ALBUQUERQUE

In Las Vegas our friend Bev told us we HAD to go to Albuquerque. The Zoo and Botanical Gardens, according to her, are World Class. I've learned over thirty years that you simply do not say, "No" to Bev. But there was the additional incentive of seeing her brother, John again. Bev, her husband and John and I had vacationed for a week at the resort of another Whirly-Girl friend, Teen Corey several years ago. Click here to check it out. It was less than a year after Mary Ann had died and I really did need to learn to laugh again. And laugh, we did. Pretty much all day everyday.

We called John and confirmed that he would be in town. Luckily, he was. He retired recently from the Zoo and had just gotten home from an Alaskan Cruise.

He was kind and gave us a "private tour" of the zoo with Patty, a friend of his who just happened to be a fellow Penn State Alum.

The Polar Bears didn't seem to mind the unseasonably warm fall temperatures.

The Albuquerque Zoo has a very close relationship with the zoos in Australia.

Scientists assure us that Koalas do not get high on eucalyptus leaves. They just sleep up to 22 hours per day.

You looking at me ?

I KNOW you are, so I'll just pose for  you.

The Tasmanian devil doesn't look anything like the Warner Brothers one.

For many years, Australian authorities prohibited the exporting of  devils. But a contagious form of cancer has been decimating the wild population so there are now 8 zoos in the world that have them. Albuquerque is one of 6 in the United States.

Two more gifts from Australia.

Wombat.

I didn't even know there was such a thing as a "Tree Kangaroo." He was enjoying lunch way too much to pose for Carol.

John and Patty had late afternoon commitments so Carol and I toured the Botanical Gardens and Aquarium by ourselves. Not the same as having a private guide, but still a great time.

One of the most beautiful areas are the Japanese Gardens. They have created several acres of classic Japanese Gardens - But they have used indigenous plants throughout.

These guys were probably not part of the original plans for the Japanese Gardens, but Carol thought they should be featured anyway.

John told us that Albuquerque had a program called "1% for the Arts." Any municipal project, from the Zoo to overpasses on the highways has 1% of its budget dedicated solely for artistic expression. It shows clearly throughout the city. Here is a large sculpture in the entrance area to the Botanical Gardens and the Aquarium.

Another wonderful day, made even better by the company of friends.