Parque Chankanaab, Cozumel, Mexico

 

The skeletons in Mexico dressed up and displayed are part of the Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) celebration, which is a pre-Hispanic tradition that honors the cycle of life and death. The skeletons are called calacas, which are whimsical representations of the deceased in various scenes of everyday life. They are often made of papier-mache, wood, clay, or sugar or in this case, iron.

The calacas are displayed in homes, altars, streets, and cemeteries during the Day of the Dead, which takes place every year on November 1 and 2. They are meant to celebrate and remember the lives of the departed, as well as to mock death and show that it is not something to be feared. The calacas are also decorated with bright colors and flowers, especially marigolds, which are believed to attract the souls of the dead with their scent. The calacas are a unique and festive way of expressing the Mexican worldview and spirituality.

Dolphin Statue Cozumel, Mexico

Quoting from Microsoft Bing Chat:

Cozumel is an island and municipality in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It’s located just off the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and is directly across the water from Playa Del Carmen. The island is known for its white sand beaches, coral reefs, and modern amenities.

Cozumel was once a bustling Mayan community with as many as 10,000 local residents2. Sacred to the Mayan Moon Goddess, Ix Chel, the island and its temples were an important place of pilgrimage for women seeking fertility. The remnants of that once thriving civilization can still be seen today in the small ruins of San Gervasio in the island’s forested interior.

Today, Cozumel is a popular tourist destination. It has two very different sides: the modern amenities around its main town of San Miguel, and numerous places on the far side of the island to get away from it all. Cozumel is considered a very safe area to travel to, especially compared to other parts of Mexico.

Cozumel is especially known for its warm, tropical water, snorkelers and scuba divers from across the globe enjoy exploring the island’s reef, teeming with aquatic life. No trip to Cozumel is complete without a boat ride (or two) around the island’s magnificently blue waters.

The tropical climate in Cozumel is reasonably predictable and easy to make plans around. Without much of a temperature difference throughout the year, (the average temperature lingers around 83° F) it’s the rainy season that travelers should pay attention to.

 

Ctenosaura similis, commonly known as the black iguana or black spiny-tailed iguana

 

According to Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenosaura_similis ia found in Mexico and Central America which is probably why I saw this one in Mexico. Here is a quote from Wikipedia,

Ctenosaura similis, commonly known as the black iguana or black spiny-tailed iguana, is a lizard native to Mexico and Central America. It has been reported in some Colombian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, and has been introduced to the United States in the state of Florida. It is the largest species in the genus Ctenosaura. They are typically found in areas such as grasslands and forests.

The Guinness Book of World Records lists this as the world's fastest lizard, with a maximal sprint speed of 34.6 kilometres per hour (21.5 mph) also from Wikipedia.  

 

Provo City Cemetery, Provo, Utah

 

The Provo City Cemetery has the graves of many early Utah pioneers. Some of my own relatives are buried here. My Great Great Grandfather Sidney Tanner's (b. 1809, d. 1895) half-brother Myron Tanner (b. 1826, d. 1903) is buried in this cemetery. Myron Tanner was an Alderman for Provo City for many years. 

Tampa, Florida from the Tampa Bay, Cruise Terminal

 

Tampa Florida is on Florida's west coast. Its population is about 400,000 which makes it about twice as populated as Utah's Salt Lake City with about 200,000. Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida with almost a million inhabitants. Florida has a population of just over 21 million, while Utah has only about 3.5 million. Provo's population, where I live now, is about 115,000. However, the population of Maricopa County, where I lived for many years, is well over 4.5 million making its population greater than 21 of the states. 

Olmec Colossal Head from Central America

 

This is a lifesize replica of an Olmec head found in a botanical garden on the island of San Miguel de Cozumel. This particular sculpture was reproduced from an Olmec head or colossal head labeled as number 1 in the Xalapa's museum of Anthropology. It is also known as "el rey" (the king) It was found in San Lorenzo, Tenochtitlán (name of the archeological site, usually shortened to San Lorenzo), located at Texistepec, State of Veracruz, México. It dates from 1200 to 900 years B.C. and is 2.9 meters high and 2.1 meters wide. See “File:Cabeza Colosal No1 Del Museo Xalapa.Jpg.” In Wikipedia, May 9, 2012. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cabeza_Colosal_n%C2%BA1_del_Museo_Xalapa.jpg&oldid=491549457 

Here is a brief explanation of the origin of these remarkable carvings from “Cabeza colosal.” In Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre, October 19, 2023. https://es.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cabeza_colosal&oldid=154729115.

