So today Kongo dropped Missy and Mrs. Kongo off at the airport then he headed east on the road to Santa Fe.  Kongo is on the way to a 7-day National Geographic Photo Workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico with Joe McNally.  The photo workshop will be a great opportunity for Kongo to hone some of his photography skills in a small group setting with a world renowned artist.  Mr. McNally has been a staff photographer for Life, Sports Illustrated, and has shot for National Geographic for 25 years.  Needless to say, the monkey is psyched.  This afternoon he explored a bit of Saguaro National Park just east of Tucson, Arizona.

Mrs. Kongo and Missy (Kongo’s monkey sweetheart) are flying to Newark to catch a cruise to Bermuda.  Normally this monkey family travels together but this time it just worked out that they’re going in different directions.  Missy promises some guest blogs from her cruise.

The Saguaro is an amazing plant.  They can grow to more than 60 feet in height and live for an extremely long time.  For example, it takes up to 75 years before the cactus can sprout a limb.  Plants that have yet to grow limbs are known as “spears.”  The fruit of the cactus is prized by locals and several species of birds nest in the cactus plants, carving out holes and cavities to live in.  The Saguaro flower is the state flower of Arizona and it is unlawful to harm one of these plants in any way.  Moving or destroying a Saguaro for construction or road building requires special permits.

Kongo plans to arrive in Santa Fe tomorrow afternoon for his orientation session.

Travel safe.  Have fun.