"Honey, I'm Sorry but You Tube Cannot Tell us How to Fix This!!"

 Now, let me tell you that this business we love so much...well not really a business just a hobby...of restoring old houses is hard! I mean it is really hard. Yes it can be mentally exhausting but physically? It can push you into the wall.

But most of our problems can be solve with a visit to You Tube. We have installed garbage disposals with sketchy instruction and a microwave over the stove using You Tube. My husband installed a tile floor in my bathroom in Oregon using a You Tube video. Not much cannot be accomplished using a You Tube video. We even watched a man building a log cabin last night so there you have it!

We have been officially moved in for 3 week now. We have gotten the furniture in place, hung pictures and light fixtures. The yard (my dream come true) is next to a golf course putting surface and I've got to tell you it makes my yard look very very bad. I cannot have that! But You Tube cannot help me...only hard work and chemicals can do that.

But my husband has problems of his own. The light fixture over the kitchen sink did not light and after looking at the insides of it, we decided to buy a new one...updated and beautiful. You would think that just putting up a light fixture would be pretty straight forward, right? Not true. Now we have eight wires hanging from the opening and the light in the family room over our chairs does not work nor does the switch to the outside light. What does work is totally mystifying. My husband is scratching his head and sighing a lot...we called an electrician.

We had to finally admit that there was not a video for our problem...our house was wired by a long dead electrician that might have been a little untrained! I don't know that for sure so I need to be kind.

After really taking a good look at the electrical panel outside we can see that it may need to be replaced too. Yikes!

So, here in Tucson the building and buying of real estate is very good. SOOOO, we have to wait on an electrician that is worth his/her salt. I guess Monday evening will be fine...we have only been without a ceiling light for 3 days so a couple more won't matter. I get the evening cooking done early but clean up is a little iffy in the dark!

So, that is how life is going. We love this house. I think it is because like us, it is old and a iffy...:)

How's your life going?

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Did you see....

...the sunset I posted on my Facebook account?

I stepped out my backdoor yesterday evening at sunset and this is what I saw. See, I know there are people that disdain the city we spend our winter in and the RV resort snowbird lifestyle. It is not glitzy or even up scale. Tucson is not any of those things.

But, when I look around me and what we see on a daily basis or talk to the people the pass by on their way to bocce ball, I know that if I didn't appreciate what we have I would be very ungrateful. 

What you see here is two people walking their dog. It is chilly and it did frost last night. On  the right side of the picture are bocce ball courts. On the right I see park models where friends live. Palm trees line the streets that were cleaned last week. In the distance you see the Catalina Mountains in all their glory. 

I have come to love this place. We are not a perfect fit but I suppose we are as close as we will ever be. We avoid politics, religion and (I) avoid gossip...in a place like this gossip runs the world so a very smart person ducks when the conversation come around to "did you know?"

But the picture...really we are living on a million dollar piece of real estate! Life is good.

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Travel: Where to Find A Trendy Neighborhood in Tucson AZ

Visiting Tucson (The Old Pueblo) in Southern Arizona is a very unique experience. Located in an area surrounded by mountains in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, the city looks very small but boast a population nearing 1 million. Even though there are areas that a extremely rich, most of the population is lower middle class or even classifies as below the poverty line. It has hung on very tightly to it's wild west roots. Now things are beginning to change slowly but surely. It is as though it is just beginning to join the 21st century.

I did not believe that the city would ever be anything but a relic crumbling in the desert. I was wrong. We have been living half of the year in Tucson for around 7-8 years. When we came here, the city's core was dying even though there were several minor league baseball teams that played for large crowds of tourist for a period during the winter. The city also boasts a very large gem show in February every year that attracts thousands. And better yet the University of Arizona sits within walking distance of the cities core. In spite of all that, urban sprawl had left the Old Pueblo core abandoned, boarded up and in fact a little scary.