The Olmec colossal heads are stone representations of human heads sculpted from large basalt boulders. They range in height from 1.17 to 3.4 meters (3.8 to 11.2 ft) and weigh an average of 8 tons.

The heads date from at least 900 BC and are a distinctive feature of the Olmec civilization, the first civilization to develop in Meso-America.

The Olmec civilization flourished in the lowlands of southeastern Mexico, especially in the states of Veracruz and Tabasco, between 1500 and 400 BC. The heads are believed to portray powerful individual Olmec rulers, as they display unique facial features and expressions that may be considered portraits. The heads also wear protective helmets that were worn by the Olmec in battle and during the Meso-American ballgame. Some helmets have jaguar paws or talons as symbols of political and religious power.

The boulders used for the heads were brought from the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas mountains of Veracruz, over 150 kilometres (93 mi) away from some of the Olmec sites. The method and logistics used to transport the stone remain unclear, but it is likely that they used river rafts and log rollers. The heads were sculpted using hard hand-held stones and drilled with reeds and wet sand to create depth and detail. They were probably originally painted with bright colors. 

Seventeen confirmed examples of the heads have been discovered to date, from four sites within the Olmec heartland: San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapotes, and Rancho La Cobata.

The heads were variously arranged in lines or groups at major Olmec centers, but some were moved or buried by later cultures or natural events. Dating the monuments remains difficult because of the lack of archaeological context for many of them. Most have been dated to the Early Pre-classic period (1500–1000 BC) with some to the Middle Pre-classic (1000–400 BC) period.

San Diego, California

 

Because most of my life so far, was spent living in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Mesa, Arizona, I spent a lot of time visiting the favorite vacation spot for those from the Salt River Valley: San Diego California. Here is a recent photo of the downtown area. See if you can guess where I was when I took this photo. 

A Utah Valley Thunderstorm

 

This is a real photograph. We went for a short drive up to a valley overlook and enjoyed the spectacular view of a thunderstorm over Utah Lake and the West Mountains. 

Thunderstorm over Utah Valley

 You may wish to click on this photo to see more detail. 

There is a road that starts in Provo Canyon and goes up the side canyon to Rock Canyon Campground. Part way up the canyon, there is an overlook with a parking lot. Evening is a good time to see the valley. 

Utah Valley Sunset with Brigham Young University

 You might want to click on the image to see an enlarged copy. 

This photo was taken from Y-mount parking lot overlooking Provo, Utah, with Brigham Young University in the center of the photo. It is late in the summer and the grass on the hills has turned to gold and the sun has turned the clouds to gold. 

An Instant Sunset in Provo, Utah

This extraordinary and unusual sunset for Provo, Utah only lasted about 5 minutes or so. Right after this photo was taken it went off like someone turned off the light. The clouds happened to be in a perfect position for the light. 

Wasatch Mountains from Guardsman Pass

There is a paved, very beautiful road over Guardsman Pass from Brighton to either Park City or Midway. On a nice summer day, the road is well-used but not particularly congested. It is only about 3.4 miles from Brighton to the pass and only 28 miles using the Guardsman Pass road to Park City. If you take the right fork of the road, you can get to Midway in about 14 miles. Keep in mind, that some parts of the road are steep, with sharp curves and dangerous in inclement weather. 

Wasatch Mountains at Brighton, Utah

 

This is the original photo. Using AI in Photoshop (Beta) I made the following image from this original. 

Everything outside of the original photo has been created and is not a real photograph. Think about it. What is a real photograph?

Here's looking at you!

 

This is a Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo), quoting from Generative AI,

The Eurasian eagle owl is one of the largest owl species in the world. Here are some measurements for the Eurasian eagle owl:

Body length: 23 to 28 inches

Wingspan: 5 to 6.6 feet

Weight: 3 to 9 pounds

Total length: 56 to 75 cm (22 to 30 in)

The average adult Eurasian eagle owl weighs 2.69 kg. The largest Eurasian eagle owl specimens can have a wingspan of 6 ft 7 in.

The Eurasian eagle owl is also known for its large orange eyes and prominent ear tufts. Its eyes are fixed and do not move. 

Canal Draw Bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

This is a double beam bascule bridge in Amsterdam, Netherlands over the Nieuwe Herengracht canal. A bascule bridge (also referred to as a drawbridge or a lifting bridge) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or leaf, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- or double-leafed. 

Slow motion geyser from Yellowstone National Park

 

https://youtu.be/UVzJNSUVoUk

This is a short video of a small geyser in Yellowstone National Park in slow motion. 

