Old Adobe Mission, Old Town Scottsdale

Spending the Martin Luther King Holiday in Downtown Scottsdale was a treat almost as rewarding as the peanut butter cup sundae I ate at the Sugar Bowl in the Old Town. I figured since I ran the Phoenix half marathon the day before, I could delve in.
As a museum fanatic (some call me nerdy, but I’ll let it slide) I had to take in as much of the museum offerings as possible, even though they were closed. As I stood outside the railway museum, I pictured the conductors and cargo these trains may have carried. All I needed was a guide to fill me in on the fun facts; I suppose that’s what Google and guide books are for.
I could only take so much shopping. I do love art, but all the Southwest art on Fifth Avenue and the Western art in the Old Town started to mesh in my mind as the same. So I strolled onto the beaten path to find a solid bright white building with a cross on the top. It reminded me of the magnificent churches that always caused my adrenaline to rush in Europe.
As I turned the knob, I held my breath hoping that by some chance the church might be open. It was. I was soon inside the Old Adobe Mission, the first Catholic Church in Scottsdale.
The church was built in 1933 by Hispanic and Anglos so they could have a place to worship. What I found the most interesting about the church was the pews. Seems like all pews are standard, right? But at this church every family was responsible for creating and maintaining their pew, which means that every pew was different. I would have hoped to have mine finished first so I could have front row, permanently!
I was able to sit down and take a break from the rain and instead take in the stain glass windows and clay walls. The mission is open to the public for a place to contemplate, and that’s exactly what I did. I put aside my now wrinkled map, turned off my phone and shook off my umbrella to sit back, relax and enjoy the Old Adobe Mission experience.