We were downtown today and it is now beginning to emerge as a very trendy place to be. I was reminded of Boise, Idaho back in the day. Boise just stood still and waited to decided if it really wanted to join the rest of the world or if it was going to remain locked in a time warp undefined and stagnant. But when everyone had given up on that city, it sprang to life and actually may be having the last laugh. Tucson is very like that.

The city fathers here in Tucson took it upon themselves to launch a plan for redevelopment of the downtown. It faltered and locals scoffed at the possibility that it would ever come to anything. I was a bystander and hoped that the city could find a way to dig itself out of the hole it was in.

Then the Pima County officials made a very bad move that allowed all of the minor league teams to leave the area and move to Phoenix. It could have been the death knell for the tourist commerce in the area. And, as I understand it, the gem fair was looking for a new venue.

Front of the HOTEL CONGRESS from across the street.

But now Tucson city center is beginning to come to life. Evidently the urban planners are making some very good decisions. Many trendy restaurants and brewpubs line the two main streets and people are using the new trolley line to commute from the University of Arizona so they can take advantage of what the city has to offer. Condos are built and look as though they may be full. Even on a Saturday when parking is free because the offices are closed, the streets were very busy and restaurants were crowded.

We ate at a place on the corner across the street from our favorite breakfast spot called the Hotel Congress. The restaurants named Proper served a simple menu of healthy food and was decorated beautifully. My hamburger was perfect and the Proper Red Wine was a very good choice.

It is not perfect...yet. But don't wait. If you are a tourist visiting Tucson for a few day to catch a little warm weather, I would urge you to go to the city center. It think it would be worth your time.

Proper's cool interior. The word is that this is a very hot spot for college students
on Friday and Saturday

Related Blog Post: Watching the Old Pueblo (Tucson AZ) Grow UP

Retire with Like-minded People! Tucson AZ

55+ Living...The Academic Village

What kind of people do you like to be around?  Are you a reader, writer, learner? Are you a healthy, inquisitive person that sees retirement as an opportunity to pursue all those interests you never had time for while working?  Are you looking for a location in the southwest sunshine? Well I may have found the place for you.

Here in the Tucson area we have a retirement community called The Academic Village.  The develop features homes and town homes built to fit in this beautiful desert setting.  The town homes begin at around 930 square feet for $179,000.  The homes are priced at $304,000 for a house of over 1600 square feet   From there the size of the homes as well as the prices go up.  I have heard that the community attracts people from the academic community and similar backgrounds and is very active in the arts.  When I read about the amenities and activities, I was very interested. 

The village is located east of Tucson well outside the city limits in a beautiful setting surrounded by the the mountains.  I think the setting is breathtaking.

The Arizona Senior Academy sets at the center of the community and is affiliated with the University of Arizona.  The bullet points for this facility caught my attention:

• A retirement community based on easily available continued learning and wellness

• Living among neighbors with a like-minded approach to retirement

• Classes, lectures, concerts, and cultural programs of all kinds

• Affiliate of the University of Arizona, including access to the University library

Living among neighbors with a like-minded approach to retirement could to be a very interesting concept for retirement.  It is true, don't you think, that we are looking for a place where we will "fit".  It can take a very long time to find that perfect place. This is a very unique concept for retirement living and may be the perfect place to retire in style!

Have a wonderful day.

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Tucson, Arizona: When you are the host and not the traveler!

Traveling is one of the great joys of my life. But it is also a lot of fun to have visitors and be able to see the place where I live through someone else eyes.  That is what happened this week when my granddaughter (16 years old) and our daughter spent 6 days with us.

Before they arrived, my husband and I talked a great deal about how we would accommodate them and what we would do. Living in a small space is a challenge for visitors as well as the host. Where would they put their clothes, who would get to take a shower and when, where/what we would eat, etc? Most importantly, we talked about what we would do to provide them with a fun get away.

We had a list of things in our mind but we did not really care which our family chose. We liked to do it all.

Here in Tucson we have some things that are unique to our area. This city provided a different but wonderful desert vacation experience.

