Destination tidbits

Sedona in the movies: Broken Arrow

I finally watched the 1950 Jimmy Stewart movie, Broken Arrow. I say “finally”, because I’ve been meaning to for years. Sedona, Arizona was a big place for making movies, especially back in the days of the westerns. The thing is, for decades they were making movies here, but never calling it Sedona! … Read article…

Orcas on the beach, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina

About a third of the way down the coast of Argentina, there’s a large peninsula that juts out into the South Atlantic Ocean. From an aerial view, it looks like it should have been an island. The thin strip of land that connects it to the mainland is so narrow, when you drive it, you can see the sea on both sides. The desert here runs right up to the sea, giving brilliant contrasts of brown and blue. This is Peninsula Valdes, and it’s a major wildlife preserve in Argentina — home to a number of unusual and endangered species, both land-based and sea-based.

Taos, New Mexico – Rio Pueblo Gorge (video)

This video is from the Rio Pueblo Gorge, near Taos, New Mexico. This river comes from Taos Pueblo land and runs into the Rio Grande River. This is a deep gorge, but not as deep as the Rio Grande Gorge, which is a spectacular gash across the high desert — almost shocking when you first see it.

On our Santa Fe trip, we go rafting on the Rio Grande. Even though this is a tributary canyon, the video is nice in that it gives you the feeling of the land there. The warm, languid, relaxing feeling you’d get sitting on the side of the river, just enjoying a sunny fall day. It’s the same feeling you get floating downstream — in the calm spots, when you’re not paddling the whitewater, that is! …

San Juan Islands – scuba diving

OK, I’ll say it right up front. We do NOT go scuba diving on our San Juan Islands trips! I’m a wimpy warm water diver, who only likes the tropics (think British Virgin Islands!)

However, even though that water looks pretty chilly to me, it’s fascinating to know what lives down there! The undisputed rulers of the local seas are the orca whales, but there are a ton of other lesser-known, and much less-seen species that live on rocks, walls, and tidal areas around the islands…

Awesome Argentine Armadillo

Peninsula Valdez in Argentina is a sweeping, open space, where the dusty brown desert stretches right to the sparkling sea. Where else do you see armadillos and elephant seals all on the same walk? Not to mention guanacos and sea lions, killer whales and rheas!

I’d always heard that armadillos were shy, and that we were unlikely to see one. However, this little guy (or girl, for all I can tell!) was so intent on lapping up the drops of water that had spilled on the ground here, that his thirst overcame any fear of people, and we were able to get an excellent close-up view…

Belize: Cave where the kids used to play

We were up in the mountains of the Pine Ridge area of Belize. After driving for miles along a very bumpy dirt road, we reached an abandoned little town. The small houses were still standing, but clearly uninhabited for quite a long time… Read article…

Tumacacori – Ruins and dancing

Last weekend, I was down in southern Arizona, at a little place called Tumacacori. The main claim to fame here is that it was the site of a Spanish mission, founded by Jesuit missionaries back in 1691.

When the Spanish first arrived, the area was populated by the O’Odham people. The name Tumacacori is a Spanish phonetic spelling of the original O’Odham name, but nobody’s sure what that original name meant.

Over the centuries, this place has seen the O’Odham and the Jesuits, the Franciscans and the Apaches, the Spanish, the Mexicans, and the Americans. The southwest has such amazing history!

Rome Italy – Chariot racing at Circus Maximus

What if you could travel back in time to witness Roman chariot racing at the Circus Maximus in ancient Rome?

The Ancient Romans knew how to make their politicians work for THEM, and often demanded “bread and circuses” from political candidates. Gangs were seen rioting through the streets in celebration of their favorite charioteer’s victory. Fights broke out between the fans of victors and losers. Sound like modern day fans at the Super Bowl? No, these sports fanatics were celebrating the victorious Roman chariot racing at the Circus Maximus about 2,000 years ago.

What to do in Las Vegas – Springs Preserve

Next time you’re in Las Vegas, Nevada, and want to escape the sound of slot machines for a couple of hours, I highly recommend the Springs Preserve. You’ll find the natural and human history of the area – right in the middle of Las Vegas… Read article…

White water rafting through the economy

Today started out as a beautiful blue-sky Monday morning.

But by this afternoon I realized it was really a black day.  Or perhaps a black & blue day?

The bailout plan went down to defeat, as did the stock market. Shock waves are circulating.  For many, it’s a day of… Full article…