Koi Fish in a pond

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/mZAaRRQN0v4?feature=share

Over the past couple of years, I have been taking short videos. I decided I would put some of them online on YouTube.com and feature them here. I have quite an assortment so you might want to see some of the longer ones on my YouTube Channel.  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cT2_EjTMVVJgaF5Gdwl1Q

Snowfall fills Rock Creek, Provo, Utah

 

https://youtu.be/ORQCtl3yoTE

Spring snowfall melting raised Rock Canyon Creek to almost flood level. However, no damage was done. The Creek is back to normal. Rock Canyon, Provo, Utah

Dinosaur at Ashton Gardens, Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, Utah

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/J8VKIIhqXcs

Dinosaur Island is a summer-long event at Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. The event features 32 life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Giganotosaurus, and Brachiosaurus. The dinosaurs are placed throughout the 50-acre Ashton Gardens. The event runs from May 27 to August 26, 2023.

The dinosaurs move and make sounds. They are over 30 feet long and 20 feet high.

Bees taking a pollen bath

https://youtu.be/T4ulU__wbBk

A beautiful summer day with bees buzzing in the roses. We saw bees rolling around in the pollen in these lovely flowers. 

Fireworks at the BYU Stadium of Fire Finale, Provo, Utah

 

https://youtu.be/oFO--oxf1aY

The 2023 Stadium of Fire was held on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. The concert was headlined by the rock band Journey. The Stadium of Fire is part of the America's Freedom Festival, a multi-day event that celebrates the Fourth of July.

The Stadium of Fire is the largest fireworks show in the United States. It attracts 30,000 to 50,000 people each year. Past performers include Tim McGraw and Marie Osmond.

Cascade Falls, Utah

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/to_VRJ0reFU?feature=share

Cascade Falls is a unique waterfall. It is located near Navajo Lake in Southern Utah up Cedar Canyon from Cedar City. The water comes from Navajo Lake through a lava tube. It is located about 3/4 of a mile from the trailhead at the end of Forest Road 54. 

Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

 

Cedar Breaks is always compared to Bryce Canyon National Park but the scenery in both is spectacular. Cedar Breaks is quite a bit smaller and far less crowded. This day was cold and windy with the last patches of snow. This is the optimal time to visit all the Utah parks and monuments because just a few weeks later there are mobs of tourists. 

Water in motion

Is this a photo or an AI image? It is a photo, but it has been altered in a number of ways. The obvious way is the blurring of the water. This is a common photographic effect caused by a long exposure. However, there are several other changes to the image that have been done by AI. These changes are not obvious because they reworked parts of image to sharpen the focus and remove some elements that were a distraction. 

 

The last of the Winter Snow

 A short visit to Cedar Breaks National Monument was surprising for the middle of June. There were still snow drifts up to ten feet high. The day was cold and windy. This small pond on the cliff overlooking Cedar Breaks had a fantastic reflection. 

Usually Dry Rock Creek, Rock Creek Canyon, Provo, Utah

 After a winter of record snowfalls, our usually dry Rock Creek is a torrent. It drains into a huge retention basin to prevent flooding and has attracted the out-of-school children to play in its cold water. We enjoyed a hike up Rock Canyon and enjoyed the roar of the creek. 

Time for Tulips Part One

One tulip is beautiful, but how beautiful are thousands of tulips? Here is a series of photos of some of the thousands of tulips at the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival in Lehi, Utah 2023. I will be publishing them from time to time. 

Box Turtle

 A short trip to Florida put us back in the Southern forests where there is a lot of water and the opportunity to see a lot of animals. Quoting from Wikipedia: Box Turtle:

Box turtle is the common name for several species of turtle. It may refer to those of the genus Cuora or Pyxidea, which are the Asian box turtles, or more commonly to species of the genus Terrapene, the North American box turtles. They are largely characterized by having a shell shaped like a dome, which is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators. Furthermore, the two genera are very different in habitat, behavior and appearance, and are not even classified in the same family. Even though box turtles became very popular pets, their needs in captivity are complex and the capture of turtles can have serious detrimental effects on the wild population.

The box turtle commonly lives over twenty years, with verified cases of lifespans exceeding 40 to 50 years. There have been unverified cases of box turtles living for a hundred years and more.

Bamboo

 

I am fascinated by bamboo. My fascination dates back to when I lived in the jungle in Panama. There are over a 1000 different varieties of bamboo. Quoting from Wikipedia: List of bamboo species;

In the tribe Bambuseae also known as bamboo, there are 91 genera and over 1,000 species. The size of bamboo varies from small annuals to giant timber bamboo. Bamboo evolved only 30 to 40 million years ago, after the demise of the dinosaurs. Bamboo species can be divided into clumping (sympodial) and running (monopodial) species.

