Monument Valley, Arizona

From San Diego we finally turned back east, our next destination Monument Valley in northern Arizona. Getting there took us through some interesting terrain. 

Miles of these rocks, similar to Joshua Tree NP

Dunes along the way

Approaching Monument Valley, which is owned and operated by the
Navajo nation

With a suitable vehicle, you can pay a modest fee and drive yourself
around the very primitive track; otherwise, there are open air buses; our
mini-van camper is AWD and lifted 3.5 inches; the open-air buses leave
you covered in dust after the tour

Full disclosure: we went to Monument Valley because Vicki had seen

it on Disney's Soarin' ride (numerous times), her standard for the

wonders of the world...everyone of which we have now seen, except the

polar bear

"The Camel"

In case you were wondering...

In the rearview mirror

In Window Rock, capital of the Navajo nation

Why it's called Window Rock

San Diego Zoo

While in the San Diego area we thought we'd take in the San Diego Zoo. Despite all the recommendations, we found it--with the exception of the hippo tank--no better than numerous other zoos we have seen. Once in a lifetime.

San Diego national flower, from our previous winters here

It's in a hilly area  and getting around is interesting

Red panda

Black and white panda

Although not billed as such, the zoo is also an excellent botanical
garden, though few plants are clearly identified

The hippo tank...star of the show

Tony the Slumbering Tiger

Bobcats

Vigilant meerkats

Hobbit bear

Done

Getty Museum, 2

Our day at the Getty, October 4th, continued...

Sonorous rock placement

Rodin, Christ and Mary Magdalene, 1908; still
processing this one; originally commissioned by 
Karl Wittgenstein, father of the philosopher and
the pianist

James Ensor's cynical Christ's Entry into Brussels, 1889

Joseph Ducreux, Self-Portrait, Yawning, 1783; he also
did several other self-portraits in various poses; Marie Antoinette's
official portraitist

"What are you gawking at?!"

The Borghese-Windsor Cabinet, originally Pope Paul V's

Copy of Rigaud's Louis XIV

Writing table from Gobelins

Old timey microscope

J. P. really liked furniture

Writing table

Lots of period paintings in the furniture rooms, this, Vernet's Storm 
on the Mediterranean Coast, 1767

David, Portrait of Suzanne Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1804

Hubert Robert, Demolition of the Chateau of Meudon, 1806

Fragonard, The Fountain of Love, 1785

Watteau, The Surprise, 1718

Hogarth, Before, After, 1730

Another Hubert Robert, A Hermit Praying in the Ruins of a Roman 
Temple, 1760

Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun, The Vicomtesse de Vaudreuil,
1785

Obligatory Canaletto

This space available...all in all, we're glad we finally made it to The Getty,
definitely once in a lifetime; but we think we'll stick to the Louvre, the Orsay,
the Uffizi, the Met, the National Galleries, the Art Institute...

Beth and Bob: thanks for hospitality