Being a tourist on a casual Saturday in my home town

Last month I wrote that you don't have to leave your own city in order to be on vacation, that it was more a state of mind than a location thing. Look at your surroundings every day as if seeing them for the first time and let your mind take flight even when you can't.

In that spirit my weekend wanderings took me to Desert Ridge Mall in North Phoenix, a place I have been to countless times before, but this time I decided to take my own advice. This is what I saw:

artwork in structures

The moon through the patio lights.

Another brick in the wall.

I love geometry.

I wonder how many people don't look up when they walk here?

nice plant life

Date palm under-lit by evening lights.

awesome shoes

Amazing how easy it was to go up and ask this young woman if I could photograph her shoes.

surprised by a band

Love a good sax!

They were quite good even though the acoustics were not.

Sorry, I don't know who they are - if you do, post a comment.

and a little girl living large and free as only a the very young can

Gonna be a heart breaker one day!

All in all the weather was balmy, the sights and sounds great, and the time memorable because I looked at things with different eyes rather than just running around shopping or going to dinner.

Does this ever happen to you?

So, I'm off with my BFF and we are sitting at a Paradise Bakery, drinking our coffee, surfing our computers. Time passes. A lot of time. You realize that now it is past noon and the just rolled out of bed look you came in with is no longer working for you. You find this out as you go to the bathroom and look in the mirror at your hair which is shall we say less than well groomed. Then you spill water on your foot and look down to realize that your legs are in need of shaving. You already knew you actually had just rolled out of bed to head down for coffee with friends, but these new revelations have now made you uncomfortable. People must have noticed by now. People are talking. Paranoia strikes deep.

Worst yet is that the blog you were going to post just isn't happening yet; pictures need to be tweaked a bit first.

But I promise - there will be a new blog before day's end. Oh yes. There will.

I hope I didn't quite look this bad!

Misty's Misty Magic Kingdom

Who hasn't seen at least pictures of Disneyland/Disneyworld's Magic Kingdom Sleeping Beauty castle? We are all familiar with the distinctive silhouette; it's even used in their logo.

Well, I was privileged to see the real life castle upon which Walt Disney based his design. It is called Neuschwanstien Castle (Schloss in German) and is located in southwest Bavaria, Germany.

Schloss Neuschwanstein in the mist.

As you can see, the day I was there it was quite overcast and drizzling. I know there are better photos on the internet, but this one is special because I was there, feeling the mist, simultaneously holding the umbrella and taking the shot.

Nothing is like being there in person. No amount of web surfing or library research can prepare you for the awesome wonders of the world. Go out and experience them yourself and let me know what you think.