ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM

Wednesday, March 7 - This morning we went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden all in one. Within the Museum, you see more than 300 animal species and 1200 kinds of plants native to this region. There are almost two miles of paths traversing 21 acres of beautiful desert.

During our walk through the desert zoo, we saw prairie dogs, owls, snakes, bobcats, birds, coyote, lizards javelina, wolves, mountain lions, black bears, and numerous other desert animals all displayed in a natural setting.

Bobcats

Biggest porcupine we have ever seen.

These javelinas have a huge area to roam around. 

We could watch these little guys all day. They are so funny.

Mexican Wolf. They have been trapped, shot and poisoned to near extinction. Today fewer than 50 remain in the wild.

The highlight of our day was the Raptor Flight. These trained birds put on an unbelievable display of bird of prey flight. We saw a couple Ravens, a Gray Hawk, a Great Horned Owl, a Harris Hawk, and a Ferruginous Hawk. Three trainers, in separate parts of the viewing area, would entice the birds to landings in nearby trees using food. These birds would soar within feet of the viewers, many passing inches from our heads. What an experience!

Raven

Great Horned Owl

Harris Hawk
 

Ferruginous Hawk

There is hummingbird center at the Museum. As you walk around in the building, the birds fly everywhere. It was fascinating to be able to watch these birds up close and personal.

The desert is coming alive with color. Marsha was in Heaven looking at all the gorgeous flowers.

When we rounded on of the corners, Marsha said, "Look at the huge Wisteria." Once we got closer, she found out that is wasn't Wisteria but Mescal Bean. She just loved it and the beautiful Sunflowers.

This is the cutest picture of the day. This little squirrel was watching this hummingbird.

We then drove through the Saguaro National Park on our way home. This is the same area butting against our campground that we hiked in yesterday. So many cactus and other beautiful desert fauna. Many of the wild flowers are blooming and the cactus have fruit on them. It has been a little windy today and the air is filled with desert dust (dust storms). That has cooled temperatures down into the sixties. The forecast calls for the sun to shine, the winds to die down, and temperatures to get back into the 70's by tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DESERT…FULL OF BEAUTY AND DANGER

Tuesday, March 12 Part III - Our day was not quite finished. One of the “pluses” of staying at Justin's Diamond J RV Park is its location at the edge of the desert and the many nearby hiking trails.

We headed out for a mid-day hike to enjoy the desert environment. What a beautiful place. All types of cactus, blowing wild flowers, and RATTLERS!!!!

Yep, you got it right....Paul finally got to see a rattlesnake in the wild. We had no sooner mentioned to each other that it was probably too early in the year for snakes to be a worry , when we nearly stepped on a rattlesnake sunny himself in the middle of the path. We came within about five feet of this HUGE snake when we heard the rattle.

Not a good picture. We were both trying to recover from the sound of the rattlers!

It was at least ten feet long and as big around as your arm. Paul even cashed-in one of his Man Cards by screaming like a little girl :-)) OK....it was only about 4 or 5 feet long but it scared the crap out of us anyway. You can't see those suckers! They blend in perfectly with the sand and surrounding rocks! And Paul was only screaming to warn Marsha to LOOKOUT!!! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!!!!

There's that rattler.

We were brave enough to continue on down the trail for about an hour and a half before finishing up back at the campground. It was a an exciting day in Tucson, Arizona. One we won't soon forget!

Here are some not-so-scary sights…just beauty all around.

Simple beauty.

Jumping Cholla

We call this the Praying Cactus.

Needles on a Fish-hook Barrel cactus

Got to love all those arms.

Home Sweet Home

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

WHITE DOVE OF THE DESERT…MISSION SAN XAVIER

Tuesday, March 6 PART II - A few miles north of the Titan Missile Museum is the Mission San Xavier.

A National Historic Landmark, San Xavier was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of the current church was begun in 1783.  Notice the right tower remains unfinished even today.  Our guide said of all the theories, the reason is lack of money.

The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church's interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings.

Doorways were beautiful.

Stairs were a bit tight.

Altar

Alcove

Beautiful ceilings

Visitors step back in time and enter an authentic 18^th Century mission. The church retains its original purpose of ministering to the religious needs of its parishioners with daily services and three services on Sunday. It should be noted that the Mission is on the Indian Reservation and is considered an Indian Church. Indian Culture and Traditions are respected and tourists are asked to take this into consideration.

Even though the Church was built for the Indians, by the Indians on an Indian reservation, this is the only tribute to them.

There is no admission charge to visit Mission San Xavier. Some 200,000 visitors come each year from all over the world to view what is widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States.

Looking towards the back of the Church.

Our tour guide did an exceptional job describing the historic significance of the structure, statues, paintings, and religious significance of the Mission. This is a very beautiful Mission Church and another wonderful tour we would recommend.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!