G and DZ: Something old and something new

After a fantastic day at the gem show, we decided to explore two very opposite places: an old mission and the futuristic biosphere.

We started with the San Javier de Bac mission right outside

of Tucson. The Mission was founded in the 1700's and is called the "white dove" of the desert. The chruch and the courtyards were absolutely beautiful. It felt like we were transported to a different time and place. Even though it was hot outside, the Mission was cool and felt like a place of respite for weary travelers.

Since it was Sunday, the priest was conducting Mass while we were there so we got to witness a little bit of the service.

Outside the Mission itself, people from the local tribes were selling fry bread and lemonade.

After the Mission, we headed out of town in the opposite direction - up to Oracle Arizona where Biosphere 2 is tucked away at the base of a mountain range. (Biosphere 1 is Earth in case anyone is wondering - we were before the tour guide told us).

The tour was very informative. They tell you all about the history, the science, and the interpersonal conflict between the Biospherians (their word, not mine). Apparently being cooped up in a hot bubble for 2 years with limited food supply makes you very cranky. Who would have thought?

Some interesting things we learned from our tour were: (1) the building has giant 'lungs' in the basement to allow for variations in air pressure as day and night temperatures vary; (2) the Biospherians only had coffee twice a month; (3) the closed system began to fail because too much carbon dioxide was being released into the air and not enough oxygen was being made to compensate; (4) the primates in the Biosphere didn't like the people because the people worked all day and woke the generally nocturnal primates so the primates threw things at the people while they worked to send a message; (5) bees need ultraviolet light to navigate - with the UV filters in the glass, the bees couldn't pollinate the flowers and died.