This photo is obviously clumping bamboo.  

Time for an AI Break

 

One of big tech controversies is the impact of AI generated images on traditional photography. I have to admit I had a hard time getting this albino allegator to hold still long enough to have his photo taken but in the end the photo was acceptable. Actually, this is Microsoft Designer. Whether you think AI is a good idea or not is sort of asking the same question about automobiles replacing horses or fast food restaurants. The impact is going to be more than anyone can imagine.  

The Tulips of Spring

 

During the years I lived in the Arizona Sonora Desert of Arizona, I looked forward to March and April when the cactus would bloom. Now that I live in the mountains of Utah, I can look forward to tulips and other flowers. These are generically known as Ruffled Tulips or Parrot Tulips. These happen to be white but some have various colors. 

Rail Spike

A rail spike (also known as a cut spike or crampon) is a large nail with an offset head that is used to secure rails and base plates to railroad ties (sleepers) in the track. Robert Livingston Stevens is credited with the invention of the rail spike, the first recorded use of which was in 1832. Wikipedia: Rail fastening system

These old rusted spikes are not that uncommon along any of the railroads in America.  

Paris, France Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with comments about ChatGPT

 Paris, France Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  (this is my photo).

I have been investigating ChatGPT for a while now. Here is a modified quote from ChatGPT. Note, I am finding that using ChatGPT for "research" meaning looking up stuff and ending up using Wikipedia most of the time, is a resource as long as you spend the time to edit the response. I have marked the parts of the response in red that I would delete and included any additions or changes in blue. 

The Paris, France Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as the Paris Temple, is a religious edifice [The statement is redundant] located in the suburb of Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, near Paris, France. It is one of the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is a global Christian denomination that is often informally referred to as the Mormon Church. The use of the term "Mormon" as applied to the Church or its members is not appropriate. The Paris Temple serves as a sacred place of worship and is considered to be a significant symbol of the Church's presence and growth in France and Europe.

The history of the Paris Temple dates back to the mid-19th century when the first missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in France in 1849. However, it was not until much later, in the early 20th 21st century, that the idea of constructing a temple in France was seriously considered. The Church announced its plans to build a temple in Paris on July 15, 1982,  in July of 2011. The announcement was met with excitement and anticipation among the French Latter-day Saint community.

The construction of the Paris Temple began on August 7, 1987 24 24 August 2012, with a groundbreaking ceremony presided over by church leaders. The temple was designed in a modern style with classical elements, featuring a white granite exterior and a striking spire that reaches a height of 146 feet [There is no spire]. The temple was built on a 5.5 2.26-acre plot of land and has a total floor area of approximately 46,000 44,175 square feet.

The Paris Temple was dedicated on May 21, 1994, by Gordon B. Hinckley, who was the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at that time. The dedication ceremony was attended by thousands of church members and invited guests, and it marked the temple as a consecrated place of worship for Latter-day Saints in France and surrounding countries. The Temple was dedicated on 21 May 2017 by Henry B. Eyring. 

Since its dedication, the Paris Temple has been an important center of worship and spiritual activity for the Church's members in France and neighboring countries. It is used for various religious ceremonies, including baptism for the dead, endowments, and sealings, which are considered sacred ordinances in the Latter-day Saint faith. The temple is also a place where members can find peace, solace, and inspiration through prayer, meditation, and reflection.

The construction and dedication of the Paris Temple have been seen as significant milestones in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France and Europe. It has become a symbol of the Church's growth and progress in the region, and it stands as a testament to the faith and dedication of its members. Today, the Paris Temple continues to serve as a spiritual anchor for Latter-day Saints in France and neighboring countries, as they strive to live according to their religious beliefs and principles.

Here are some comments about the accuracy of the ChatGPT response. 

Superficially, the response looks impressive. It just happens to have some glaring errors and inappropriate comments. I proof-read the ChatGPT response and made some significant corrections. My corrections included deletions. The most obvious error from ChatGPT was a reference to a spire on the temple. The information about the size of the site and the size of the temple was totally inaccurate. The whole discussion about the dedication was entirely wrong and inaccurate. 

When you have something that is being used as much as ChatGPT that is this inaccurate, you have to think more than twice about using it. 

Our Spring Outdoors with Snow

 

Our plans for a nice dinner out on the patio were cancelled due to a strong snowstorm that lasted more than four days and dropped over a foot of snow. All this on the first four days of April. 

