1) Liquor
Liquor is available everywhere. The most startling experience I had was walking into a CVS and being confronted with THREE ENTIRE AISLES of beer, wine, and liquor. I soon discovered that the same goes for other pharmacies. There is also an out of business "Drive-through Liquor Store" in town. DRIVE-THROUGH LIQUOR STORE. How is that even a thing?
2) Daylight Savings
They don't have it in Arizona.
3) Granite Dells
The landscape here is utterly, gloriously different from New York. Instead of being lined by pathetic "vanity strips," the roadways traverse wide stretches of desert terrain capped by granite dells, which are giant orange mountain things. Reference the background of this blog for an example (Watson Lake).
4) Gold Diggers
Okay, not gold exactly. Arizona used to be home to a bustling copper mining business. Though the mine shafts are abandoned now, residents continue to profit from them. The closest to Prescott is the town of Jerome, which housed a bustling mine in the late 19th century. Today Jerome is a swanky destination town filled with wineries, cafes, and local art vendors. There is also an awesomely kitschy "ghost town" where you can walk amongst junk from the '40s and '50s (soOoOo authentic) and see the entrance of the abandoned mine, which is littered with PBR cans and warning signs.
P.S.
Bug update: The other day I was informed that Tarantulas, which are common around here, have their mouths on their STOMACHS.
P.P.S.
Some views of the Thumb Butte from our living room:
Sunsets are always hot pink.
Night view (street light to the right, not glare).
When it does rain (rare) the fog is incredible. The sky is so big here.
Love from Arizona,
Anna
