Antelope Canyon

Our destination: canyon country surrounding Page, Arizona. Page evolved during the building of the dam that created Lake Powell on the Colorado River. Tourist websites PR it as the gateway to beautiful Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Recreation Area, Hub of the Grand Circle Tour of Canyons, Navajo-land, National Monuments and Parks. There are two huge power plants there--one on Lake Powell and the other a coal-burning electric plant.

At Antelope Canyon, we met a lovely Navajo woman, Dixie, who reluctantly explained to me that her people were promised they'd get electricity once the plant was built. (see her photos of the canyon on the Navajo Parks website) Today its voluminous plumes of steam make it the elephant in the living room no one wants to talk about. Dixie and her family still are without power. The official website of the power plant, ironically named Navajo Generating Station, claims there is no environmental impact.

ArcoSanti

In 1974 I had a roommate named LaVerne (it's taken me several days to remember his name) who travelled to Arcosanti to work as a volunteer carpenter. The book he showed me, written by founder Paolo Soleri, was filled with architectural drawings which stimulate the imagination and the soul.

This week I had the opportunity to visit Arcosanti with my son and his friend. We happened to be there December 21st, winter solstice. Paolo Soleri, now 86 and fit, came down from his home (Cosanti) to be part of the ritual in which the shade line at noon was marked in the main vault. Soleri also announced that he has been commissioned to build a walking bridge for the city of Scottsdale, the proceeds of which will go towards the continued development of the Arcosanti project. A model was displayed and a pyrotechnic event (magnification of the sun's rays onto a match occurred at noon) was the signal to drink a toast and share the joy.