Papago Park on Monday was filled with unexpected wonders. It's a 1200-acre expanse of desert with native plant life, small animals and songbirds, and dramatic 6-million-year-old rock formations waiting to be climbed. It contains the Phoenix Zoo, Golf Course, and the aforementioned Botanical Gardens. It is only a mile or so from our residence.

The Park was an original Reservation for the native Pima and Maricopa peoples. It was also a WWII prison camp, from which 25 enemy prisoners escaped in 1944. They eventually turned themselves back in due to the treachery and climate of the terrain. Read here for a very brief history of this awesome place.

To visitors like Mark and me, Papago Park is inviting, and starkly beautiful. Protected by safari hats and tons of sunscreen, wewalked for a couple of hours, and our trek exercised our imaginations and our bodies. We pointed and laughed like kids when a large jackrabbit crossed our paths. It was the largest rabbit I ever saw in nature. It's ears were enormous.

We were even fooled by a "Cactus-Rabbit..."

And found a "Monkey" in the rocks....

We hiked for several miles. A highlight was our discovery of an old Amphitheater, whose "bleachers" are still used for special religious services and events. It was like an ancient Greek ruin...Mark (below) is ready for a performance...

The dormant performer in me was instantly aroused by the prospect of playing such a large and special house...

During the steep descent from one of our conquered peaks, I slipped on some loose gravel, and cursed the blue