Tucson is a city of about one million people. Like Phoenix it is situated in the Sonora desert but there is something unusual about the buildings here. There is no guttering or any attempt to collect rain water, either on the residential or business buildings. It may be the same in Phoenix, I didn’t notice. How strange. Don couldn’t explain to me why. Tucson gets it’s water from a dwindling ground-water supply and the Colorado River.
We visit the Desert Museum today. It us an attraction just a short drive through the hills away from town. The name is a bit misleading because it is mire like a zoo than museum. It’s a great opportunity to meet some of the animals that make this extraordinary desert habitat their home. Mountain lions, bob cats, Mexican wolves, porcupines, javalenas (wild pigs pronounced havalenas), deer, beavers, freshwater otters (specialising in swimming on his back underwater while blowing bubbles), desert foxes, prairie dogs (too cute), and more. The most amazing would have to be the desert tortoise. Yes, that’s right – a tortoise that has adapted to desert life. It can go for two years without drinking water.
Not far from here is Old Tucson. It’s a film and television studio where they produced many if these well-known television western series that us older australians were brought up on. Bonanza, Rifle Man, High Chaparel, Little House on the Prarie and more. Many western films used the facilities as well so the town of Tucson is used to having film and television stars in it’s midst. Some bought real estate here and own luxurious houses on acreages up in the hills.
angusmccoll 