NEW MEXICO
Santa Fe
I continued on I-40 to Albuquerque, New Mexico and then onto I-25 north to Santa Fe where I stayed with a friend from high school, Karen, whom I haven't seen since graduation night (below with husband, Peter). They live in an adobe house, near the center of Santa Fe. Karen was a very knowledgable guide, and we visited two museums as well as dining in an old hacienda and visiting the art and jewelry shops. 
Santa Fe is filled with art, folklore, and native american history. Below is the first native american to be made a saint, Kateri Tekakwith, an important part of the history of Santa Fe. The powerful indian statue is entitled "Apache Mountain Spirit Dance" created by an Apache artist.
The Pueblo Indians inhabited the Santa Fe area from 1050 to 1600. Below I'm standing by a Peublo oven, very glad to have my microwave today!
Thanks, Karen and Peter, for a great visit!
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Roswell, New Mexico
I took Rte. 285 south to Roswell, after hearing from Peter that Roswell is known for alien sitings. As I drove into Roswell, I noticed that even the fast food drive-ins were in the alien spirit! I walked Main Street and went to the museum that chronicles alien sightings from all over the world, as well as other unexplainable extra-terrestrial events. The picture below is of the telegraph message when the UFO was sighted in Roswell. The information of a government cover-up is very compelling.
Question 2: Do you believe that alien beings have visited our planet? What scientific evidence do you know about that supports your position?
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Carlsbad, New Mexico
I continued south on Rte. 285 to Carlsbad for a tour of the caverns. I entered through the natural entrance and walked the 2.5 miles of the tour (the first mile descended 800 feet into the ground). The stalactite and stalagmite formations were unbelievable. We were cautioned by the park rangers not to touch any of the formations in the cave.
Question 3: Do you know what are the negative scientific effects on the formations from human touch and why?
Inside the caverns
After I left the caverns, I walked nature trails in the state park around the caverns, noticing a natural overhang used by native americans for shelter centuries ago, the magnificent Walnut canyon, and a cactus in bloom.
Indian cave Walnut Canyon
Cactus in bloom
On the road again, to see if things really are bigger in Texas.
ON THE ROAD UPDATE
The red color in the rock is caused by iron ore in the rock. We stopped in Las Vegas, Nevada, to see the replica of the Statue of Liberty. The white color in the rock is caused by gypsum in the rock. You'll see additional examples of the coloring in my wanderings in Arizona and New Mexico.
I left Laura's and headed to Tucson, Arizona to visit with a friend, Greg, from my CCNY days. I took I-91 east to I-10 east, all the way to Tucson.
ARIZONA
Tucson
Greg. his daughter, Becky, and friend, Cole, and I took a trip to Nogales, Mexico--my first trip to Mexico. The shops were colorful and crowded with items. Becky and Cole posed with a stuffed armadillo.
Penny got into the Mexican spirit with her own hat, under a cactus. Arizona is known for the saguaro cactus shown below. I had a painful learning experience taking the cactus pictures: "Never walk in a cactus field in flip-flops." There is a cactus that throws off little cactus balls that pierce your skin. When you try to get it out of your toes, it pierces your fingers. It took 2 weeks for the piece of cactus spine to work its way out of my finger.
Saguaro Cacti
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Sedona, Arizona
I left Tucson after a wonderful 3 day visit, and headed north to Sedona on I-17. I learned another important lesson on the way: "Altitude is important". I left Tucson's warm weather and by the time I got to Sedona (about 5,000 feet higher above sea level than Tucson) it was snowing. In fact, there was hail, snow and thunder. During this unusual weather, I had another important Arizona learning: "Don't wear flip-flops in Sedona red mud." Because I was still in my favorite flip-flops, when I got out to take the picture of the famous Sedona red rocks, I got my bare feet stuck in the mud and had to go to a rest stop to wash off. I still have some of the red mud on the floor of my Jeep.
Sedona red rocks in the snow
Penny and I walked around Sedona for several hours. Instead of the horses that we decorated in Rochester, Sedona had a "javelina" decorating contest. Javelinas are the only native, wild, pig-like animals in the US. Their name comes from the Spanish word for spear or javelin because of their razor-like tusks. 
Penny also met some native americans.
I left Sedona and went on to Flagstaff, Arizona, and took Rte. 180/84 to the Grand Canyon and followed Rte. 64 east along the Canyon. Words can't describe the wonder of the Grand Canyon. Penny sat in the boat of the man who made a daring journey through the canyon in 1969.
Question 1: What was his name?
The Grand Canyon
I made my way through the Hopi Indian Reservation on Rtes. 264 and 87, taking this picture of sunset on the desert. Then, after the sun disappeared, everything went black! No electricity, no phone service, no other cars--if my car had broken down, I was sure my bones would be found, picked clean by coyotes and vultures. Fortunately, I made it back to I-40 with no car problems.
Sunset on the Hopi Reservation
I finished my wanderings in Arizona in the petrified forest and painted desert. I saw Indian petroglyphs, etchings made in stone of symbols of their culture. I wondered what the petroglyphs of our age would be.
Petrified Wood
Petroglyphs
Painted Desert
I reluctantly left Arizona. I left a piece of my heart in Tucson, a part of my spirit in Sedona, and a part of my soul on the Painted Desert.
