Smarter at Sealevel?

I'm looking for research, opinions, or anecdotal evidence about whether a person's IQ might be lower at higher elevations. Specifically this person's... The year we went to Haleakala we found out I can barely walk a straight line at 10,000 feet. Today at 6,000 feet the Spanish language had me in fits. The word "puerco" was exceedingly hilarious. Still is. Can't type it without giggling. At one point I shouted that we were at map stop "numero nino". 😳 So close... Needless to say, there was a lot of random hilarity.

 

Today we went to Petrified Forest National Park which was an unexpected gem. We expected a petrified forest, but we saw so much more. Each stop in the park held something new. Of course the geology was really shining with lots of colors and layers on display. 

Also in the park is a section of Route 66 that NPS has preserved. The original highway crosses in to the park and was the main way that people saw the petrified forest at the turn of the century. 

Across the Puerco River we saw Puerco Pueblo. I kid you not...puerco, puerco, puerco. I did not see one pig today. Or a javalina for that matter.  One more elevation note: I've picked up a significant speech impediment today. Maybe that's why it's so funny.  

This ancient village was easy to imagine as a bustling community. Only a portion is excavated-they estimate that there are over 100 rooms all together. The petroglyphs were amazing too. 

There was one that we couldn't capture with the camera, but it was a sun symbol that was situated in front of another rock such that the sun hits it only in the middle of the day on the Summer Solstice. 

And then the show stopper: Crystal Forest. 

Although not as hot as the rest of the week, it was still extremely difficult to imagine this area as the tropical forest it once was. The landscape truly sparkled. 

And now we head "home" to Phoenix. Long day, but well worth it. We're listening to my iTunes in alphabetical order. It's a real blend: Enya comes after Elton John and before Garth Brooks. We're already in the Is-yeah for Indigo Girls!!

G'Night Travelers!

Shopping, Sandpaper & Sunburns

I only mention the sunburn because I have an amusing one. I am super vigilant with sunscreen because I burn so easily. I missed a spot. 😩 On the front of my right shoulder I have a small sunburn in the shape of West Virginia. Probably wouldn't have chosen that one...

We spent the middle of the week just chillin'! There's an outlet mall near our hotel that we may have visited several times, and we found another mall close by. What can I say? We're shoppers!

We also spent a day by the pool.

What's not to love about pool side? Actually, I will tell you. This:

Cute? Noooo. This bird has just taken over the top spot of Most Annoying Bird. It's an extensive list...

The rest of our down time was spent hydrating. I've consumed more Gatorade this week than an entire Final Four team (see how relevant I can be? 😉). Also we found a new drink: Mule. Sounds delicious, right? Organic, even. Ha! The one at our hotel is called the Gila River Mule and has lime, ginger agave, ginger beer and tequila. We also had a version at Ling & Louie's (best Chinese food ever!). 

Well, I must go. Time to dip ones self in lotion. My skin is like sandpaper, my lips cracked... Oh, and my hair is straight!  

Vacation on!

Saguaros, Shopping & Sandpaper

It's not really Spring Break until we're driving down a dirt road that is of, at best, questionable quality. And so, Spring Break officially started on Monday at Saguaro National Park. 

We know, inherently, that national parks are created to protect a natural wonder. And still, every time, we are amazed. This wonder was a forest of saguaro cactus. Sure, you've seen a cactus before, but how about acres of them? Cactus, as you well know, are desert creatures, so we planned to see them on the day that they would be happiest. It was mid 90s all day, which for girls from the coast is HOT!!! 

While trying to remain hydrated, we learned quite a bit about these desert giants. By the time they "sprout" arms, they are around 70 years old. Giants like the one below can be around 200 years old! 

The bulk of the park can be seen from a a nice driving loop. One of us drove, one of us interacted with the cactus. Really, they are quite amusing. Or offensive, depending on which way their arms are pointing... Regardless, belly laughs we're had by all, and lots of Beeker impersonations. 

