Land of Contrast!

My trip to Big Bend area of Texas was wonderful!

Best part was going with my sister.

Big Bend is surely a

land of contrast.

I want to share just a tiny glimpse with you.

There is the desert area of

Terlingua and Study Butte.

The National Park area is forested Mtns.

There is the Rio Grande, sun baked hills

created from an ancient volcano,

 deep canyons and more.

I found that this area is

burgeoning with life...

from javelinas, peregrine falcons,

tarantulas and turtles,

to jackrabbits, bears and mountain lions

(over 100 siteings per month).

This is one little peak of the Chisos Mtns.

They are like a craggy fortress.

One thing I loved was the purple prickly pear cactus

that was sprinkled around in the area.

This is my sister Lanette,

at the mouth of the

Santa Elena Canyon.

The Rio Grande is an international boundary and

cuts through the canyon.

The Mexicans know it as

el Rio Bravo del Norte,

the wild river of the north.

River rafting is very popular here.

This photo above is looking down on

 the Rio Grande from

 the road between Lajitas and Presidio,

known as River Rd.

It is a 50 mile scenic drive.

This is me, back at Santa Elena.

We walked up a path

that winds up the canyon wall.

The silence and solitude there is astounding.

One of the friendliest and most interesting people in the desert.

His Indian name is

Many Stones.

He has a great rock shop and sells desert plants also.

He is holding his handcrafted

sotol yucca walking stick

with leather strapping woven into it.

Longest one I have ever seen.

He said it was to push those rattle snakes

as far away as he could. 

Sign outside of Many Stones shop.

I had to show you Harry and Anna.

Aren't they beautiful!

I also went to a quilt shop,

tea shop, the re-opening of the Starlight Theatre,

a very unique historical cemetary,

an old church, into the basin of the Chisos,

and much, much more.

There is so much more to see,

Pictographs, old mines, hidden grottos,

waterfalls, the desert in bloom

and so much more.

I guess I will have to return one day.

To say the least...

I got lots of inspiration!

Savor the Day!

Yvonne