We started our day at the unearthly time of 4AM. We stayed the night at the Ramada Inn in Portland because they have a park and fly option. We were able to leave our car there and take their shuttle to the airport.
My son-in-law sent me this video about hotel glasses. We usually have plastic ones, but this time there were GLASS ones. The video came racing back into my memory. We DID NOT use them!!
We took the 4:40 shuttle and (having already gotten our boarding passes on-line) went straight to the baggage check-in. I arranged for a wheelchair for Tom because we were leaving from the farthest gate possible on Southwest and though he COULD have walked it, he would have been hurting the rest of the day. We were given priority boarding and were the third couple to be put on the aircraft and picked out seat in the first row. It meant we wouldn't have tables and had to stow all our belongings overhead, but was well worth it.
We had a great flight, and beautiful cloud formations. It was overcast on the ground, but a beautiful day at 10,000feet! 
The flight took about two and a half hours. Plenty of time to take pictures!
Phoenix has a neat arrangement for getting your rental cars. After you pick up your baggage, they have "rental car shuttles" right outside the baggage area. The shuttle is manned and you don't have to deal with your luggage getting on or off the bus. In a short 10-15 minute drive, you are taken to another airport-like complex. It has a circular drive entry, like at the airport. It has a multi-tiered garage underground. Each company has its cars parked there, on different levels. All the rental car companies have an office area on the ground floor.
You are dropped off and all the rental car companies have an office area, like the airlines do at the airports. You simply pick out your company and walk into their waiting line. We didn't have to wait more than a few minutes. You pick your car and make payments. Then you take an elevator down to the appropriate floor garage (for your rental company) and they take you out to your car. I had so much fun in the process - but you KNOW I'm easily entertained! Everyone was so friendly and personable. Picking out the car was like new car shopping without any of the pressure or anxiety. We picked a Chevy Envoy mid-sized SUV. I'd never OWN one, but it's been great fun to drive!
Our first stop was finding our motel, in Mesa. Our agent at Enterprise gave us easy, simple, clear directions and we drove straight there. We stayed at the Comfort Inn in Mesa, just two blocks from the Mesa LDS temple. (The temple was different than I thought it would be. And it is RIGHT in the middle of town. Kind of like the L.A. temple's location.) It's a brand new motel and since this is the off-season in Arizona, it is almost empty. Our room is beautiful and has a flat screen TV!
Next stop after settling in and unpacking was In-N-Out Burgers! 
They were better than I remembered. And that is saying a lot!
I'm sure the people in the restaurant were wondering about Tom and I. We took pictures of the food, of each other taking our first bite, of the kitchen. Tourists!! Freaks! Yes - we were.
Next stop was Bass Pro Shop. 
Tom doesn't smile big and wide often. But he sure did here. I thought he was going to genuflect!
He kept referring to it as the Fisherman's Shrine.
AND they had this HUGE selection of bass boats around the parking lot. 
If it hadn't been for the temperature, I think we would still be there. 
For dinner, we decided to try a Mexican place called El Rancho De Tia Maria. 
It was AMAZING. Good food, great atmosphere, wonderful waitress. We decided that there was NO way we could ever move to Mesa. We wouldn't be able to walk, we'd weigh so much. When we walked to the door to leave - guess what we saw out in the parking lot? RAIN! Coming down by the gallon. 
If you have never been in the desert, you won't understand desert thunderstorms. This one came on quickly and POURED. There was lightening everywhere. Totally awesome to watch. A little scary to drive in. We stood at the door, dumbfounded. It had just been 110 degrees outside. Bright sun shine when we walked in. Now it's pouring. Another couple walked up behind us and said, laughing, "It's just rain." I turned and smiled. "Yeah, we're from Oregon. I know rain. I just didn't expect to see it here!" He laughed and said, "We're from Alberta! Go figure!"
Tomorrow - David's wedding!
2 comments:
Sounds like quite the adventure so far. Can't wait to see pictures, especially of your dining experience at In-And-Out Burger (the likes of which I've only heard of on the Food Network! :)
C.
Pictures are taking longer to post than I thought. Catching up with mom and household. This trip had a "Food Network" bend to it. My hubby is a BIG fan of Food Network. He watched Guy and had a list of places in the Phoenix area he wanted to try that had been spotlighted there. We ate well!! We used to eat to In-N-Out all the time when we lived in California. They ARE good! Everything they say is true. They have them in Vegas, if you ever go there.
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