We also took a short hike to see some petroglyphs. It was a very short hike, but we were dripping by the end, and my Gatorade ran out...game over. 

This little blogger is beat-shopping and sandpaper tomorrow!! 

Day 2: Thelma learns Louise is a plant nut

I always look for Teddy Roosevelt, but I never find him quite as prominently displayed as this:

Roosevelt's a big deal because the 1906 Antiquities Act preserved places like our destination today of Montezuma Castle.  I tried to name my kitten Teddy, but he lacked the presidential presence to pull it off. I digress...

Today we drove north towards Flagstaff to see Montezuma Castle. Drove? We actually hung on for our lives. I'm being only slightly overdramatic: the speed limit is 75, which means people were driving much faster. Plus there was a stop and go quality to the freeway that bordered on terrifying. 

Montezuma Castle is a beautiful Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling.

It's amazing with what we know from science and anthropology that so many questions remain about the people that lived here. Why did they build so high up? Why did they leave? Where did they go? 

It's equally amazing that while the Castle was being finished here in Arizona, Notre Dame was completed in Paris. It's hard to understand how both civilizations existed at the same time and were so different. 

While I am drawn to anything Rooseveltish, my traveling partner is drawn to native plants. And lo and behold, the NPS did a dandy job marking these. There was cataclaw, cholla, pinyon, something that may or may not have looked like a churro, and sycamore with beautiful bark. 

There were other plants, but I was pretty wrapped up in the churro debate and probably missed some. 😳

Lunch was at a great local place in Camp Verde-such a great burger. 

The rest of the day was car-ride shenanigans. 

We are already enroute to our day 3 destination: Saguaro National Park!! 🌵

Iggy Azalea & Pavarotti

One of the things we really love about traveling is a road trip. We love driving on roads we haven't been on before and stopping at every historical marker in sight. The discovery of what is over the next hill is always intriguing.

We've been lucky and never really had any car trouble.  In our pre-Siri age, we got lost quite a few times. Once because I had the map upside down for more than an hour...  Once we ended up in the middle of someone's ranch in snowy conditions (I do not think that was my fault...).  On another trip we had a broken speedometer on a rental (I will not disclose anything about that driving trip).

As the passenger, I have the important job of being the navigator, although that job is closely contested by the driver.  I go Galaxy Quest on her all the time while negotiating with Siri, "I have one job to do....!"

I actually have two jobs to do. I am also in charge of entertainment. I have carefully curated playlists, my favorite being the Duets one. Who doesn't love singing a duet in the car. Um, my travel partner? I think for her it's like karaoke -- it'd be more fun with a fruity beverage. ;)  My duet list is epic. One minute you're singing Iggy Azalea's part in "Trouble" and then next you are Pavarotti in "Live Like Horses".  Where else can you get that kind of variety?

Our fourth Thelma and Louise trip took us to Italy. I had finished college early, so there wasn't a Spring Break per se, but we went to Italy for a month at the end of May, beginning of June. The night before we left Rome, we rented a car and drove to Modena to see a Pavarotti & Friends concert. He did a few concerts as fundraisers for children of war-torn countries. It's an experience neither of us can talk about without choking up. I think it will stand the test of time as being one of the most special moments of my life. His voice was so big. So big. I can't describe how it filled the entire town, and went down to my toes. And the people -- they adored him.  They treated this opera singer like...Elvis. I can't think of another appropriate analogy.

So as we're singing in the car today -- Elton John and Pavarotti--we of course got to remembering the concert. The only two details we ever talk about are his voice and the people. I wikipediad the event to see what was said about it.  I couldn't find much. I read a couple music industry articles. And then I read a couple more.  I had remembered that the "friends" part of the concert included the Spice Girls and Trisha Yearwood, but I hadn't remembered the rest of the names.  And maybe this will help explain how amazing the voice of Pavarotti was: neither of us remember hearing Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Bon Jovi or Stevie Wonder.  They were there, but they paled in comparison to that thick voice.

