Blogs from Tucson, Arizona, United States, North America - page 16

We made a day trip of about 100 miles one way from Tucson to the Chiricahua; the Land of Standing Up Rocks. After a week of wet and cold at the RV park, it was great to get on the road for a day. With a 75 mph speed limit, we can get from one place to another lickety-split. Entering the monument is like driving up a sky island; rock pinnacles loom over the road like guardians of the forest. The Chiricahua Apache called these pinnacles “standing up rocks;” originating from volcanic eruptions 27 million years ago. Erosion, water, wind and such have fractured the landsape, creating an endless variety of spires, balanced rocks and other images on which imagination can feast. The more we looked, the more alive many of the formations seemed. I’ve named ... read more

We thought we would get a quick check on a small coolant leak on Ruby Grace on Monday. European Auto Tech, a repair shop in Tucson I highly recommend, got us right in, found the minor leak and fixed it quickly only to have the alternator belt break. No problem. Easily fixed and how fortuitous that the thing broke at the shop not down the road. Unfortunately, Ruby is having the last word. The sliding door decided to break when we were running an errand on the way home from the shop. We turned around and went back to see our new best friend, John. He needed to order a part which would be overnighted from LA. Of course, the next day, UPS decided that we should be part of the low percentage of not on-time ... read more

Well I am packed and ready to go to Costa Rica! Its hard to believe that I'm going to be there for four months, I don't think it will set in until I land in San Jose. I have spent the last week trying to get everything I need (including GIANT snake-guard boots, see picture) and I'm ready to just be there already! Let's go, let's go, let's go! For those of you that don't know I am participating in the Organization for Tropical Studies' Tropical Biology semester abroad in Costa Rica...whew that's a mouthfull! Wish me safe travels, and I'll see you in Costa Rica! Jo... read more

In what has become a bit of a tradition with us, Melisse and I are once again spending the holidays with our good friends Kay and Gary at their beautiful home in the Sonoran Desert outside Tucson, Arizona. Melisse and Kay have a close friendship dating back to when they both worked at Chase Studio in southern Missouri. Kay has since started her own studio with her husband Gary. So once again, friends from the exhibit world are providing us with home, hearth and friendship. It is sublime to wake up in the desert in winter. Melisse, Quito and I arise and, prior to anything else the day might bring, go for a brisk walk in the wash that is just across the road from the house. There is a bit of a chill in the ... read more

Geo: 32.2215, -110.97Tucson's Barrio Historico is my kind of place. Color everywhere. Lavender. Blue. Fuchia. Acid Green. Orange. Acid green and brilliant blue TOGETHER, same house. And just in case the house colors aren't enough--add snappy bougainvillea and cactus. It's maybe a 6 square block area that used to be all Mexican-American and still retains that great Mexican feel with flat roofed adobe homes and roofs made of saguaro ribs and packed earth that keep out the intense desert sun.It's quiet streets and vibrant colors present a dichotomy though. The one, neglect--the other, a fiesta.Don't expect tourist heaven if you go there. They couldn't care less if there's a tourist in sight. It's a calm, quiet residential area of private homes with a smattering of businesses--an architect, an artist, and on the corner nearest Tucson's central ... read more