Carlsbad Caverns and trip there April 28 and April 29. Carlsbad is a pretty bleak place -- and no bargains for hotels. No luck with Priceline last few days. Stayed at a sort of dump with way-slow WiFi.

Found a decent hotel in El Paso, TX through coupons from state info centers.

Caverns are absolutely stunning and magnificent. Pictures didn't turn out that well. Size and scale is just impossible to imagine without being there. Just goes on and on!

Not so crowded as off-season. Starting out was sort of spooky as it was rather dark and no one around. Initially smelled like what one would think bat guano smells like--zillions live there at night.

Must be where "they" got the idea for Gothic cathedrals.

Some pretty bleak towns getting there and leaving.