"In his domestic administration my father had this system . . . to keep a journal and insert in it all occurrences of any note . . . A record very pleasant to look at when time begins to efface the memory of events, and very well suited to get us out of perplexity: When was such and such a thing begun? When completed? What retinues came? How long did they stay? Our trips, our absences; marriages; deaths; the receipt of happy or unhappy news . . . An ancient custom, which I think it would be good to revive, each man in each man's home. And I think I am a fool to have neglected it." (Montaigne, Book I, Essay 35 (publ. 1580))

Monday, March 16, 2015

Tucson trip

Many years since PJ and I have been Tucson tourists (last overnight discussed here).  We keep hearing that development efforts in the past few years (subsequent to EPG's fine graduation ceremony) have resulted in a very nice downtown.  So we gave it a try - the idea being that we could do our usual park-the-car-and-walk (more attractive to us than just hanging out at the big resorts up in the hills, such as this).

Tumacacori

And it turned out great.  Another first for us:  downtown development activities not having included much in the way of hotel-building, we stayed at a bed-and-breakfast (for three nights).  Very fine, old-school building; within walking distance of everything downtown.  I wouldn't normally expect to feel like chatting with strangers at breakfast time, but even that aspect was enjoyable.

My fine traveling companion, alongside what remains of the church at Tumacacori.

We made the rounds:

  • Drove down to Tubac as our first stop - enjoyed wandering the town; really enjoyed our lunch at Elvira's.  Highly recommended.  One of the first times I wasn't disappointed in a mole'.
  • A couple dinners at Janos Wilder's downtown kitchen.  A couple lunches at Proper (affiliated with the Flagstaff restaurants we like so well).  Delightful. (Somewhat less happy with a dinner we were really anticipating - Cafe Poca Cosa).
  • Visited one of my favorite places:  San Xavier del Bac.
  • Visited one of my even-more-favorite places:  Tumacacori.  Even took the walking path down to the San Pedro River.
  • Did plenty of wandering around downtown Tucson.
  • Did a return visit to Tubac on a glorious Sunday morning.
We shall happily go back, sooner than later.

Wandered down to the San Pedro River . . . 

Bell tower on the church just looks great.
 
At Downtown Kitchen.

Ornate breakfast set-up.

It's fun to wander around Tubac.

Inside San Xavier del Bac.

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