From Las Cruces to Albuquerque

After leaving Las Cruces on I-25 to North the landscapes begun to be flat more and more and the mountains were "moving" back to the background

The weather was just perfect with all those patchy clouds in the blue sky

We crossed the Rio Grande River. For me it was the first time to see this well known river only from movies and books and now I could see this majestic river for real!

The Rio Grande in the United States, known as the Río Bravo (or, more formally, the Río Bravo del Norte) in Mexico, is a river, 1,885 miles (3,034 km) long, is the fourth longest river system in the United States^[1] and serves as a natural boundary along the border between the U.S. state of Texas and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.


The Rio Grande rises in the east Rio Grande National Forest in the U.S. state of Colorado. It is formed by the joining of several streams at the base of Canby Mountain, just east of the continental divide. From there, it flows through the San Luis Valley, then south into New Mexico through Albuquerque and Las Cruces to El Paso, Texas, where it begins to form the border between the U.S. and Mexico. A major tributary, the Río Conchos, enters at Ojinaga, Chihuahua, below El Paso, and supplies most of the water in the 1,254 miles (2,018 km) Texas border segment. Other known tributaries include the Pecos and the smaller Devils, which join the Rio Grande on the site of Amistad Dam. Despite its name and length, the Rio Grande is not navigable by oceangoing ships, nor are there smaller craft using it as a route. In fact it is barely navigable at all. Its natural flow is only 1/20 the volume of the Colorado River, and less than 1/100 that of the Mississippi.

Spectacular views on the road driving up the hills

The clouds in the sky made these pretty shadow effects at the mountains

Is this now a face or what - do you can see the same I do? :)

I liked to ride these "dips", down the hills and up again and guessing what will we see after that bow up there

It is the yellow grass that makes these yellow hills

Suddenly, the sky started being black and dark!

And windy gusts mixed with sand stared to blow, very strong!

These gusty winds filled with sand came closer and closer over to us on I-25

Here we go....! we had to drive trough a sand storm - Dave had to hold on strong to the wheel. But we made it fine to Albuquerque and were looking for our next place to stay for the night. Finally we've found it... far up in the hills on I-40 after Albuquerque - and it was freaking cold!!!

Hi my friends,

Thanks, thanks, thanks... again for all your nice comments! It's very nice to come here and to read them on my blog, it makes me happy, every single comment from you all!

One post more, or two and then I'll be up to date again with my postings :) Stay tuned!

We both don't celebrate Easter, but for all of you who are doing so: HAPPY EASTER!!

Susanne and David

Mission San Xavier and Old Tucson Filmstudios

Leaving Tucson the next morning we stopped by the Mission San Xavier, one of the most beautiful missions in the whole U.S.

An impressive main altar in the church

The chapel on the side of the mission where people burn hundreds of candles to San Xavier or to the Holy Mary and hope their wishes come true

I wish I could capture not only the colors and the ambiance! It was so (!) warm from all those candles, I could not make a step into the chapel. I'm fascinated to see the strong believes people have in their religion

We left Tucson's skyline...

...drove over many fields more and more up to the hills of the Saguaro State Park

The State Park was named after the Saguaro cactus plant - here in a quick changing special wonderful sun light

Did you know that these Saguaro cacti are already 75 years old when they make their first "arm" ?

View from the high desert hills down into the valley

I have now maybe more than 200 Saguaro cacti pictures in my archives... LOL...

And then we finally climbed up all the step roads and arrived to the main attraction from our trip today: The "Old Tucson Film Studios". A visit that worth's to do and many film sets inside to see and to enjoy the actors playing sets out of old movies.

Just fifteen minutes from Tucson at the base of the Tucson Mountains lies a preserved slice of Americana, Old Tucson Studios. Passing through the gates of an old frontier town, visitors from around the globe are transported back to a time when fearless men with six shooters ruled the Old West. Saunter down the streets of Hollywood's most famous movies; walk in the footsteps of movie legends like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and hundreds more.

In addition to its historic role as a film location, Old Tucson Studios is Southern Arizona's premier outdoor entertainment venue with a full array of live shows, thrilling stunts, Old West dramas, saloon musicals, trail rides and fun for the whole family.

A coffee house that is selling sweets too

I have visited of course also a photographer friend! She was very busy doing portraits from tourists dressed up as Saloon girls :))

Cowboy romantic or "home sweet home"

Who doesn't remember the TV series :High Chaparral", right? This was the set to the entrance to the ranch.

Some stand shots out of the filming to "High Chaparral"

"The Reno" train was used in movies also with Clint Eastwood and in the well known old timer movie "Rio Bravo" - and in lot of other movies too

"Yes I do" scenes and others too were filmed in this chapel

Actors were showing a gun shot scene out of "Billy the Kid"

When cowboys are shooting each other is the coffin maker not to far away either

Miss Kitty and her dancing girls in the Grand Palace Hotel Saloon

The girls were great and pretty!

Can you dance the "Can - Can" like she does? :))

David had a small talk with the sheriff after another demo of actors by the mission

Hi my friends,

thanks you very much again for your kind comments to my last post yesterday.
I hope you'll enjoy the pictures about the "Hollywood in the high desert" like I did! And if you ever have a chance to be close by Old Tucson, VISIT that place! You will NOT regret, I swear! :)

I wish you all a nice coming weekend. I'll try to post every day if my connection let me do that! :)

Susanne and David