Apricity West

March 19, 2021, Friday

We were sitting outside today when the man in the RV next to us approached us with his mask on to ask if we would like a picnic table on our site. His name is Lorenzo and he works here Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on the maintenance of the picnic tables. We chatted for a while and he mentioned a few other places we might want to visit while here in Tucson. As the conversation was coming to an end, I thanked him again for thinking of us for a table. He replied, “Well, you’re my neighbor.”  

March 20, 2021, Saturday

First day of Spring! This was the hottest day so far - 83 degrees in the day, 54 degrees in the night so it was OK to have the window open while sleeping. Usually it gets so cold at night that you are scrambling for the bed covers that were too hot earlier. There was a nice breeze throughout the day to keep it bearable. Terri and I did our Saturday morning walk ’n talk, mostly talk. There are lovely benches along the walk/bike trail which are so inviting. 

 

We decided to hangout at their backyard in the afternoon so Terri and I could work on Easter cards and share some of the techniques we have learned on YouTube. I will post the results after Easter.

 

Jim had been working most of the day on changes in the gardens…

During the week I had decided to borrow one of their rocks and paint a Mandala on it with acrylic paints to leave in their yard… the tools I used were a pencil eraser, pencil tip, and 2 q-tips. Lots of fun! 

On the flip side...


DREAMS DO COME TRUE

I believe that if you focus on your dreams through constant thoughts, planning, praying, and visualization, they do come true. I hope that they will be able to retire and live their dream just as we are. 

 

Later I served Gouda, salami and crackers, Rich grilled steaks, Terri roasted cauliflower and we sat outside sans lap-afghans or a fire pit enjoying that meal knowing we only had one more day together. Jim is serving up dinner tomorrow. 

 

March 21, 2021, Sunday

Mission San Xavier del Bac (The White Dove of the Desert) is one of the places Lorenzo suggested so we decided it was worthy of the trip there on our last day of adventures. So glad we went - it was well worth it.

The only surviving mission in Arizona, services are still attended by members of the Wa:k O’odham community (on Tohono O'odham Nation San Xavier Indian Reservation)  for whom the Mission was founded in 1692. Father Eusebio Francisco Kino traveled throughout the extremities of the "New Spain” bringing Catholicism to the indigenous peoples of the area. 

 

San Xavier is considered the finest example of Mexican baroque architecture in the United States and one of the most culturally significant, at risk, buildings in the World.

 

The construction of this building was helped by the villagers from Wa:k from start (1783) to finish (1797). They gathered sand lime, clay, rock and wood: built kilns and excavated trenches. Thirty-three-inch foundations were built, and the walls were constructed of low fire adobe brick infilled with volcanic rubble stone with a lime-sand slurry poured between. Artists from central New Spain (now Mexico) worked to complete the interior. Money ran out and all were sent away. 

Before the pandemic, these wooden thatches were shelter for selling fresh cooked Indian frybreads. 

Today sections are being rebuilt in the scorching sun with a hand auger to dig holes for new hand hewn mesquite poles. 

As we drove through the reservation, we came upon a huge cemetery of uniform white crosses positioned symmetrically in a grid and embellished with a variety of decorations - balloons, plastic flowers, ceramics, photo, toys, etc. Signs warning "No Photographs” were posted along the fence. We pulled over for a moment to absorb the details but did not take pictures. It was very impressive.  

 

Downtown Tucson was full of more treasures...

 

El Charro’s 99th Anniversary 

We stopped at El Charro’s Cafe for a light lunch. This quaint restaurant serves traditional Sonoran-style Mexican food with innovative Tucson-style twists. It is said to be the birthplace of the chimichanga (deep fried burrito) and the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. Established in 1922, it continues to dry the Carne (beef) in the sun in a container hanging atop the building. 

Of course, we shared an El Charro Carne Seca quesadilla and mini chimichangas - and water glass size Margaritas with a salted rim. Perfect!

