Carlsbad Caverns National Park

A PANDEMIC ??  Our Coronavirus Getaway

In the Spring of 2020 everyone's lives were changed with the worldwide spread of the Coronavirus. We had purchased our new Winnebago motorhome in the fall of 2019, with summer plans to travel to the farm and join Mike and Kate on the Canadian fishing trip. Our plans are suddenly on hold when the Canadian border is closed.  As the virus continues to spread and the border does not reopen, we make the hard call to revise our travel plans.  Mike and Kate bravely decide to hop on a plane to Tucson, and join us for a month long road trip.

Mike and Kate cozy up for the ride, as we start out for New Mexico.

Not to be missed, New Mexico's state bird, the "Roadrunner". This offbeat landmark in Las Cruces was constructed using cast-off materials such as old sneakers & electronics.

We are happy to know that New Mexico is taking the virus seriously, requiring all to wear masks in public. Limited hours and access to Carlsbad Caverns are also in place.

Mike and Kate in Covid disguise about to enter cave.

 

Cave Popcorn

The Big Room

Hall Of Giants

Drapery Formation with old man

Soda Straws

Fairyland

Chandelier and Totem Pole

Monsters Mouth

Whales Mouth

St George, Utah

 

Crete - Lathissi Plain and Psychro Cave

Day two, Crete. If I had to decide what my favorite time was in Greece, I would put on the list; driving the beautiful island of Crete. I had no idea that I would see a beautiful, mountainous island filled with olive tree orchards, vineyards and sea views. Who knew?

During its heydays, the Lasithi Plateau had over 10,000 windmills -some say 20,000. Fewer than 5,000 stand today. Most of them have been abandoned and replaced by modern diesel and electrical pumps.

A drive-by photo of the windmills today.

Today we visit Psychro Cave or Dikteon Cave, the most visited cave on Crete, because of the myth that it is the birthplace of Zeus. I am going to put this one on Jim, and his enthusiasm to get to the cave. There is a difficult, steep and rocky hard way, and a much less difficult paved way to get to the entrance of the cave - both with the option of riding a donkey. Well, we took the hard way up, and the easier way down - no donkeys. 

I've chosen to be the photographer from the top of the cave.

Posing for work.

All that hiking made for hearty appetites and we were highly rewarded at Restaurant Kronio in the village of Tzermiado. Waiter, Phillipa, could not have done more to make our lunch more enjoyable. This was just the first of many roadside tavernas where we enjoyed so many delicious Greek meals.

Our gracious hosts, Paul and Killa, at Via Galini in Agios Nikolaos, Crete

Poolside with Jeannie and George,

enjoying some Boutari wine.

Island of Crete - Heraklion

Our first day in Crete, and the day is not yet over. We strolled the street named 25th of August, that connects the city center of Heraklion to it's harbor. The modern name of the street is due to a tragic event on the 25th of August 1898, the feast of St Titus, when a maddened Muslim mob slaughtered many Christians, including 17 British soldiers and the British Consul Lysimachos Kalokairinos. Today, it is a fun filled street, with people of all ages, shops, restaurants, and street performers. 

The Church of Agios Titos

Happy tourists!

Jeannie and George in front of the Morosini Fountain 

Street view of the 25th of August

Last, but not least, our view of Koules Fort, as we dine in the harbor of Heraklion, Crete.