Friendship

Two years ago, two of my good Austrian friends came for a visit to Phoenix, Arizona. I planned to show them some of my favorite places. We never before did things together as a group. It became a precious time of friendship and connection. The bond and connection was not only with each other but also with the land we visited.

Silvia, Sigrid and my husband, David, on our porch in the back yard.

Although I made the overall plan for the visit, we structured our daily activities as a group. One of our group activities was preparing simple and very delicious meals, when circumstances allowed it.

We all love vegetarian meals.

All three loved to hike, but have different levels of fitness. This was not a problem. Our first hike was a trail near my house in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. We hiked only as far as the group managed. On this hike, there was a funny incident. Another hiker saw a rattlesnake near the path. To be bitten by a rattlesnake was Silvia’s biggest fear. I had to convince her that rattlesnakes want to be out of sight of humans. Her fear was understandable. When I first came to Arizona, I was very anxious when my sons hiked up the hill behind our house. I also thought that rattlesnakes would wait for them behind every rock.

Evening hike on the foothills of Piestewa Peak.

We did not meet a rattlesnake, but a little beetle crawling across the path.

One of the very special things in Phoenix is the sunrise ritual on Piestewa Peak. Every morning, in chilly or very hot weather, Ken Koshio carries up his heavy Taiko drum. He greets the rising sun with powerful beats and ancient songs.

Ken Koshio and his drum.

Sunrise near my secret rock chapel

We lit three candles for peace and harmony in the group and peace in the world. Whenever I hike up Piestewa Peak, I light a candle.

Sigrid and I already had many hikes together.

We also visited the Botanical Garden in Phoenix. April was the perfect time. Nearly every cactus was blooming.

Glass art at the entrance to the Botanical Garden

The yellow blooming Creosote bush grows in the Sonoran desert just about everywhere. After a rain, the desert is full of its earthy and sweet smell.

Butterflies, bees, birds, rabbits – the Botanical garden has many visitors.

We also visited the Phoenix art museum. My favorite piece of art there is an installation by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. It is called Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room. It is a room where you can experience infinite connection and beauty.

Photo from the Website of the Phoenix Art Museum

Another art piece I love is an installation by Cornelia Parker called Mass. She used burned wood of a Texas church struck by lightening to create this beautiful installation.

Silvia and Sigrid in front of the installation by Cornelia Parker.

We also hiked in the Superstition Mountain Wilderness located one hour drive southeast of Phoenix. Not far away is one of the four desert lakes, built at the beginning of the last century. It was created as a flood control and also used as a water reservoir for the greater Phoenix area.

We rested at the shore of Canyon Lake and enjoyed the views.

After spending a relaxing time at the water, we visited the Goldfield ghost town near Superstition Mountains. It was a gold mining town in the 19th century. It had three saloons, a general store, a hotel, a meat market, a school, post office and a jail. When the mine was no longer profitable, the town was abandoned. It was later revived as a tourist attraction and has a very authentic feeling.

Goldfield with the Superstition mountains in the background

It is fun to walk through this ghost town and feel the energy of the Wild West.

One of the many old machines and vehicles once used for mining. A short train ride takes you around the area. When my grandchildren were still small, I loved to go with them to this place. We went on a train ride and ate ice cream afterwards.

We also drove to the shore of Salt river. Wild horses live there. They come to drink water and bathe.

We did not meet wild horses but experienced a beautiful sunrise.

Sunrise at the banks of Salt River

Water is very precious in the desert. When I lived in Phoenix during the summer, we sometimes went to the river and floated down on a tube. It is a popular activity in the heat.

This trees reminded me of the trees in the Amazon jungles. They seem to walk. Major floods washed away the soil around the roots. But the tree is still holding on – very impressive!