1. The Arizona-Sonora Desert  Museum
2. Saguaro National Parks
3. Santa Catalina Mountains and the road to Mt. Lemmon
4. Old Tucson Studios
5. Unique eating experiences like Wisdom (Tubac,), Congress Hotel (downtown), El Charros original location (authentic Sonoran food located in the Presidio)
6. University of Arizona campus.
7. Sam Hughes neighborhood and Arizona Inn
8. University of Arizona shopping area
9. Tubac, AZ
10. The Biosphere 2



The Biosphere 2 (my daughter at the right)

11. Tomacacori National Park

A simple Google search will give you information on each of these.

When our girls arrived, we asked them what they were looking forward to doing.  They had come from the Portland metro area. I think we mentioned all the things on our list. But they wanted to...

1. Shop
2. Stay in our RV resort and lay by the pool or simply walk. Surprise!
3. Get their toe nails done. Summer sandals were coming out.
4. Visit the Biosphere 2
5. Shop more!

Of course there is always one more thing. Evidently, my granddaughter had eating at the In and Out fast food on her bucket list and we did not know it! I am busy creating a list for their next visit and we will be stopping at the In and Out on our way to our house from the airport. I just did not realize how important that was.

We had a wonderful week and my husband and I needed it to last longer. There was so much left to do. But then I suppose it is a good thing if they go home when the fun is not finished. Everyone goes home wanting more.

Have a wonderful day.

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Our RV Resort Pool

Night Blooming Cyrus

Cup Cafe at The Congress Hotel

Granddaughter and daughter in the downstairs dining room, El Charros Restaurant

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• Watching the Old Pueblo (Tucson) Grow-up...Hotel Congress

Watching the Old Pueblo (Tucson) Grow-up...Hotel Congress

Tucson is a very old pueblo here in the southwest. The city itself was found in 1700 by Hugo O'Conor and yet the "Old Pueblo" has managed to stay very young and wild at heart. The best way to describe the development of this city I call home in the winter is scattered and even disorganized. At least that is the way I see it.  People resist development for reasons of their own and it has been very difficult for civic leaders to drag the community into the 21 century. But things are slowly changing.

Local artists display work in the lobby of the Congress Hotel (history)

A cup in the Cup Cafe...just because.

Cactus in the window of Cup Cafe

Many years ago the city leaders managed to get a development plan for the downtown passed by taxpayers and now locals are beginning to see changes in the city center that are remarkable and exciting. Brew pubs and restaurants dot every corner. Lofts, condos and apartments line the streets. Before the downtown was a collection of abandoned buildings and seedy tattoo parlors. The main advantage this city core had was it close proximity to the University of Arizona. The one place worth seeing was the Hotel Congress and we managed to visit their Cup Cafe once a year for breakfast just because it was fun.

On our anniversary last week we revisited Cup Cafe to find it full of college students, loft dwellers and hipsters. The lobby of the Congress was very crowded. The traffic downtown let us know that Tucson is growing up and living up to the all possibilities it holds. We love it!

Note:  Be sure to take a look at a previous post called Looking for Ghosts....  I think you will like it too.

Arizona Color decorate columns in the lobby of the hotel.

Pueblo/art deco design in Hotel Congress lobby.

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Pink Martini Music: We should take it slow, rest our heads upon the grass, listen to it grow!

The lyrics from a Pink Martini song always make me think...then sometimes I laugh and sometimes I cry.  Their Facebook page describes them as "Breakfast At Tiffany's meets the United Nations." Their songs don't fit into a genre...but I don't care because they speak to my heart.  When my husband and I attended the Tucson Symphony performance featuring the Pink Martini band I was not disappointed. They brought the crowd to their feet and had them dancing the aisles. It was not your usual symphony experience but Pink Martini is not your usual band.

They reminded me again that being young was hard. But what was hard then is still hard as I age. Remember back when you started out and you wanted more and then, when you got it, you felt the same?  More doesn't fill the holes in our hearts even when we are older. When the song says, "Life's been moving oh so fast, I think we should take it slow, rest our heads upon the grass and listen to it grow" I just wanted to sit dow, smell the air, listen to the birds and be grateful. It made me cry because I regret ever being in a hurry.



