The classic travel question is “beach vacation or winter destination?” But over the years I’ve come to love all types of terrains. Lush rainforests hiding surprises, where enormous branches dot out the sun; urban cityscapes, navigating through back alleys, wide boulevards, and throngs of crowds; mountains with rivers and plains that stretch through them forever on into the horizon; and even the desert, lavished with sunshine and an endless expanse of sand that is hard to impress upon, but leaves an impression.
The desert has an undeservedly bad reputation. As the preferred apocalyptic, punitive ecological setting for many artistic works, the idea of the desert as a barren wasteland has prevailed through the centuries. God condemned the Israelites to wander for 40 years in the desert as punishment for their lack of faith. I learned about this in a church sermon where the pastor exclaimed, “God doesn’t keep us in the desert forever!”
Well he very well could, provided the desert in question was filled with the generous amenities one can enjoy in places like Dubai, or Las Vegas, or Palm Springs. I’ve come to enjoy vacationing in the desert so much that these vacations rival the beach for first-choice destinations in the winter.
Indeed, I felt a jolt of excitement when a favorite person of mine sent the invitation via email. “What do you think about joining me in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona?”
Granted, there is a lot to be excited about when talking about a trip to Scottsdale - the desert that God banished the Israelites to was a far cry from this southwestern oasis. The city is situated in a valley within the vast Sonoran Desert; the landscape is a seamless, contrasting blend of cacti and lush golf courses. While looking out of the window as we were landing at the airport in nearby Phoenix, this contradictory coexistence came into view.
Desert cities make you marvel at what feats have been made possible with human technology and engineering. They also remind you of our deep connection to Earth. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess sits grandly on 65 acres of land in the north part of the city, flanked by the McDowell Mountains and the Sonoran Desert for a majestic backyard view. As I was getting into the complimentary golf cart that would take us to our suite, a scorpion scrambled into a burrow just to the side of the paved walkway.
Indigenous communities thrived in all spaces and places by fully embracing their surroundings, manipulating them and revering them at the same time. And, even with all the modern conveniences at my disposal, I found myself living similarly. While my person convened in meetings during the day, I bathed in the limitless sunshine - poolside and while strolling the outdoor shops at Scottsdale Quarter. The Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is like an oasis within an oasis. Even though it is situated in the center of the property, dipping into the artificial grotto waterfall and lunching on a poke bowl in the garden atrium made me feel like I was a world away from everything.
In the evening, the best way to enjoy dinner was al fresco dining on the terrace at Fat Ox. The menu is Italian, with ingredients procured locally and according to the season. Slow roasted meats and handmade pastas make simple dishes a remarkable homage to the land that they were sourced from. Scottsdale also has outposts of some commercial comforts, like Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina and Maple & Ash. By the time we would make it back to the room, the temperatures had cooled dramatically: a perfect excuse for us to seek warmth in one another.
What is it about the desert that attracts wonder and wander? The ones that get it, get it. Frank Herbert, in Dune, imagines the desert as a seemingly desolate place that is actually rich in resources and harboring incredible, life-preserving treasures. In Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Nietzsche says the desert is where “the spirit becomes a lion; he will seize his freedom and be master in his own wilderness”. The desert is a place for discovery - the perfect kind of escape for us to be free and, in our solitude, be more intimate.
It is my pleasure to accompany you anywhere and everywhere- from the highest observatory deck in the city, to the peak of a hiking trail, to the desert valley, or the island’s shoreline down yonder. Extended dates give us time to uncover something new and enthralling in a menu, venue, destination… and in each other. Let’s plan our next date and see what surprises await us!