How to describe the feeling of a journey that has just begun? Many emotions ran through my brain as I sat stoically, awaiting the bus. The canopy protected me from the drizzle that fell gently upon the earth. The bus was empty for a few stops; it was just the driver and me. Suddenly it turned to steady rain, and the fog felt thicker. Navigating the airport was simple, and I quickly found a study station near my gate. Suddenly, the gate agent was calling my name over the intercom. This has never happened before, and surely it could not be good. My pessimistic attitude was quickly eliminated; I had been upgraded to a nicer seat. This is not saying much, considering I was flying Frontier, but I will not say no to extra legroom. The travel gods have unquestionably blessed me with a solid start to the adventure.
Flying is freakin fast, that is for sure. It only took one and a half hours to travel roughly 650 miles. My next mode of transportation was Phoneix's premium form of public transport, the light rail. There was certainly a cast of characters in my boxcar. John kept me company during my voyage across the city. He shared stories about his years living on the street. His prison experience was enlightening. We even chatted about the dangers of drug use. Sometimes a simple conversation can make you realize just how lucky you are. After checking out my sleeping situation for the sejour, I headed straight to the party. It was New Years Eve, for god's sake! Kyle and crew were at one of their favorite drinking holes. To say we partied all night would be an understatement.
It was now the new year, whatever that meant. Kyle and I got a late start to the day. We quickly fueled ourselves with coffee, tacos, and a little more alcohol. Nothing like some hair of the dog, am I right? Next on the list was to buy a skateboard. This is the perfect purchase for many reasons. Now I can navigate the city at a somewhat faster pace. It is portable, and taking it on the train is totally doable. No one really fucks with the dude carrying a skateboard. It functions as an excellent makeshift weapon if need be. Pleased with my purchase, we ventured to the movie theatre to catch a film. We decided on The Whale, which was wildly disgusting. Fraiser gave quite the performance, and it was indeed worth the watch. Feeling reenergized, we headed to Old Town Scottsdale for another night of shenanigans. My sleep has suffered severely, but this sacrifice was necessary.
The next day I skated all over the city. Of course, there was some espresso involved. Even found an excellent little brewery along the river. After some sightseeing, I ended up at The Heard Museum. This establishment is dedicated to the advancement of Native American Art. My favorite thing that I came across was the extensive collection of Hopi Kachina dolls. These figurines are masterfully crafted and are believed to be the messenger between the human and spirit world. After educating myself on the native nuances, I jumped on my board and continued my exploration. Suddenly, Mojojojo was rolling up in his cherry red 1991 Mazda Miata. We drank our way around town that evening. Kyle even made a guest appearance. My favorite was definitely the mezcal bar, where I discovered my new favorite salt. Sal de Gusano is made with agave worms, and the texture is terrific.
My mornings typically started with the sacred espresso search. This morning's shot was balanced and sippable but lacked any strong flavor. The Japanese Friendship Garden was my next destination. The garden was tiny but elegantly crafted. After exploring the entirety of this peaceful place, I sought sanctuary under a tree. For two hours, I sat cross-legged and became the newest installment in the garden. When I was not meditating, I would watch the people. Many of these garden goers were more interested in the content of their photos rather than the beauty presented before them. It was sad to see this situation. I started skating toward Mo's apartment in Tempe. The light rail was available for me, but I was craving some exercise and adventure. Mo scooped me up some six miles later, and we headed to explore his neck of the woods. We found this fantastic oyster house that was totally our vibe. We also went to see The Menu, which was a stellar film. I highly recommend it, especially if you are a fine dining fan. Our next stop was the old-school arcade bar called Thunderbird Lounge. My favorite game was undoubtedly Asteroids, with Pac-Man as the runner-up. We ended the night at the twenty-four-hour Mexican joint. That burrito was the bomb, and bedtime was the best.
My last day in Arizona came much too quickly. I loaded up my pack and jumped on the light rail to downtown. After tracking down an espresso, I found myself at the public library. It was quite the establishment, and I could complete my daily studies. This was my last chance to explore the downtown district, so I skated to see the surrounding sights. The next destination was the art museum. Mo decided to tag along, and of course, the visiting exhibition was about anime. When we were roommates, anime was the only thing we watched. We managed to make our way through several exhibits. We could not stay long because we needed to go on a little road trip. You see, the train comes through this quaint little city called Maricopa. My sleeping situation for this night was at the resort hotel on the edge of town. This place was exquisite and reasonably priced. After losing a few bucks on the slots, we found the fine dining outlet on campus. My final meal in Arizona was definitely the most gluttonous. After some great grub, I retired to my chambers, the train was coming early, and I did not want to miss it.
