US - New Mexico part II

A tall cactus called Blue Agave can be used to make tequila. Landscaping at Best Western hotel in Las Cruces.

One hour drive to White Sands National Monument.

Sendero Playa trail.

I bought a sled... I was excited to try sledding for my first time.

Interdune Boardwalk trail.

Why is the sand white?
It is gypsum.

Then we drove to Carlsbad Cavern National Park.
The elevator took us down 750 feet to the cave.

 Lion Tail

Rock of Ages

"Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!"
Steve has heard about Roswell and the UFO crash in 1947 since he was a kid. So we came to see the town. 

The theme of Main Street is aliens, even the lamp posts are decorated.

We went into the UFO Museum. 

Steve is still not sure it was worth the $5 admission.

We also went to the Art Museum with a wonderful exhibit of Dr. Goddard's lab where he developed early rockets. 

Steve was more interested in this than the UFO Museum but most people are more interested in UFO.

The aliens haven't come to pick up Steve yet, but he is hopeful they'll make it before he has to go back to work.

After we checked in a hotel in Santa Rosa this afternoon, we went to the Blue Hole. I wanted to swim in the Blue Hole. 

First I went in using the steps. Second, I jumped in from the lower platform. 

Second, I jumped in from the lower platform. 

 Then I jumped in from the highest level. 

從照片中，在最高處可跳下水的地方，在我未跳下時，已有一穿紅衣衫的少女在那兒。我跳下後，游上岸。

That was fun, but Steve didn't want to try.

我再走回那高處時，我聽到一群人一直在鼓勵：Christine, go for it! You can do it! Don't think, just jump! I will jump with you! 
原來是紅衣少女，我看她的表情顯得很害怕… 即便她有同伴牽着手要陪她跳，以及身旁有很多人給予鼓勵了約20分鐘..

我覺得有些不忍心她受恐惧，所以我跟他們及她說：Don't force her. Don't do it if you don't want. 
她向我點點頭。

我走開後約一、两分鐘，我看到她跟同伴一起跳下了。大家拍手歡呼，她游上岸，感謝人家的鼓勵，家人也擁抱她。

我也為她高興拍手，可又有些自責我非鼓勵的話，但想想也許就是因為我的那般話'Don't force'激她做到了。

人的心理層面，有時内在的恐惧一直出現~我很怕，很怕，我做不到，我就是做不到。強烈對抗别人給予的鼓勵… 

當另一個聲音出現時~不用免強。反而是一種允許，自己可以决定自己要不要去做。

不知道是不是這樣？

這是我的想法。

We had a meal in Santa Fe Grill, recommended by hotel staff.

Then explored this little town a bit.

An Auto Museum on the Historic Route 66.

The last day of the trip, we went to Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque.

What is petroglyph?
"Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. "
古人没有文字，只有在石上刻圖..

Then we drove to Old Town.

Albuquerque Museum.

Steve needed to have blended ice coffee in Steve's

大多處是沙漠
Bye-bye, New Mexico. 

July 5, 2018

Steve's got 3 souvenirs from the trip, I have nothing, that's not fair.