Tempe, Arizona
Sunday | 22 October 2000 | Tempe, Arizona: Last
night, after setting up camp, we settled-down to an evening "at home" to watch
the football game. We also sat through a thunder and lightning storm like we
have not seen since our Manila days. For 8 hours, the sky was alive with light,
noise, wind and flooding rains. We lost power for a while; the airport closed
for a few hours and we heard far-off police sirens screaming through the night.
Luckily, we have an inverter, so we did not have to miss a moment of Oregon
beating Arizona! GO DUCKS! We caught-up on email and laundry, I made a loaf of
bread and we had a nice dinner of burritos made with tortillas from Chretin's
Restaurant in Yuma. It rained all night. (Rain on the roof of a motor home is
LOUD.)
A few comments about the RV Park where we will be residing for 8 nights: It
is run by a very organized neat-freak couple... which I suppose is a good thing.
The palm trees mentioned in the park name (Apache
Palms) are strategically placed to be hit by most motor homes while
checking-in. On each palm tree is a small sign stating: "Receive a free night if
you report anyone tossing down a cigarette butt or not cleaning up after his or
her pet." While I checked-in with the wife, the husband silently stood-by,
watching DT unhitch the BC2. He finally spoke when he noticed our "The George
Washington University" decal. He was from Washington and I guess he determined
us to be worthy of his admiration since we were intelligent enough to send our
only child to study in his hometown. He went from a scowl to cheerfully offering
to hook-up our cable and phone in one moment.
Now, back to our regular program: This morning it was cloudy and we had a few
showers, but it was clearing. Around noon, we decided to be daring enough to
actually explore the territory outside the campground. First, we headed out to
Papago Park and went to a few golf courses to make
tee times for this week. Then we went on a walking tour of Arizona State
University. ASU has a very nice campus, with a diverse mixture of architecture.
The new library is actually subterranean! We walked through the Student Union,
which was decorated for the alumni in anticipation of the Sun Devils beating the
Ducks at next weekend's Homecoming game.
On the way back to Goldie, we searched and searched and
searched for a supermarket and finally found an Albertson's. The supermarket is
in the middle of a huge remodeling project and the parking lot was a mass of
confusion. It was a huge store - you can buy food, Christmas wrap, Halloween
costumes, shoes and model ships in the same store. If you are thirsty, there is
a water store next door. I am not kidding, the store sells water and ice. That
is all. Have I been missing out on something, or is this just a desert-city-only
emporium? It reminded me of the Scotch Tape Store from Saturday Night Live.
Added later: We had dinner not far from the ASU campus at
Riazzi's
Italian Garden, a family-owned and family-style restaurant. Though not the
fanciest or cleanest joint, the food was pretty good. I had salad Caprese (duh!)
and cheese pizza. Riazzi's also offered a half-bottle (cutest thing you have
ever seen!) of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio. (Yeah, I know, it is sad to only
drink half a bottle of that divine nectar.) DT had a green salad and his
favorite: spaghetti with olive oil and garlic with chiles. We, of course,
chatted with the couple next to us as they were having the loudest argument to
decide a bet whether he had eaten the best ravioli ever in London or Washington,
DC. DT settled the debate by offering there is no such thing as good food in
England.
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