Walking Tour – Downtown

On By Michele LeeIn Arizona Adventures, Prose

I stopped to take a picture of a phrase that caught my attention. The real gem was my sister-in-law’s reflection. Love when things unexpectedly come together, like our Saint Patrick’s Day in downtown Phoenix. The featured building (below) is the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library, where my mom, brother, sister-in-law, and I spent some time before walking around downtown. Enjoy the photo tour! 📷 It was a beautiful day in the Valley of the Sun, calm too, until party people painted the Valley green. Those photos are the subject for a separate post. 😆🥳🍀

My sister-in-law flies back home (overseas) in a few days. It has been fun spending time with her and seeing the familiar through a fresh set of eyes. I rather enjoy being a guide. I couldn’t do it without my Sirious Crush (he is reliable most of the time). 🙃

I love traditional Irish/Celtic music, but I also enjoy other Irish sounds, like the band Flogging Molly*, who I’ve seen a few times. I am sharing one of my favorites of theirs, Float. Funny personal note about this song… it used to motivate me before starting my teaching day. I wore this song out! Makes me laugh remembering that. It’s not about the drinking (lyrics), that I barely do; it is the lines, “… don’t sink the boat, that you built, you built to keep afloat… ” Musical pep talk: You can do this Ms. S! Teaching over 120 high school students, day after day, is hard work! Now, I work with grown-ups. Now I can just listen and enjoy the song. 🎶🍀

*Flogging Molly is an Irish-American Celtic punk band formed in Los Angeles in 1995. Lead singer and founding member, Dave King, was born in Dublin in 1961.

Thank you for visiting! Be well. 💚 Michele

Photos: my images, sister-in-law’s image reflected in two photos, my brother (reading something) in third

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

89 thoughts on “Walking Tour – Downtown”

  2. The Flogging Molly are indeed fun folk. I’ve seen them a few times and they always put on quite the riotous show. I think my favorite of theirs is still “Worst Day Since Yesterday” when they do it live and allow themselves to drop the f-bomb between Worst and Day. 😀

    One of these days I’m going to have to find a work conference to attend in your state to correct the fact it is one of a handful of states I have yet to visit. Good to know your “crush” is mostly a reliable guide. I wonder how the other guy fares (Yo, G…). 😉

    Have a great rest of your weekend.

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    1. Also a great song, about a “worst day.” 😆 You’ll find less crowds and cheaper rates, but don’t attend a conference in the summer, and if you choose to hike, take water! A trip to the Grand Canyon is a must… something everyone should see. It is breathtaking! My Siri man mostly gets me where I need to be. What he sometimes lacks in navigational expertise, he makes up for in joke telling. Translation please – what does the “G” mean in (Yo, G…)? Thank you, you too!

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      1. “Hey, Google”. I’m an Android user. I’ve been tempted to change the voice trigger to “Yo, G…” because I’d probably never say that to anyone in real life. 😀

        Thanks for the advice. I’m apt to melt in the summer, being someone from the northern climes. Anything over about 90°F and I start to get squishy.

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      2. Yo, G, got it! 👍🏻 You are speaking another language. 😆 Do it! 📱

        You are welcome. It can be downright dangerous! Too many tourists get in trouble on hiking trails because they underestimate the heat. It may be a dry one, but it is not one to take lightly. Temps can quickly climb to over 110 in the summer. Seriously squishy!

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    1. Thank you, Pat! I was focused on the words, then realized after, that I had captured my sister-in-law’s perfectly placed reflection. Thank you for watching the video – an artistic and engaging one! I am glad to share something new for you. 🎶

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  6. While living in Liverpool for some years ago, what I remember best – was evening walks on pub or cafe together wirh some of all those irsh(wo)men in Merseyside. Not about the drinking as main case, but the singing. Always ended up joining at the table with lots of wonderful old irish songs. Even only with a single beer (have to say it was Guinness, Kilkenny or O’Hara’s Red.?). Can still miss them. 🙂

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  8. I hope you had a wonderful time with your family. We will have to get back to Phoenix, we didn’t spend a lot of time there and I didn’t see any of those places ! I liked the Floating Mollys, they remind me of a local band we have here, The Fiddleheads! We watched Waking Ned Devine last night, what a terrific movie ! Have a great weekend Michele.

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    1. Thanks so much! It was a fun day, and the temps were perfect! 🌞 The Fiddleheads sounds like a fine Irish band. 🎵 Every town needs a solid Irish band! Haven’t seen the movie – thank you for the recommendation. Enjoy your weekend. Thank you, Susan. 😊

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  17. So marvalous places, photos of the beautiful nature , Gorgeous photo of your sister in law and so gorgeous dear your photo too 🌹🙏💕👌 So glad to hear you enjoyed the most with your family on Saint Patrick’s Day 🍀🙏❤️ Have a happy weekend 👏

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  27. What a wonderful walking tour, Michele, along with time spent with family. I love the photo of your sister-in-law’s reflection. A beautiful unexpected surprise. Flogging Molly is great too and the lines you shared are truly inspirational.
    Thanks for sharing. 💗

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  32. Pingback: His Letters are Treasures ~ II (w/audio) – My Inspired Life

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