 

Presidio District

The historic Tucson Presidio District encompasses the site where the City of Tucson was established as a Spanish military fort in 1775. With three-inch-thick adobe brick walls, 10-to-12 feet tall, along a huge square about 700 feet on a side, the Presidio San Agustín del Tucson was built on land previously occupied by an ancient Native American community.

Embedded in the sidewalk

A 2,000-year-old prehistoric pit house and an original 150-year-old Sonoran row house are among the highlights at the Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum, a reconstruction of the original Tucson Presidio… (it was not open for us to enjoy)

Located across the street is Old Town Artisans, established in 1922, spanning a city block and housing art galleries and shops in the longest-inhabited set of buildings in all of Tucson – built in the 1850s, right over the remains of the original Presidio wall… 

This building was like a maze of rooms displaying bright vibrant colors displayed on all kinds of mediums - fabric, furniture, ceramic, canvas, jewelry, candy, and more. The transition from room to room was a ramp or step presenting a decision about which room to enter. I am sure we missed a room or two unknowingly. Need to revisit one day. 

Hotel McCoy

On the way home, Jim took a spontaneous quick detour to show us the Hotel McCoy. What a colorful history to this 100 room motel.

Can’t say it better than their ad...

Vintage vibes. Modern perks. Affordable rates.

Retro meets contemporary here at our 1960’s mid-century modern art hotel. From the fully restored pool to the A-shaped entrance & exposed posts & beams, it’s the best of both worlds.

Tucson is magic. We’ll share that with you when you are here. The lobby is adorned with pieces created by Arizona artists. The beer we serve was brewed just down the street. The wine we pour comes from AZ wine country. The coffee we brew was roasted right here in Tucson.

True to our roots, Hotel McCoy emphasizes function & affordability – offering fellow wanderers local style & high-end amenities at low rates. This is what we call Travel For All.

The poem I shared the first time we left Tucson is painted line by line on the exterior walls of the structure...  

Our last supper with T&J...

Jim prepared an appetizer of grilled shrimp with lemon juice and zest, a delicious angel hair pasta dish; then he and I created yet another dessert surprise. 

We delayed the final goodbye’s as long as we could but it was inevitable. The last time we parted, we knew we would see each other again when our trip back home begins. This time was more final and we all hugged each other real tight with moist red eyes. We have matured from the olden days of sobbing hysterically when saying goodbye.

Leaving Tucson is more than leaving family behind. We are leaving an amazing community rich with bright vibrant colors everywhere; art decorating every medium possible; eateries that are uniquely creative with the flavors dancing on your pallet through food and drink; remarkable structures embellished with southwestern flair; the blue skies and glorious rosy and salmon-pink sunsets. There is so much more to experience here...

March 22, 2021, Monday

Packed up a few things in preparation for the move tomorrow. Spent the rest of the day chillin’. Played with watercolors and crocheted another skein of yarn to my aphgan. 

March 23, 2021, Tuesday 

Today is my mother’s birthday and she sure is a young 91!! Sisters Cindy and Leslie and their hubbies celebrated with her on Sunday and sat outside in the warm afternoon sun to visit. We had a nice shindig planned at the Knox Trail Inn for her 90th, but Covid struck and that was that.

We pulled out of Crazy Horse RVPark by 9am today with an easy 3 hour straight shot on I-10 East to Dreamcatcher RV Park in Deming, NM ahead of us. 

Though we traveled West on this highway not long ago, I am still awestruck by the size of the boulders in Texas Canyon.

March 24, 2021, Wednesday

We went to a friend of Rich’s in the park to celebrate his birthday - lots of laughs and good storytelling.

March 25, 2021, Thursday

Received our first order from Boxed. Mark and Regina turned us on to this app to order in bulk - the best savings are by choosing their generic brand of Prince & Spring. No other plans today except for this blog and stretching my creative muscles with art… oh, and a much needed walk!