Tumacácori and Tubac

I started out with thinking about a "T" tongue twister:  Traveling to Tumacácori and Tubac tentatively  takes time.  Oops....an "a" word squeezed in there.  Oh well, it is the best I could do. 

Not only was it a beautiful day, it was a day where everyone could get into the National Parks free if charge.  Worked for all of us!

 This is what the mission looks like today, partially restored, and

what it looked like in 1868, after being abandoned for 20 years.  The original facade of the church and also the inside were painted with bright colors.  Now these have been replaced with muted shades of tan and adobe colors.

Not only was there free admission, there were locals providing demonstrations of paper flower making and tortilla making.  Of course, it would have been rude for us to pass these ladies by without making a donation and sampling some tortillas.  Doris added homemade beans and salsa to hers.

Beans , Salsa and tortillas hot off the outside stove.

Our little snack was followed by a walk around the grounds of the mission.  Below is the mortuary chapel.  The roof of this circular building was never finished.

 Behind the mortuary is the cemetery.  The 593 graves from the mission era have long ago been destroyed by weather, thieves and cattle.  The ones that remain are from the 20th century.  The only one that is identified is that of Juanita Alegria.  She was buried in 1916.

 Sandy patiently waited for Jeff, Erica and Jerry to catch up as we walked through the grounds.  Years ago, there was not much to see here besides the church.

Next stop: Tubac, small town, big prices....also known as a tourist trap.  The artwork is beautiful, the clothes in the store are unique (meaning $$$$) and the stores are quaint.  In other words, we window shopped.

Jerry, Jeff and Erica 

 Don checked out the map as Doris waited for him.  None of the maps showed any benches, but he soon found a spot where he could sit and let the rest of us wander.

The quaint shops and interesting sculptures can keep you occupied for hours.....unless you are of the same persuasion as Don.  He was ready to leave after about 15 minutes.  The only thing that would hold his interest would be a tool store (there were none).  Thank goodness Doris and Sandy went along with me....or did I go with them?.......Oh well, at least we had a good time!

 This roadrunner made out of a saxophone captured my eye as we went past it.  Now that is something I think would go great in our back yard.  He was a quiet guy, though, and not once did I hear his "beep, beep" as we went past.

 Last stop of the day: the Cow Palace.  It has been at this spot since 1920 when Mr. Kinsley started it.  I remember it from my childhood as Kinsley's ranch, a cool respite with a nice lake.  It was a stopping point on the old Nogales Highway for many years.  Now the lake and trees across the street are gone, but at least the restaurant lives on.