Splendor in the Grass is the name of the album and the song by the same name is featured on the song list.  The video you see above won the Pink Martini Grand Prize for a video contest. China Forbes sings the song co-written by Thomas Lauderdale, band leader, and Lauderdale's college friend Alex Marashian.  Pink Martini is a Portland group and, though uninvited, I managed to stand next to Lauderdale at the back door to Portland's Arlene Schnitzer theatre on a magic New Year Eve several years ago. (see related article below) I am a huge fan. I hope you enjoy the music. I dare you to listen without tears in your eyes!

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Follow: @pinkmartininews
or me: @barbblogtwits

Read more: PINK MARTINI - SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS LYRICS 

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/splendor-in-the-grass-lyrics-pink-martini.html ] 

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RV Resort Living: Girls just want to have fun!

Carole (center) on the golf course!
Girls having fun!

We have had a lip-sync show almost every year since anyone can remember. This is one of the traditions that has remained here in our RV Resort. But it seemed that this is one tradition that might go away. Time has taken it toll and it could be that this will be the last show, at least for a while.  We know how to create our own fun and have the ability to pull almost anything off but a leader that has the talent for this type of thing is pretty rare.

When my friend Jack decided that we needed a show just one more time, the young people planning our activities for us didn't believe that such a thing could be done. Imagine their surprise when the show went on last night to rave reviews with a very large crowd in attendance. Over 275 tickets were counted at the door, people were slipping in the back way and the hall was filled to the rafters. People stood around the edges and everyone laughed through an evening of outrageous fun.
The show director is well into his eighties and suffers some pretty serious maladies, none of which he is willing talk about.  His zest for life and talent at bringing out the best in those around him is something we treasure. The show has been his baby for more years than anyone can remember. A few years ago he gave it up...too old you know. Imagine our delight when he decided to give it one more try. This is hard because not only do you have to have a great idea for a show but then you have to convince people to get up on stage and act silly. I never doubted he would do it. See, I understand how durable and strong older people really are.

But the doubt by those youngers that live among us is palatable. They really don't appreciate the talent that we all have can survive until we are this old. But survive it does. We are living proof that we are in here, in these bodies alive and well.  And we are still very, very good after all these years. We all know the show must go on!

Here is my friend Carole performing a lip-sync piece of the old Cyndi Lauper song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun". Even here in the 55+ RV resort, the girls are kicking up their heels. Enjoy.




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Snowbird: How do I find a place to rent?

I received this question yesterday from a reader: 

It's wonderful to hear of other single travelers out there. How do you go about finding places to rent in different areas? 

Boy can I relate to this! I remember feeling like a babe in the woods when we first started out. My husband and I traveled across the county in a small class c motor home. We stayed in trailer parks, and RV resorts. In those days we carried a Good Sam Directory and depended on our very new cell phone to make reservations as we went along. I always dreamed of finding a 10-10-10 rated park. The rating assures quality, service and location. I was never disappointed. On that trip we only found one on our route. It was right here in Tucson.

A CROWD GATHERS...NO MATTER WHAT WE DO!

If you are thinking that a resort like the one we spend the winters in would work, I think the RV directories are a good place to start. Woodalls, CampUSA, Good Sam Club are well known and reputable. Amazon has a large selection available.You can, for example, go to Tucson in a directory, see what the resorts are and how they are rated. You can do the very same things for areas in Texas, Florida or any other state. Then you call the park and see if they have park models for rent. Most of the resorts do that very thing.

You have to understand that the reason I recommend an RV resort is because you will be immersed in the social life of the park immediately.  If I were single, that would be very important to me.

However, if you are not interested in something like this, you can find rental agencies that do nothing but rent to snowbirds. Here in Tucson we have an agency called Home Away that might work. Put snowbird rentals or RV resorts in (city of your choice) in the google search line and begin shopping.

I hope this has been helpful.  Any other questions?

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List of post on How to be a Snowbird here.

