First stop: Tlaquepaque.
It's a touristy arts and crafts center but it's done so well, it's always been a favorite place of ours. It was modeled after the town of Tlaquepaque, Jalisco just outside of Guadalajara in Mexico.
Lots of Spanish/Mexican style architecture. Beautiful big sycamore trees dominate some of the plazas.
Most of the art is Southwestern-oriented but Sedona being what it is, you can find plenty of Asian influences as well.
There's also a touch of whimsy afoot, as in this sculpture of a big pig. A nearby placard says the name of it is "Eat More Beef."
Inside El Rincon, a Mexican restaurant and tavern . . .
There's a group of "guardians" . . .
Though this member of the group looks about as tired as I felt after awhile.
One shop features treasures from the sea . . .
This sleepy fellow appeared to be related to the pig. He was standing watch over a parking lot, next to a sculptured Saguaro cactus.
It's a very pictureresque place, tempting to the camera . . .
But after a period of walking around, staring at the goods in the shops, one grows weary. And thirsty. So . . .
Our visit to Sedona ended with martinis and a great lunch at Shugrue's Hillside . . . and then the drive home.
