North America
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San Xavier del Bac: The White Dove of the Desert
Nestled in the heart of the Arizona desert, just 10 miles south of downtown Tucson, lies a gem of Spanish Colonial architecture and spiritual tranquillity: the Mission San Xavier del Bac. Often referred to as the “White Dove of the Desert,” this active Catholic mission offers a stunning contrast against the rugged Santa Rita Mountains’…
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The Exquisite Charm of Arizona’s Walnut Canyon National Monument
Nestled in the heart of Coconino County, Arizona, lies the breathtaking Walnut Canyon National Monument, a marvel of natural beauty and historical relevance. This park encompasses over 3,600 acres of land, boasting a diverse ecosystem, compelling archaeological sites, and awe-inspiring landscapes. It is here that the profound traces of ancient civilisation interweave with the unique…
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Biosphere 2, Arizona – Climate change and space research
North of Tucson, Arizona and the Santa Catalina mountains about an hour from Saguaro National Park sits an interesting looking complex. If you didn’t know it was there, it is easy to overlook because it sits far back into the foothills. It looks like a giant greenhouse and moon base. But what is it? That…
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Sonora Desert Museum, Arizona – Natural history and botanical garden
Central and southwestern Arizona is covered by the Sonoran Desert, part of which also lies in California and the Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California and Baja California Sur. West of Tucson, just south of Saguaro National Park, lies the Sonora Desert Museum – a botanical garden, natural history museum, zoo, aquarium and art gallery.…
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Texas Canyon, Arizona – Smooth Round Boulders
Halfway between Tucson, Arizona, and the border with New Mexican lies Texas Canyon. Interstate 10 (I-10), which crosses the southern US states from California to Florida, runs right through the canyon. There is also a convenient rest stop here with restroom facilities! What makes this canyon unique are the rocks. The rock formations in Texas…
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Agua Caliente, Tucson, Arizona – An Oasis in the Desert
Tucson sits in a desert and has the climate to match. Everywhere you look, there is sand, dust, Saguaro cacti (cactuses) and other spikey plants. You can see a perfect example of the typical, unspoilt landscape at Saguaro National Park, Arizona. However there is also some water here as well – Agua Caliente. Agua Caliente…
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Saguaro National Park, Arizona – Home of giant Saguaros
Just outside Tucson on both sides, Saguaro National Park is the home of the giant Saguaro cacti. These majestic giants, able to stand tall up to 12 metres (40 feet) tall, dominate the landscape of central and south Arizona as well as Sonora state in Mexico. While you can see them across central and southern…
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Van Gogh Exhibit – an explosion of colour and sound
An art gallery – or is it? As someone who is not usually a big lover of art exhibits, I was a bit sceptical when I was asked to go to one. Standing around looking at paintings, especially abstract ones, isn’t my thing. I don’t usually feel a connection and while I can admire them…
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Barbados Beaches Appreciation Post
The beaches of Barbados are there to be appreciated!
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Antigua
So my travel posts so far focus on Europe (which, admittedly, is where I have done the most travelling and is the most recent). However, I would like to begin to rectify this imbalance with a post about a wonderful island in the Caribbean that I visited in July 2009 named Antigua. In 2009 Antigua was…