Tucson AZ: Revisiting My "Penny Pincher" Days

Spending the winter in an RV or in a small apt./park model for 3-6 months is a test of your survival skills. It is a bit like going on a very long camping trip. If you can imagine that, you can get the picture. If you have never been camping or anything close to it, you will have some adjusting to do.

Our space here is around 400 square feet. When we began doing this, we took the bare essentials with us but over the years we have managed to accumulate all the good stuff.  However, our bed is not comfortable and the furnace is on the fritz. Don't let it be said that we are not tough and creative. We know how to overcome most problems that we come face to face with.

Even if I were camping I would be rearranging the tent and making the table beautiful. That is just my nature. A beautiful table cloth can make the worst table look wonderful.

Doing Without or Making Do
Several years ago we bought a little fake fireplace that runs on a light bulb. We have it installed in a corner cabinet that sits under our TV. That little baby has kept us warm through the last cold spell. Honestly, we were just fine. We giggled because we remember huddling around the heat in our childhood.  It was really kind of fun.

The bed really does need to be replaced but we now have a memory foam pad that goes on the top. It is a bit like settling into a feather bed I think. The real problem is that we both roll toward the middle of the bed...just like the bed we were gifted when we were first married. That one has us giggling too. When we went camping we slept on a 2-3 inch foam mattress so this is a real upgrade for us.

Planter made out of a freight pallet. I found it
at the nursery. I loved it!
We might do this in Oregon. Pallets are general
free or very cheap.

Aesthetics on the Cheap
Yesterday we bought our plants for our winter stay. We always buy a few geraniums and herbs just to keep me happy.  We live on a corner here and it is worth the little expense just to have people stop and visit for a few minutes as I pull a weed or two.  But you need to know that I line my hanging flower baskets with brown  paper bags and put a plastic garbage bag filled with potting soil inside. It looks ok and is very cheap! I spend a little over $4.00 on potting soil and I am good to go. (Most of my pots or baskets are things others did not want.)

Furniture
Because people leave or change their furniture, we have managed to accumulate all of our outdoor furniture for free. We spray painted a plastic table and two chairs in Arizona colors. They look very classy for only cost of a can of spray paint.  I have even given some away.  

Eating Out
Groupon is our source of restaurant coupons and our favorite restaurant, Taco Gyro, is very cheap. It was recommended by our neighbors from Mexico. We also like Zona 78 on Tanque Verde...the best and cheapest happy hour in Tucson for 3 years running has us going back over and over.

Entertainment
We dance in the park for a minimal fee and our friends are our main source of entertainment.  I know people that spend a lot of time being tourist or going to shows. They have a lot of fun on very little money. We have a National Park Lifetime Pass so we can come and go for free in the Saguaro National Park that is very near us. I never get enough of that place.

It is kind of fun to live simply and cheaply for a few months each year.  It leaves us with more money for golf. (We alway use EZLinks for tee times.) Life is good!

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Best Ways to Live on a Limited Income: 8 RV Resort Stories

This post if for those of you that wonder what it would be like to live in less than 400 square feet. The very smallest of homes can be found in RV resorts across the country. People either come to visit in the winter or live in the tiny doll houses year around. The latter group does this mostly out of necessity but in some cases they have found ways to live beautifully as well as frugally in that small space.

There are two couples that live year around on my street.  They have beautiful park models and everything they could want even though their space is very small.  The amenities in the park allow people to use their homes for all those personal things and the community space for activities that require spreading out. In many ways it is like a Cohousing arrangement.  A sewing room holds very large tables so those that love to quilt can have the room they need.  Sewing machines line one wall so they can be used by residents.  A shop has all kinds of tools for members of the wood shop club.  A lapidary room provides all the tools necessary for rock cutting and silversmithing. They share things that they only need occasionally. For example, one person stores the ladder while another shares a rug shampooer. It is a very economical arrangement for everyone.

Block Party...R. and W. are just retired and traveling in an RV.
J. and C. come for the winter from northern Wisconsin.

