Photo: Arizona Inn Flowers and Rooms

This is another photo of the Arizona Inn in Tucson.  The landscaping and flowers highlight the rooms, each of which are individual in design and furnishings.  The Inn's architecture is Southwestern, and the color is called "deep rose pink."

This week we have photos of Punahka, Bhutan, posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Prairie Dog

This prairie dog at the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson is alertly checking the surroundings, although he has no predators inside his habitat.

This week we have photos of the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Mountain Lion

Mountain lions are occasionally spotted in the mountains in the Phoenix area, but that is rare.  This is another of the species that live and are displayed at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum just outside of Tucson.

This week we have photos of the National Archaeological Museum in Guatemala City posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Desert Bighorn Sheep

Desert bighorn sheep are majestic creatures.  We do have them in the wild in Arizona, but they are hard to spot.  This one was at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson.  It is in part a museum, partly a zoo, and partly a botanical garden.

This week we have photos of the National Archaeological Museum in Guatemala City posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo" Prairie Dog

Prairie dogs are cute, but they are rodents.  Farmers and ranchers do not like them, however, and sometimes refer to them as "prairie rats."

I took this photo at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum just outside of Tucson.  That explains how I was able to get close enough to be able to tell that this is a female.

This week we have photos of the National Archaeological Museum in Guatemala City posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Colorful Arizona Inn

Here is a photo of one of our favorite places to stay, which is the Arizona Inn.

It is a delightful and lovely getaway.

This week we have photos from Papua New Guinea posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Cacti outside Tucson

The Biosphere, which I have shown during the past week, is just a little north of Tucson.  The desert north of Tucson is beautiful, with the Catalina mountains and cacti.

Most of the cacti in this photo are ocotillo, with a few saguaros.  Other parts of the desert near Tucson have lots more saguaros, as I will show in some upcoming posts.

This week we are showing another set of underwater photos from our recent trip to the Galapagos Islands posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Photo: Biosphere 2

The Biosphere looks rather futuristic, in design, which is fitting because it was intended as a facility for conducting research and experiments to provide data for potential use in planning space colonization.

The concept was that the facility would be a self-contained ecosystem capable of supporting life for years.  It has agricultural area, a simulated ocean, fresh water, and other systems necessary for supporting life.  It is about the size of two and one-half football fields.

I was constructed with $200 million of private funds.  Several experiments were conducted, with researchers living within the Biosphere 2 for as long as two years.  It is now owned and operated by the University of Arizona.

Today is Sunday, so we have new photos posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing another set of underwater photos from our recent trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Photo: Theme Day -- Entry, into the Biosphere 2

Today's theme day theme is "Entry." I am showing the entry to Biosphere 2.   The Biosphere is an experimental enclosed ecosystem constructed between 1987 - 91.  Researchers lived inside the self-sustaining environment for several years in the early 1990's.

The envitronment inside the Biosphere recreates different ecosystems found on earth so that the researchers can live for years within the glass enclosure, without any interaction with the outside world.

It is called Biosphere 2 because the rest of Planet Earth is Biosphere 1.  Today the facility is owned by the University of Arizona and is open for tours.  It is located just a little north of Tucson.

I thought that the entrance to Biosphere, which the researchers entered only once for several years, would be a fitting post for the theme of "Entry."

This week we are showing photos of Grenada, Nicaragua, on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  It is a charming Spanish colonial city.

To see how other City Daily Photo bloggers have interpreted the theme of "Entry," use this link.

Photo: Hillside Cactus Forest

This is a dense "forest" of saguaro cacti.  It is located just east of Tucson.  There are more saguaros growing in the wild around Tucson than Phoenix because they grow better in a little higher altitude.  Tucson is about 2,000 feet (1,200 m) above sea level, whereas Phoenix is about 1,000 feet (600 m) elevation.

Saguaro cacti grow just fine in PHoenix/Scottsdale, but you don't see as many of them in the deserts
around Phoenix/Scottsdale as you do around Tucson.

This week we are showing photos of Raboul, Papua New Guinea on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  It is the former capitol, but has been destroyed by volcanic eruptions.

Photo: Gate and Light at the Arizona Inn

Here is a photo of the wonderful gate you pass through to go into the Arizona Inn grounds.

This front entry is so familiar and so welcoming.

I hope you enjoyed my series on the Arizona Inn.

And today is Sunday so that means new travel photos. Check out travel photos of Villa Melzi in Lake Como, Italy at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Arizona Inn Patio and Ping Pong Ramada

Here you can see a photo of the patio area for dining and the ping pong ramada for playing.

The grounds are so peaceful to walk around.

Check our travel photos of Las Ramblas Street in Barcelona, Spain at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Arizona Inn Courtyard at Flanders

Here is a photo of the interior courtyard near the Flanders house located at the Arizona Inn.

I love the architectural style and the landscape really makes the vision.

Check our travel photos of Las Ramblas Street in Barcelona, Spain at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Vibrant Southwestern Architecture

Here is a photo showing the bold and inviting southwestern look of the Arizona Inn.

The colors really make the property special. They use rose colored plaster, bold blue and yellows and then the fabulous landscaping with pink bougainvilleas.

Check our travel photos of Las Ramblas Street in Barcelona, Spain at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Safari Lounge

Here is a photo of the inside of the Safari Lounge at the Arizona Inn.

You can see the tall palm and the sky light.

The piano player is off to the left.

A very nice place to stay.

Check our travel photos of Las Ramblas Street in Barcelona, Spain at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Arizona Inn Lunch Patio

Here are just a few more photos of this fabulous historic Arizona resort.

This is the lovely patio where you can enjoy the most amazing foods.

It faces a lovely green croquet field so you can play and the ping pong ramada is in this large courtyard as well.

Go make vacation plans now.

Check our travel photos of Las Ramblas Street in Barcelona, Spain at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Safari Lounge

Here is a photo of the Safari Lounge at the Arizona Inn in Tucson.

Look at the interesting swirling colors of the painting on the wall.

Note the wood spindle window between the restaurant and the Safari lounge.

Since Chicago was so popular last week, check out new photos of the Streets of Chicago at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Native American Statue

Here is a photo of a Native American statue at the Arizona Inn.

It is very delicate set amid the colorful flowers.

Go make a reservation at the Arizona Inn. In the summer, the Inn has ice cream socials also.

Since Chicago was so popular last week, check out new photos of the Streets of Chicago at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Entrance to the Arizona Inn

Here is the front entrance to the lobby of the Arizona Inn.

There are many ways into the property with lovely gates and gardens.

When you first check in though you start at the lobby.

My stay and tour of the Arizona Inn is almost over but hopefully the photos have enticed you to stay and enjoy time at the Inn.

Since Chicago was so popular last week, check out new photos of the Streets of Chicago at Viva la Voyage!

Photo: Ping Pong Ramada

Here is a photo of one of my favorite spots at the Arizona Inn in Tucson.

The ping pong ramada is a very fun place to hang around.

The roof is made of palm fronds, right out of the Southwest.

How many of you play ping pong?

Since Chicago was so popular last week, check out new photos of the Streets of Chicago at Viva la Voyage!