale

Now, several years later, we actually own here – admittedly, a small bit of deeded property that affords us an annual visit of at least two weeks in our timeshare home.  And as reports of the Arctic Blast that is sweeping the Pacific Northwest keep arriving in our inbox today we are even more grateful for this warm-weather respite.

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Four Seasons Residence Club - Troon Mountain to the right
Last week I wrote from our “Marriott” home in Phoenix and by this week we’ve moved to our “Four Seasons” home in Scottsdale.

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Four Seasons Hotel Scottsdale, Arizona
One of the benefits of timeshare life at this Four Season’s Residence Club is that we are footsteps from the hotel. And as residents, we have access to the hotel’s pool, spa, exercise facility and grounds as do hotel guests.  (We have our own pool and exercise facility as well.)

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The Terrace at Onyx Bar - the Four Seasons overlooks the garden above
I’ve invited you in to see our condo on previous posts, so today I  thought we’d stroll around the property for a bit of a tour:

PicMonkey Collage

We’ll start in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel where vibrant southwest colors bring the stucco Adobe-style walls to life.

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We follow a path through the natural landscape to get to and from the Residence Club and the hotel.  The stately Saguaro cactus stand like sentries and wild bunnies skitter among the bushes along the route.

PicMonkey Collage

Then it is back to the Residence Club and its own lobby where easy chairs face fireplaces and southwest colors figure prominently in the décor.  The library (far right in photo above) is a quiet place to peruse the books available on the lending shelf or relax in front of yet another fireplace.  (It does get chilly this time of year, so fireplaces aren’t just for decoration!)

PicMonkey Collage

Fireplaces and chimineas (like the one pictured above) are lit each night and fill the air with the scent of the southwest – the pungent smoke from the Mesquite wood – making it difficult to resist their magnetic pull to just ‘sit a spell’.

Arizona Spring 2012 154But we pass up the fireplace and head back to our place.

There, we bundle up in coats and sip a glass of wine on our deck while listening to the call of the desert animals that break the still of the night.

That’s it from Arizona for this week.  Hope to see you back again soon and until then, thanks for your time and Happy Travels!


Linking up this week with fellow bloggers at:

Travel Photo Thursday – Budget Traveler’s Sandbox 
Travel Inspiration – Reflections En Route 
Travel Photo Monday – Travel Photo Discovery 
Mosaic Monday – Lavender Cottage Gardening

27 comments:

  1. Does your timeshare have an extra Our Friend Mikey From Reno room? I checked it out and that is a nice property! When I was married we flew into Phoenix A LOT because that was one of her hubs (airline gal). We always liked staying in Scottsdale and playing in Phoenix/Tempe. Enjoy and do think of the rest of us up here north of you! And Reno isn't getting hit that bad at all in comparison to the folks in the Midwest. Have a great week, Jackie :)

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    1. I had to laugh at the local weather report today, Mike, as they are saying to pull out the sweaters and prepare for chilly temperatures. . .it is going to get cold: in the 70's! Always a good reminder of it is all in the perspective!! Thanks for your visit and taking time to comment!!!

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  2. I visited Arizona in the Summer and found it sweltering. :-) I thought it would be MUCH nicer to return during cooler weather like you have. :-)

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    1. Many of the locals use summer time as their get-away time for that very reason, Krista! Thanks much for stopping by as it is always good to 'see' you~ hugs and happy weekend!

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  3. Hi Jackie, I like your Scottsdale home - so luxe, so relaxing, and nicely warm. It's nice that you're cocooned in its warmth and not enduring the artic blast in the north. Enjoy and Happy travels to you an Joel.

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    1. As I told Mike above they are forecasting chilly weather here next week: in the 70's! Just cracks us up because back home we are in the 30's!!!

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  4. i would very much like to explore that part of the country. so different scenery and culture-wise than the East. One of these days...

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    1. I have no doubt that one of these days Eileen I will be reading posts on your blog about your travels out West! Thanks for visiting today!!

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  5. Love you "deeded" digs :) We are having a blast of cold here in Daejon this week, although thankfully there's brilliant sunshine today. I am counting the days to the warmth of Bangkok, and the rest of Thailand!

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    1. Oh can you believe it is time for you to begin your travel adventures in Thailand!? Sounds like an Arctic Blast is sweeping the world - not just the U.S. (I just send you a request on Skype - hope it works!).

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  6. Jackie, I love all the brilliant colours - doesn't it make you feel so happy and alive?! The warm woods, painted stucco walls, and vibrant patterns, both in the artwork and in textiles, adds to the liveliness. Enjoy the weather, my friend!!

    Happy weekend,

    xo
    Poppy

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    1. Yes, Poppy, the more vibrant the color, the better I like it! The Arctic Front has finally reached Arizona so while the sun is out, it is a chilly-willy winter day outside. Have a great week~ xx Jackie

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    1. Thanks for your visit, Kim! Hope to have you as a follower soon!! Happy week ahead~

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  8. We've always enjoyed the desert, there is so much wonder when one stands still to take it in. And who doesn't love a gorgeous resort?!

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    1. Patti, we've taken a couple of hikes in the desert this trip and I will be doing a post on them - just that stark regal beauty of the cactus and bushes is amazing. Thanks much for your visit!!

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  9. Scottsdale is such a wonderful getaway especially around this time of the year. Your Arizona hideaway is beautiful and has such great amenities. I'm glad you're enjoying such a relaxing place and away from the rain and cold. We're very much like the Arizonians here in San Diego - 70s call for long sleeves ;-)

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    1. Oh Mary, I so enjoyed your comment because yesterday the sun was out and a slight breeze blowing and it was in the low 70's and we immediately pulled out the pants and long sleeves because it was 'chilly' and back home it hadn't yet gotten to 40!! Thanks for stopping by - we will be in San Diego Dec. 3 - 6 as I have a conference there -- I guess I had better pack some 'warm' clothes!

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  10. You've created a lovely vision of Arizona for me and I love the smell of mesquite. As a matter of fact I like a glass of wine and relaxing too. :-)
    Thanks for sharing your bit of paradise at Mosaic Monday Jackie.

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    1. Thanks so much for the visit Judith! We were talking with friends last night who told us many people here are allergic to that wonderful mesquite and I thought how sad that would be. . .it is one of my favorite scents! See you again next week (I hope) as we start our return trip home early Sunday a.m. but I'll check in sometime!

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  11. You own a great property. Very cool place to stay.

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    1. Thanks much for your visit Rajesh! It is a great change from the Pacific Northwest!

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  12. I went to grad school in AZ and my family moved there so I have seen many gorgeous spots and this is one. I have been to this gorgeous spot and you have captured it beautifully.

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    1. Oh thank you Donna. Glad I accurately portrayed this place. . .it is easy to get carried away here and I was afraid I might have. I envy you going to grad school in AZ! Have a great week~ Jackie

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  13. What a beautiful resort hotel! I would not mind living there at all for a few weeks during this time of the year when it is cold in Colorado. My husband and I recently visited AZ. We found the Navajo Nation reservation lands to be amazingly scenic. Someday I will blog about them.

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    1. Pat, I look forward to reading your blogs about the Navajo Nation. We keep saying we must come down and spend more time on the trip itself visiting some of the interesting places in the Reservation. Thanks for stopping by - stay warm!

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  14. It all looks very relaxing, Jackie. I do like that first image very much, and the cactus photo, too.

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