These people have found a way to make their income go a long way.  The luxuries they yearn for are more affordable because they are not spending a fortune on housing amenities.  Many of the year around residents are widows/widowers or have divorced. Some of them are living on a limited income and are managing to do it with very little help from family.

The Stories

1. R. and C. lived in northern Arizona where he worked as a teacher for most of his career.  They still have deep roots in the community they moved from. They had her mother living close by here in the park for many years.  They have an income from the Arizona retirement fund that is very, very limited.  I do not know their personal business but he has talked about their situation informally.  They are younger than we are.  She was always a stay at home mom and never worked at a job that provided retirement or even social security.  He plays pickle ball almost every day and they do go north for a short period of time in the summer.  They have found a wonderful life here for themselves.  
2. W. and E. live in a beautiful park model that they have spend 15 years remodeling...they are working to get it just the way they want. They are from Illinois. E. worked as a nurse here in Tucson until she reached retirement age and W. was a business man. They have made themselves indispensable in this resort.  W. might be the mayor if there was such a thing.  He knows the workings of the park so he our go-to person.
3. L. lives on doggie row. She stays year around and lives on a very limited income. She did not even turn on her air conditioner for many years. The story is that in the summer when it got too hot, she slept on the couch in the coffee room. We have a TV room too so she could spend most of her day in the cool.  The airconditioner went 24 hours a day in the common areas.
4. P. lives very close...he is alone but has a friend that lives down the street.  This couple eats together, dances together and comes to happy hour together. But they do not live together.  They have separate lives, finances and homes with their own belongings.  It is a wonderful arrangement. They stay in the park year around. 
5. T. is P.'s friend.  She has survive two or more husbands and has children living in the midwest.  She is an independent person of great resources.  She buys her shoes at the Tanque Verde swap meet and gets her clothes at a store that sells at close out prices (Cato's). She always looks beautiful and her park model is well maintained.  
6. V. and R. have family here in Tucson. They care for their grandchild frequently. They have a newer park model and like all of the people mentioned above, do not own a second house.  They pour all their energy into their home here in the park. They are very active in their church.
7. S. is not a year round resident but she does knows how to make her money go a long ways. She dresses entirely with clothes from thrift shops. Christmas decorations and even her bicycle have been purchased second hand (Second Time Around Sports).  
8. L. has turned her park model into a two bedroom home. She has moved her living room outdoors and has a heater she can use if she holds a party for a large group.  She has turned the living room into a dining room and has a small comfortable seating area she uses when she is alone.  It is just darling.

People do need things done in this park but the maintenance people and residents are willing to help with handy man jobs.  This makes living here even more affordable.  And we all share what we do not need with someone that needs it.  I have a neighbor's bedspread on my bed and her husband used my husband's saw to reface kitchen cabinets.  They gave us the paving stones we use for our back patio and I will send my basket of succulents home with her this spring.  It is a very simple informal bartering system that works for everyone.

Life goes on here when the snow birds leave.  Over 100 people live here year around.We have a city owned recreational facility nearby.  It adjoins the community college campus and a walking park.  Seniors can use the exercise facilities for a little fee or can join and pay for a season of use.  There is no need for them to spend much on this type of activity.

I love this place.  It might be my second home town...small, gossipy, busy, sunny, friendly. And unlike what you have heard, we are surrounded by younger boomers in increasing numbers. We watch carefully for bikes whizzing by and love to watch tennis players and pickle ball games. In fact, I really would have to tell you that I feel much younger here than I do anyplace I have ever been.

Have a wonderful day.

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Tucson to Tubac....Where the Old West meets the modern golfer!

Tubac Golf Resort Casita

Tubac Golf Resort  

Tubac Event:  The Tucson Autism Community Center is hosting its annual Autism Charity Golf Classic on Tubac’s beautiful golf course on Saturday, April 30. 
     Sonoita Wine Festival:  Sonoita Vineyards in southern Arizona is hosting its 33^rd Annual Blessing of Sonoita Vineyards Festival on Saturday, April 30.

