October 27, 2023; Tucson

 After some very good pastries at a French Café we headed down to Tucson to see some of the sites of the city.  Tucson is so named as a derivation of a name associated with the Native Americans that occupied the area when the first European Explorers (Spaniards) arrived. Those people, the Tohono O’odham (Desert People) had a village and irrigated fields at Bac, about 7 miles upstream from their village of Stjucson (or Schook-shon), meaning “At The Foot of Black Hill or Mountain.  From there the pronunciation evolved through the Spanish and then English inhabitants of the valley to the current Tucson (Two-saw-n).

Tucson’s first European settlement was the establishment of a presidio, in 1775, one year before the United States' declaration of independence.  The fort was established by an Irishman, serving in the Spanish army, with the purpose of protecting his soldiers and the Apache clans that he had allied with against other powerful Apache clans.  These Apache wars continued for 111 years until Geronimo surrendered to the U.S troops.  He was the last Native American to formally surrender. 

The courthouse included a very nice historical museum.  Another treat was that one of the courtrooms has been restored to the way it was when the Dillinger Gang was captured at the Congress Hotel here in Tucson. Then they were arraigned in this restored courtroom.  There was a fun and informative audio presentation that recounted that little piece of fame for Tucson. 

part of original adobe wall of presidio

part of original wall of presidio

Behind the courthouse is a beautiful sculpture park.  It is part of their January 8th memorial honoring U.S. Representative Gabriel (Gabby) Giffords who was shot right outside of the courthouse.  Two interesting statues in the park, the “Leather Jacket Soldier” depicting a Spanish Soldier who would have first occupied the presidio.  A second sculpture commemorates the“Mormon Battalion” that passed through Tucson during the Mexican war on their way to California.  Good news!  The Iowan “Mormons” and the Spanish “Roman Catholics” got along well for the few days they were here.

Spanish Soldier

Mormon Batalion

Sandy and I then walked over to the Cathedral of St. Augustine.  This church is the seat of the Diocese of Tucson which is the fifth largest diocese in North America.  The church reflects a very large version of the typical southwestern mission churches that are found so often from Texas to Southern California.

At this point we were done with history and ready for refreshments.  We made our way to Telles Block, and area of Sonoran row houses that are now a collection of artisan shops that form an inner courtyard.  In that courtyard is a restaurant and, more importantly, a fine bar.  Sandy enjoyed another of her margaritas (this was her favorite since arriving in Arizona and I had a version of a whisky sour using some desert fruits to sour the drink.

Driving back to the Condo the scenery was beautiful.  Tall mountains surrounding a table flat valley.  

We finished the evening by plugging in the car and meeting up again with Bev and Jim, we enjoyed a good meal prepared by our hosts and lots of pleasant conversation late into the night.