National Association of REALTORS

Aloha Everyone,

My real estate license must be renewed every even number year. In addition to completing mandatory continuing education courses, the National Association of REALTORS mandate that their code of ethics training must be completed every 4 years. Being in the middle of nowhere, I thought, Salome would be an excellent place to take this course.  

Unfortunately, a weak AT&T signal combined with unreliable WiFi was a lesson in patience. I kept on getting logged out involuntarily and it took ages to log back in. J.J. believe that our antiquated laptop with its extremely slow functions also contributed to this exasperating scenario. Eight hours and working over lunch, dinner and two cups of coffee, I was relieved to receive the email message: "Congratulations! You've completed the course with a score of 100%!

Aloha -- Cathi

Westgate Entertainment District

Aloha Everyone,

Westgate Entertainment District is located in the city of Glendale just off I-101 North. Within the complex is Gila River Arena, home of the Arizona Coyotes, a variety of restaurants and shops. University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the Arizona  Cardinals is located in an adjacent lot to this huge complex.

J.J. and I walked around to get our exercise before settling at Opa Life Greek Cafe for lunch. J.J.'s gyro on pita bread and my choice of spanakopita tasted authentic Greek.

It is comfortable to return to the familiar KOA Salome where we were welcomed back warmly.

Aloha -- Cathi

Anthem Outlet Mall

Aloha Everyone,

It was cold this morning. 35 degrees even as the sunlight helped burn off the low clouds. J.J. and I discussed whether to go to Flagstaff, but we decided that it would be more prudent for us to drive south. Flagstaff at 7200 feet may get more snow later this week.

Anthem Outlet Mall is located in the city of Anthem about 35 mikes north of Phoenix off I-17. A beautiful shopping mall which JJ and I have previously been to. Though Christmas trees and decorations adorned the premises giving it a festive air, we noticed that nearly 1/3 of the retail spaces were vacant.

A good place to get our daily walking exercise. Our lunch at Famous Wok at the food court was healthy for me and satisfying for J.J.

Our stay for the night is at Pioneer RV Resort that promotes itself as an RV and 55+ Community. Per the park map given, I counted  a total of 583 sites. Compared to Distant Drum RV Resort in Camp Verde where there was a wonderful ambiance to our site, this place is a flat vast desert landscape which has been transformed into an RV park. No free WiFi and no trees. It makes this place a one night visit for Honu.

Aloha -- Cathi

Montezuma Castle & Montezuma Well

Aloha Everyone,

Montezuma Castle was built by Southern Sinagua farmers estimated age to be between 1100 and 1300. It was five-story, 20 room dwelling built about 200 feet above the valley on a cliff recess.

Looking up at the remains of the cliff dwellings where up to 50 people lived as a community, J.J. and I tried to imagine their joys and sorrows, achievements and challenges they faced as we do in the 21st Century. Like the Anasazi of Mesa Verde, historians and archeologists are not sure of why the dwellings were abandoned and where did they go.

Tom is a Vietnam War veteran retired from the US Army as Lt Colonel. An affable man with smiling eyes, he is a senior advisor for Stop Predatory Gambling. We promised to stay in touch as our unexpected brief encounter was long enough to make a personal connection.

Separated by one exit on I-17, we also visited Montezuma Well. Jerry, a Volunteer Docent explained to us that it is incorrectly named -- as the body of water is a sink hole or a pond and not a well.  Montezuma Well receives less than 13 inches of annual rainfall. However the "well" contains 15 million gallon of water.  For answer to these questions. Please go to: nps.gov

Aloha --  Cathi

La Fonda Mexican Restaurant in Camp Verde

Aloha Everyone,

The simple, unadorned facade, casual, cafeteria-style table settings did not prepare us for the excellent quality of food served with familial hospitality.

A write-up up on the back of the menu gave us the background on how the García-Martinez, family owned and operated business started.

Mary E. Martinez, manager of the Camp Verde restaurant easily agreed to my request to photograph her for our blog. She even gave me a copy of the May 16, 2016 issue of the Camp Verde Bugle, a local newspaper, which had the feature story on La Fonda celebrating their 40th Anniversary,

We are staying at the Distant Drums RV Resort located within the Yavapai Apache Nation. Great amenities including spotless private showers and toilets, washers and dryers and an exercise room. Honu's private site is also an ideal place for me to practice juggling.

Aloha -- Cathi