      Sunday Drive:   When we leave Tucson to head south toward Mexico on the way to Tubac for a day of golf, I am always struck by the beauty of this place in the world. While the freeway from Tucson to Mexico is wide and the speed limit is 70 mph the pace of life slows down the closer you come to the border. Mountains surround the broad open valley. Elephant Rock looms in the East as you pass Green Valley. On down the road a very old ranch owned my the Amado family has become home to a lovely resort.  Situated on the east side of the freeway, the Rex Ranch Resort and Spa low slung building blend into the landscape. True to it's name, the resort provided horse back riding and a spa for those of you that want to be pampered. There are two restaurants on the west side of the freeway that are local favorites. The Cow Palace has been famous for their traditional Sunday dinners and the place will also be jammed on Saturday nights. The Longhorn Bar and Grill across from the Cow Palace sports a building shaped like a longhorn steer head.  Reviews for the food is always good.
     I know I have told you how beautiful Tubac Golf Resort is but have I told you about the old west and open range golfing?  When I say open range, I do not mean golf range.  I mean cattle and cow pies, thorny trees and a road called Palo Parado. Honestly, if you don't take the road to Tubac carrying an open heart and mind, you are missing the whole point of your vacation.  This is the place where Catholic missionaries came to stay in 1691. The Conquistadors were here during 140 years before that. Seriously, I think Arizona is a state that has been forgotten...at least here in the southern part. Maybe it is a good thing that development has been slow and tourism hasn't run rampant. Because Arizona is not a very populated state, you will still get a feel for what it was back before gold, greed and religion brought the Europeans.

View south from the Catalina Mountains toward Tubac.     

     The windmills still stand by buildings along the highway and I suppose they are operating to this day.  These people were the original conservationist.  Then we come to Tubac.  Just north of the little artist community the old Tubac Resort welcomes visitors with an arched gate. I always wax poetic when it comes to this area. The Tubac Golf Resort and Spa has been a star in the crown of Southern Arizona since 1959 when Bing Crosby bought the property and began the business that is now Tubac Golf Resort.
     I have played the golf course several times in years past. We shared the course with cattle and all that an open cattle range bring into the mix. Last fall when my husband played the course once again, the cattle were still grazing on the fairways. Mesquite trees, Palo Verde trees and the Santa Cruz river add to the appeal of a beautiful oasis in a very dry landscape. The historic resort is remarkable in so many ways:

Tubac Golf Resort and Spa is set in the most luxurious and tranquil vacation destination in the Southwest. We are located on the historic 500-acre Otero Ranch in the Santa Cruz River Valley. Its Spanish Colonial architecture and lush grounds are enhanced by magnificent views of the Tumacacori and Santa Rita Mountain ranges.

[They are] member of the Historic Hotels of America®, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, whose goal is to identify quality hotels that have faithfully maintained their historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance. 

     I received an email from the Renee Radia, the digital publicist of Tubac Resort yesterday telling me about an event they are hosting in the near future.  Want to vacation AND to help out a wonderful cause at the same time?  They have the perfect combination for you.  This is what she said:

I actually just received news of another event happening at Tubac next weekend.  The Tucson Autism Community Center is hosting its annual Autism Charity Golf Classic on Tubac’s beautiful golf course on Saturday, April 30.  This year’s special guest is NFL veteran Rodney Peete, who recently authored his first book titled “Not My Boy!  A Father, A Son, and One Family’s Journey with Autism.”  Proceeds will benefit the Tucson Alliance for Autism.  For more information and to sign up, visithttp://www.tucsonallianceforautism.org/. 

     So there you have it.  This is just a small glimpse of what the area around Tubac, AZ has to offer.  On another day I will talk (again) about Wisdom's restaurant, the Tumacacori Mission, Sante Cruz Spice Company and Tubac's famous artist festival.  Trust me...you will want to come one day soon.  Put it on your list!

