Day 50 (D-11) Glen Campbell - By The Time I Get To Phoenix / Phoenix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMb681nTLIo

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

1.   Phoenix is the capital of Arizona.

2.  Phoenix is the United States' fifth-largest city with a population of 1.6 million.  Greater Phoenix: 4.5 million.

3.  Elevation: 1086 feet = 331 meters!   Greater Phoenix is located in the Sonoran Desert, which is one of the wettest and greenest deserts in North America, thanks to 3-15 inches of annual rainfall.  And the sun shines on Phoenix 85%* of its daylight hours!  

4. Oh!  We haven't touched sports on this blog yet.  Phoenix is a good place to do that:  Phoenix is one of the few U.S. cities having four major professional sports leagues.  Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (NLB), Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Arizona Coyotes (NHL).  The Super Bowl has been in Phoenix 3 times: in 1996, 2008 and 2015.  A lot of spring training for baseball here, considering what good weather they have!  Many golfers here too!

5.  Good weather means retirees love to leave the snow and cold in the north and come to live in Phoenix during the winter months.  They are called snowbirds! I read that the city is located within the sunniest region in the world! Here are the given statistics: 3,872 hours or about 300 days of bright sunshine annually.   *(85%).  "Phoenix receives the most sunshine on any major city on Earth!!"  

6.  Phoenix is also renowned for its Mexican food, thanks to both its large Hispanic population and its proximity to Mexico. 

7.  Lots of museums in Phoenix and we'll visit a few.  The Heard Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Taliesin West, the Phoenix Art Museum, The Arizona Science Center, The Hall of Flame Fire Museum, The Musical Instruments Museum and more.

8.  Famous people from Phoenix (born or lived there):
     -- Barry Goldwater...I remember him from 1964 when he was the Republican candidate for the presidency, running against Lyndon B. Johnson.  You remember who won this election, by a landslide.
   --  John McCain...I'm sure you know him.  He was also a Republican presidential candidate, in 2008...but he lost to someone you know.  He was a much respected politician (and Viet Nam veteran) from Arizona.  He died last year.
   -- Charles Boyer!  You know this French actor. He became an American citizen and chose Phoenix as his home.
     -- Glen Campbell (You discovered him in the song above.)
  And -- Frank Lloyd Wright.  He moved to Phoenix in 1937 and built his summer home there, Taliesin West... but you will read about him in a few days!  Patience!

9.  And of course you know that Phoenix has been a sister city of GRENOBLE since 1990! (Also: Calgary, Catania in Sicily, Prague, Taipei as well as cities in China, Ireland, Mexico, Japan and Israel.)

10.  The last day of our trip, June 30, will be a visit to this important city.

My best,

Jane

PS.  I hope you like listening to Glen Campbell.  It takes you back to 1967!  The song is no longer on the hit parade! 
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NBA = National Basketball Association
MLB =  Major League Baseball (National League West)
NFL = National Football League
NHL = National Hockey League
-- landslide = a big victory