It's funny how memory works. I have a knack for remembering more details than the average person (which I get can be irritating...). Feelings are the hardest to remember. You remember being happy or being sad, but it is hard to remember exactly what it was like.  From that night in Modena, I remember being in awe. I remember feeling like my hair was being blown back from the sound. I remember feeling like I was being allowed to see something special. But I don't remember the details.

We love sharing our travels with you, but to be perfectly honest, we love rereading it just as much. The memory plays funny tricks on you, and sometimes you forget the small stuff (or big) that makes each day special.

Casa Grande

That working title isn't very fun unless you can hear the voice intonation I was giving it.  We woke up a little groggy this morning, and because I had the bed last night, I took over the hard part of planning. I know, you're probably thinking, WHAT? YOU MADE YOUR MOTHER SLEEP ON A HIDA-BED? Nope. We actually made a Punky Brewster type contraption out of it and the remaining couch cushions. So you see, it was much, much cooler than a traditional hida-bed. Plus which, I fell out of a hida-bed two weeks ago.  That's not actually what happened, but it sounds less stupid than what did... 

Anyway, I found us a Starbucks (hallelujah!) and then the closest National Monument in the area. One of the exciting things about traveling is driving down a road where you've never been, and wondering what you will find on the other side.  The other thing that is nice is finding something that seems familiar, like the good old green and brown of the National Park Service. Feels like an old friend by now. As I mentioned, this was my scheduling, and as mom was the driver, she was just being told where to go, not much else. As we parked and walked closer, she all but squealed, "Is that an interpretative center too?"  We are geeky about all things NPS.

Casa Grande is exactly what it sounds like -- a big house. It was built by the ancient Sonoran Desert people who lived and farmed there about 600 years ago. Fun fact: In 1892, it became the first prehistoric/cultural reserve in the US. 

 

And then, we were hot. Not sick to your stomach hot (well, slightly...), but more, happy hot. It's so sunny here! And dry. No rain boots, no waterproof jacket... Feels heavenly.

Rounded out the evening with a nap, shopping and dinner at Z'Tejas (I know!!!).  I'm not sure what's on tap for tomorrow; while I've been typing over here, Thelma (or is it Louise...) has been poring over guide books. Whatever it is, it's going to be FUN!!! G'Night!! 

One More Day; One Day More

Okay, it's not actually one more day until Spring Break, but I REALLY wanted to use that for the title. :) I drove to Chelan last week to visit a friend, and fought the French Revolution the whole way there. Um, and back. Even though I know this soundtrack by heart, I'm a little obsessive while listening (we're talking Les Mis here), and play back the songs until I have them right. That will pretty much eat up a 14 hour car trip.

Onward -- Spring Break officially kicks of next Friday after my last conference, so say, about noon!! Woohoo! Where are we going, you ask? Some of you may think you know the answer, but things are changing faster than the feudal system in France (I'm so amused by myself...).  Originally we had planned on visiting the Channel Islands National Park in California. Other than it being a National Park (and the setting for Island of the Blue Dolphins) we were excited to kayak around the islands, particularly in the caves that are present there. Unfortunately a winter storm knocked out the dock where the ferry lands, so the kayaking trip got a whole lot more complicated.

Picking a new destination for our trip proved a little tricky.  We ended up making a list of all the National Parks we hadn't been to that were not under 10 feet of snow. I lobbied hard for Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. My point was that if we intend to visit all of the parks, we will have to go to Arkansas at some point. Mom's point was....it's Arkansas.

After much debating and pondering, we settled on Arizona and the Petrified Forest National Park and Saguaro National Park. In addition, there are a lot of National Monuments in the area that we can see.  It's been quite a few years since we went to the Southwest, so we're excited! Plus, and it's a big plus, it is supposed to be warm and dry, two things I hardly remember.

Valjean and Javert don't mesh in my mind with pueblos and canyons, so I am off to find a more appropriate sound track. Tune in (ha!) next Friday as Thelma and Louise embark on their next adventure! :)