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Related articles

• Tubac Golf Resort & Spa Welcomes Autism Charity Golf Classic and NFL Veteran Quarterback and Author, Rodney Peete. Proceeds Benefit the Tucson Alliance for Autism (TAFA) (prweb.com)
• "Not My Boy!" - Autism Awareness Month (childrensbooksheal.com)

In Search of Ghosts...Tucson for Tourist & Locals

Image via Wikipedia

John Dillinger Poster    

    Do you believe in ghosts?  I have had some ghostly experiences I cannot explain but a believer? I don't know. However, there are places that seem to be perfect for ghosts and the Old Pueblo (Tucson AZ) is one of them. I suppose that is why we like to wander down to the Congress Hotel in the city center. Some very famous bad guys have met their demise there.

    Last Saturday we had breakfast on the shaded patio of the Little Cup Restaurant located in the hotel.  It was very crowded all the time we were there. This little restaurant has been featured on Racheal Ray's $40 a day tv show. I thought it was lots of fun and the food tasted very good to me. 

      The Congress is located just across the street from the old Southern Pacific train station built in 1909 and very near to the historical site when Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday killed Frank Stilwell in 1882. Earp and his followers were exacting revenge for the Tombstone "OK Corral" shoot out. To top it off the famous bank robber John Dillinger was captured in the hotel in 1934. Don't tell me ghosts aren't walking those streets on a hot summer night!  

   Adding to the experience of visiting the hotel is the fact that the current owners have not changed the decor any more than necessary to make it usable, so the old hotel remains pretty much like it was when it was originally build in 1919. The southwest designs on the walls and decorated doors are very true to the originals.

Hotel Congress Room

Shot from the Patio restaurant area

     I was allowed to venture up to the second floor where the staff let me look at the rooms. Each bedroom sports it's own bathroom tiled from top to bottom. The furniture looks like it could have been original right down to the bedspreads on the beds. I could not help but wonder about all the people that had climbed off the train and walked across the street to spend the night.
     The SP Station (Amtrack Station)  has been restored by the city of Tucson. It houses Maynard's Market and Kitchen, the Amtrack waiting room and a museum of transportation history. If you are a train buff, you will love the steam engine they have standing in the back near the railroad tracks. This shiny beauty is lovingly cared for by volunteers.

      Maynard's Market sells some wonderful gift items and pizzas during the day. In the evening the Kitchen lights up for happy hour and dinner.  Their website states:

Maynard's Market

  

Maynards Kitchen, described in the New York Times as “dark and handsome”, and voted “Best Romantic Setting” by Tucson Weekly, will consistently delight you with wonderful food & wine, its hip, spirited bar, and evocative, elegant atmosphere.

Walking Map of Downtown Tucson.
Available at the visitors bureau and in the lobby of the hotel (?)

      Drive on down to the hotel located on the corner of Congress and Broadway in downtown Tucson. Maybe stay at the Congress just to see what a very old hotel feels like. The room rates range between $89 and $119. Listen for Ghosts at night. Walk across Congress Street to the Unions Pacific Station to see the bronze of Wyatt Earp and buy a beautiful bottle of wine at Maynard's Market. Check out the happy hour in the restaurant.
     If you stay more than one night, walk on over to El Charros for dinner (featured in Gourmet Magazine in October of 2008).  It is located on Court Street in the Presidio a few blocks away. El Charro's was established in 1922...maybe Dillingers ate his last meal as a free man there. It is still run by the family that built it all those years ago and it's claim to fame is that is it the nations oldest Mexican Restaurant run by the same family still in operation. Legend has it that the chimichanga we all eat in our neighborhood Mexican restaurant was invented here.  You will get to try some authentic Sonoran Mexican food in a beautiful setting. The patio is quiet, charming and protected.
     Be sure to check out the bario just south of the downtown and go north to the Presidio. Take your camera. You will not regret it. Tucson is called the Old Pueblo for a reason. You will go home with a better understanding of this historic place. And who knows. Maybe you will even have a story or two.  There are ghosts wandering those streets. This is the kind of experience a vacations or Sunday outing is for.

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Related articles

• Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday to ride again in Wild Guns (guardian.co.uk)