Winter Snow in Utah Valley

 

A snowshoe walk along the Shoreline Trail showed a valley covered in snow. It was a warmer than usual day and some of the snow was already beginning to melt. We kept wondering if this was the last of the snow, but storms kept coming and we had more deep snow before the temperatures got warm enough to make it rain instead of snow. 

One of the years with the most snow on record

 Since the beginning of the ski season in Utah, the Alta Ski Resort has received 711 inches of snow or 59.25 feet. This is a snowbank on the Alpine Loop just east of our home. We have huge piles of snow near our house also. 

A lot of snow

 

Snowfall in the Wasatch Mountains has been at record levels for months. The snow removed from this parking lot is more than ten feet deep and it is still snowing. 

Agave and Yucca

Some of my early memories of living in Phoenix, Arizona are of the huge Agave plants we had in our front yard. I have always been fascinated with succulents because they are survivors. These plants grew on their own, they were never watered even when the temperatures were over 115 degrees and they survived. 

Orange Aloe

 Orange aloe is very unusual. These are not cacti. They are one of the multitude of species of aloe. There are a cacti in the background. This was a cool wintery day. 

Cactus Spines

 According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cactus)

A cactus (pl. cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales.

The spines are highly modified leaves and come from specialized structures called areoles. The areoles or the roundish white dots at the base of the spines, are highly modified branches. Some plants have spines but only cacti have areoles. 

One on the basic experiences of living in the Arizona Sonora desert is dealing with cactus is all their varied forms. Newcomers inevitably find out that the spines are sharp, very sharp. 

We had aloe vera growing around our house in Mesa, Arizona for years. There are over 650 species of aloes. Aloe is a genus that is native to Africa, Madagascar, Jordan, and the Arabian Peninsula. Most aloes are grown as ornamental plants, but many have medicinal uses. We often used the juice for burns of all kinds. This aloe plant is growing in the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. 

A Path in the Desert

One of the stellar attractions in the Salt River Valley is the Desert Botanical Garden. This is my favorite place to visit. The Garden is continually changing not only with the seasons but with new things to see and do. If you go to Phoenix or any of the surrounding communities, do not miss going to the Desert Botanical Garden. 

 

Blue with Cold

 I found this poor garden statue stranded in the snows of January. I know you can get blue with cold, but I wonder how it affected her hair also. 

Roman Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain

 

This blog is called Walking Arizona because I have spent a large part of my life walking. Segovia is a walking city. It is very difficult to drive anywhere in the city, but it is easy to walk. We are getting older and walking, along with everything else involving physical activity is getting more difficult. I suppose that some day, I will be left with only the memories of places such as this one. 

A Path in the Desert

 

Taking a break from the winter snow of Utah Valley, we visited the Gilbert Water Ranch in Arizona. The large water basins are surrounded by lovely walking trails. It was a lovely day with almost perfect weather. Some of the trees in the desert do lose their leaves but most of the plants do not. 

Coca Castle, Coca, Spain

 

Most of the world probably thinks of Disney's version of a castle when they even think about one. Here we have a real castle with a moat and all the trimmings. This is what I think of when I think of a castle. The castle was constructed in the 15th century and has been considered to be one of the best examples of Spanish Mudejar brickwork which incorporates Moorish Muslim design and construction with Gothic architecture. By the way, here is what Chat.OpenAI.com had to say about the castle.

Coca Castle is a castle located in the town of Coca, in the province of Segovia, Spain. It is a well-known example of the fusion of Moorish and Gothic architectural styles.

The castle was originally built in the 11th century by the Moorish ruler Almanzor as a military fortress to protect the region from Christian invaders. It was later expanded and renovated by the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella in the 15th century, adding Gothic elements such as pointed arches and ribbed vaults.

As a result, Coca Castle is an interesting blend of both Moorish and Gothic architectural styles. The castle's exterior features the sturdy, fortified walls and towers characteristic of a military fortress, while the interior includes Gothic details such as pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and decorative plasterwork.

Today, Coca Castle is a popular tourist attraction, offering visitors the chance to explore its history and architecture, as well as to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It is also a popular venue for cultural events and celebrations.

Is this better or worse than quoting Wikipedia? 

Una Calle Estrecha

 Una calle estrecha is a narrow street. This narrow street happens to be in Segovia, Spain. Sometimes I walk a lot further abroad than just Arizona and Utah. Unless the world settles down quite a bit, we will probably spend most of our time walking around Arizona and Utah from now on.