I’m not saying all of this was about my birthday.
But it should be noted that I’ve often referred to having a ‘birthday week’. So when Tourism Phoenix suggested a spa-focused trip where the last evening of the trip was on my actual birth date, well let’s just say, it seemed more than coincidental.
Since this was also a spa trip (and did I mention it was during my birthday week??) you might think that would mean a lot of downtime.
You’d be wrong.
We were thrust into the fray soon after checking in to our rooms at the Royal Palms. With only a couple of hours to find something cool to wear, we were soon belly up to a groaning table of crazy-good food at the resort’s restaurant, T’Cooks. (As we all know, when it comes to healthy food, the more we eat the healthier we get…right??).
With a distended, but oh-so-healthy bellyful of local goat’s cheese and peach and quinoa salad, I rushed to my hour-long citrus massage. Maybe a little pool time happened after that, but that was cut short when I met up with the other writers for our trip to SumoMaya Restaurant, where…wait for it…we indulged in a feeding extravaganza of Asian/Mexican fusion food, along with deadly Sumoritas.
In spite of my birthday, the tourism boards made us keep up this grueling schedule for the next four days. I was beginning to wonder if they understood what a birthday week actually meant?
Instead, we were marched from Phoenix, to Scottsdale, to Gilbert, to Mesa so that we could continue the theme:
Eat. Spa. Repeat. Eat. Spa. Repeat.
Over and over, we schlepped between sugar scrubs, pedicures and massages. Over and over we soaked in healing mineral waters and cooling pools.
In between those endless meals and spalicious treatments we checked out the incredible Musical Instrument Museum, had a dawn hot air balloon ride, and kayaked the Salt River.
Last night (did I mention it was my actual birthday?), I ended the evening in a gondola. I was joined by two new friends (and fellow travel-writers) as we were poled in an authentic Venetian gondola at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort. Our gondolier was a classically trained singer. Unaccompanied by any soundtrack, Candace Ibanez serenaded us with Casta Diva from the Bellini opera, Norma.
It was a surrealistic experience. Her voice was powerful. It swelled over the indigo light on the lake.
And then, for her finale, as she guided us through the evening calm, she sang a beautiful Italian version of Happy Birthday (I think I might have mentioned it was my birthday).
It was the final proof I needed.
So.
Dear Visit Phoenix,
Thank you for disguising my birthday week as a spa-focused press trip.
It was a really great trick.
Yours truly,
The Birthday Queen
If ever someone deserved and could make fantastic use of a birthday like that, it’s you! Makes my heart glad.
The ballooning and kayaking sounds like a blast. We are back east and I just may kayak on the Charles River in Boston today or take a laser sailing lesson just to keep up with you.
Love how you live your life… big hug
Blessings Laurie. It really was a fabulous birthday week dressed up as a press trip 🙂 I’m so glad this is the impetus for you to go kayaking or sailing. I’ve been thinking that I need to incorporate more of your usual Sechelt life that includes so much kayaking.
I’m getting on it!
Let’s co-inspire each other 🙂
A spa trip to Arizona sounds like a dream trip to me. It might even be worth having another birthday for, though I’ve sworn off birthdays.
How does one swear off birthdays Carol? That sounds very back-to-the-future-ish to me. I think you’d wear an Arizonan spa trip very well. Sounds like a damned fine fit for you and your glam luxury travel blog.
Now that’s celebrating in style! Love the photo of you with the hot air balloon. I’m guessing you didn’t have lunch outside at Queen Creek. The temp was in the mid 80s with a gentle breeze when I was there with a friend … they guys were golfing, but we thought it was a tad too warm for golf .
How are you managing in the heat? 115F is unreal! I remember driving to LA with a friend in 1964 and stopping for gas in King City — 110F! Since she was suffering with the heat, I volunteered to drive. I got out of the car and passed out cold on the hot pavement. When I recovered, we drove to A&W for a root beer with lots of ice.
You, on the other hand, are probably being chauffeured around in an air conditioned limo. Next week the temp is predicted to be in the mid 30s in Vancouver, so you’ll be able to cool off just a bit.
Welcome back cousin Gemini!
Love that story Martha! I think icy root beer is a good remedy for a lot of things.
We had iced cloths for the back of our necks on the hot air balloon and yes, we were being chauffered about in a big black-windowed Suburban (actually I don’t really know what kind of vehicle it was, but I think we looked like drug dealers 🙂
The kayaking really helped with the temperature, especially when I threw myself into the Salt River and then had to rather gracefully (NOT!) heave my birthday butt back into the kayak (a butt, that I might add, seemed decidedly larger after five days of non-stop gourmet food).
Now I have to figure out how to incorporate more fun activities into my ‘regular’ life.
Heard it was your birthday. Happy day! xo:)
Ha! How’d that news get out?? Thanks Ginny 🙂