Day 64: Day trip to Sedona

Friday
From where we are staying in Camp Verde it is about a 30 minute drive back North to Sedona. Sedona has been on our visit list since we first drove through it in 2010, back then we didn't have time to stop and visit it, so now was the time.
We drove North up State Route 179, which is s scenic highway, pretty soon we could see why as we started to drive between the red rock cliffs, once again we were in awe of the splendour of the landscape around us. we stopped at a couple of view points before turning off the main road to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross. This is a chapel that has been built into the cliff side. Designed by a scupltor, its vision is to be a building which demonstrates the presence of God through its architecture. From a distance it is obviously an iconic building, but on approaching it and entering it it is immediately an inspirational space, almost demanding an acknowledgment of the presence of God within it, although of course it is its place within its surrounding that gives it that characteristic. Without the dramatic scenery that it is built in to its statement would be considerably diminished.
 After spending some time at the chapel we then drove into and straight away drove out of the other side as we explored one of Sedona's View Points, which is just by one of its famous Vortexes (vorteci?). The vortexes are four small conical hills which have an energy field around/in them. Not quite sure what they are supposed to do, but a great many people ern their living by ensuring that others can live in a good energy regime. I saw a sign in one shop which offered 'energy balancing', similar to the body what 'wheel balancing' does to the car I suppose, but did not inquire further.
Near to the Vortex was a wonderful view of Sedona and its Red Rock Canyons, so we stopped there for our packed lunch before descending back to Sedona to stroll down its 'Uptown' area (tourist section), where we managed to by a lovely little Christmas tree ornament made from a gourd, it was made in Peru, very relevant. Following another cup of coffee on a beautifully placed veranda we turned for home, en route we stopped at the Castle Cliff Casino for a buffet dinner, $13, all you can eat, New York Strip steak was on offer tonight, that was very nice. Since we had joined the casino club we also had to get rid of $10 each into their slot machines, it took me about 2 minutes, while Sally took about 15 minutes to get rid of hers.
What a lovely day we have had, we feel so blessed that we can be in a lovely part of the country like Sedona.