A Diet Coke….a place at the helm…and the Sea of Cortez—what could go wrong? Just kidding; they didn’t let me drive the boat! Even though it is still a little bit cool in San Carlos we still saw tons of birds. Pelicans and dolphins followed alongside the boat, but the biggest surprise was the Blue Footed Boobies. We saw them when we were in the Galapagos, but we didn’t realize they are also found in Mexico. They were pretty high up, but if you look closely you can see their blue legs. Jacques Cousteau (famous underwater explorer) once called the Sea of Cortez “the world's aquarium”. So, Ray took the opportunity to go on a morning dive. He was able to try out a couple of swim throughs and discover some interesting aquatic creatures. Check out the string rays and the California sea hare (looks like a slug) in the video. We finish our adventure tomorrow. What do you like best—the birds or the aquatic creatures? You are always in my Prayers. Love Mom.
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Yesterday we took the El Chepe from our magical spot in the Copper Canyon to El Fuerte. This five-hour train ride gently takes you through several microclimates. We are back in cardon cactus country.
In El Fuerte, we were fortunate to spend time with a Campomos Mayo family. The Mayos call themselves Yoreme, which means “he that respects the tradition”. They have plenty of traditions. I enjoyed learning about their herbal medicines--they even use dried snakes. Can you see the snake drying out? The Mayo are very connected to the earth. This is reflected in their dances. Animal masks are often used. The dancer makes percussion sounds with simple music in the background. These traditional dances are so well respected that they are acted out in murals on their government buildings. Loving Northern Mexico. You are always in my Prayers. Love Mom. Yesterday we were introduced to the Raramuri. People. Ray already knew a bit about them as they are famous for their exceptional long-distance running. They run barefoot, which is hard to imagine with the rocky ground in Copper Canyon.
Interestingly, the name they chose for themselves means “those who walk well”. For them walking well is more of a life philosophy rather than anything athletic. They have a tradition to help those in need. The Raramuri have a term—korima—a commitment to justice and honourable actions. So, I encourage you to walk well today. You are Always in My Prayers. Love Mom. Our hotel is perched right on the edge of the Copper Canyon (Barrancos del Cobre). We arrived just before sunset last evening. The moment we stepped out on our balcony and saw the canyon our long bus ride was quickly forgotten. The canyon makes everything seem just a little more special. Depending on your sources Copper Canyon can be considered bigger than the Grand Canyon. Regardless, it is BIG! Today we got some hiking in. It seems that every time you turn a corner you see something just a little different. Ray went out for a morning run and made a new friend—a dog. There are tons of stray dogs here. They are very friendly. His buddy followed him out and back. I think Ray is going to sneak him a few pieces of bacon after breakfast tomorrow😄 Of course, the highlight of the day was the ZipRider. It's 2545 meters long and has a registered speed of 135 km/h. It was a bit scary when you first drop into the Canyon, but within seconds it was so cool to be gliding across Copper Canyon—Just hanging in the air. Loving Copper Canyon. Stay Safe. You are Always in My Prayers. Love Mom. How many of these foods can you identify? I'll give you a hint--one of them is prickly pear cactus!
We head off to the Copper Canyon in the morning, where they don't have wifi. Talk to you in a couple of days. You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom. We drove through Trump’s infamous incomplete border wall and entered Mexico. We could see little bits of cotton and red pepper crops that were left in the field after harvest. The pecan trees are trimmed and ready to bloom.
The ruins at Paquime are considered some of the most important in Northern Mexico. Rumour has it that they may have domesticated turkeys. So, when Thanksgiving comes around you might have the ancestral peoples of Paquime to thank. You are Always in My Prayers. Love Mom & Dad .Last night we picked up a rental car and this morning we headed off to Tuscon with above five incredible stops along the way. Lots more cacti, Chihuly, and architecture, but I’m going to chat about something different than yesterday—the ancestral desert Sonoran peoples.
The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument was a perfect place to stop for our picnic lunch. As we nibbled on our cheese and avocado we could spy what the Spanish explorers called Casa Grande (Great House) just ahead. This four-story structure was most likely a meeting place for the desert people in the 1300s. Our new friend Peter was restoring the mud on the lower walls. He says it is an endless job—between employees and volunteers they work year-round to preserve the ruins. Although young, he says it his great memories of the ruins that encouraged him to become a volunteer. A steel and concrete canopy protects the great house. Up in the rafters, we spied a great horned owl. This fierce resident seems to be keeping an eye on things. As we left the ruins we could see dust swirls raising off the ground and tumbleweeds crossing the road ahead of us. The wind was picking up. Still, the Picture Rock Petroglyphs were too fabulous to miss. The Sonoran Desert people were said to have carved these between 800 and 1300 A.D. They are on the private land of the Redemptorist Renewal Centre. We emailed ahead and they permitted us to enjoy them as long as we checked into the office. Thank you for your kindness. There are 146 Petrogplh panels. We were able to make out animals, humans and even a group of dancers holding hands. How many different things can you find? In Tuscon now. Stay safe. You are always in our prayers. Love Mom & Dad If you want to know more about the Sonoran Desert People check out the link at the National Parks Service. https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=AC77349A-97E7-FC1D-CAD971EDCD8D907F Recently we were asked why we chose to travel to Arizona & Mexico. Well, the cacti at the Desert Botanical Garden are definitely one of the reasons. We walked 8 km of trails with over 4000 different types of plants (including 379 rare, threatened or endangered species). And then there are the hummingbirds, butterflies, flowering cacti, and native wildflowers...
The largest Cacti in the world can be found in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. The two largest species of cacti are the Saguaro (which I talked about yesterday) and the Cardon. We saw both of them today! The Cardon cacti were brought to the Desert Botanical Garden when the gardens were established in the 1930s. These giant cacti are now over 100 years old. The tallest recorded Cardon was 19.2 m (63 ft)—even taller than the Saguaro. Can you estimate how big the cactus is Ray is standing in front of? Oh, I almost forgot to mention Dale Chihuly’s stunning large-scale glass sculptures. Are you starting to see some of the reasons we are adventuring here? Stay safe. You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom. P.S. I had prickly cactus ice tea with my lunch —loved it—Dad was NOT a fan
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Ray & Diane
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