My friend in Florida, Debbie has a friend in Tucson and asked if I'd like to visit with her. I said yes, and sent a message. So Tuesday morning I met Eileen for breakfast at a cute French bistro type restaurant she chose, Mimi's Cafe. We had a nice meal and a fun visit. It Always nice to visit and share stories, she's a nice lady. Thanks for breakfast!!!
After breakfast, with my trusty GPS, I decided it was time to go and wash Cinnamon. She's been cross country, up on dirt roads camping and is parked on a dirt spot. She was a mess. So I went to the wash it yourself place and for $1.25 I cleaned her up and made her presentable. First time I've used that type of car wash. I'm afraid to drive into those other ones so this was fine I might be the only person in America who washes her car at home. I'm just too cheap to pay for a car wash, and I think those brushes are too strong for a car. I'll just get a good hand detail at my house once a year to keep her waxed.
Then to Safeway for a few groceries. I'm going to make Hungarian Goulash for dinner tomorrow night and I am sure looking forward to eating it. I asked Mike if he would smoke a brisket for me. He has a Traeger smoker and does some great meat. It should taste amazing so we'll have to go to the store (Safeway was out of them today). Really looking forward to smoked brisket, one of my favorites.
Wednesday, Cheryl and Mike took me on an interesting day trip. We stopped first at the San Xavier del Bac Mission, 1692. John and I had been there before with them, but it was special to go back and see it again. They call it the Dove of the Desert, as it is bright white and shines out from the bleak desert and can be seen for miles away from the freeway. She is a beauty and was built by Father Kino who was instrumental in getting areas of Arizona started as he built several Catholic missions.
After taking lots of photos, we headed down the road back to Tubac as the museum will be open today. We stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant called Habanero's. Frosty Modelo Negro for Mike and me, tasted so good. I looked at the menu and almost fainted as they had cochineta pibil tacos which is hard to find and my favorite!!!!! I was so excited. Good beans, rice, but their salsa was almost a joke. I will send them a salsa recipe, no flavor or heat at all. But the tacos made up for everything. Yum and double yum.
After lunch to the Presidio and museums at the State Park. It is run by volunteers who do a very good job. The area was very enjoyable, just super hot out, around 100, but no humidity so survivable. Tubac was established in 1752 and it had the first school and first newspaper and many other firsts in the state of Arizona. Fascinating learning about the beginnings of Arizona.
Cheryl's daughter came over Thursday and we did some crafts. Rock painting and Rachel worked on origami. She made us each a crane and a cute heart. My goulash was good and we all over ate, hopefully lesson learned.
I decided that I could not let the pool go unused by me, so I braved it. Took me about 15 minutes to slowly get in, but I did it. Prior I'd had 2 beers so that might have helped. Felt refreshing after a few minutes of getting used to it. After pool went into hot tub and Mike and I visited and had another beer. Quite a relaxing afternoon.
Went to dinner at a Tucson old time favorite Mexican restaurant, opened in 1947, Casa Molina. I've had so much Mexican food while here and still ready for more. Had the best mango margarita with the rim of the glass having Tajin spice and there was a spicy tamarind candy straw that was delicious. Something new and so tasty.
The brisket smoking was so much more involved then I realized as he had temp gauges all over and kept having to check it. I thought you just put it in the smoker and later it was done. He also did some chicken tenders for me. I love smoked meat so our dinner was a wonderful feast. Cheryl's daughter, Rachel, came over and joined us. We also had fried okra, so a good Southern dinner.
I was up at 4:00 a.m. just couldn't sleep anymore. Had a few naps during the day. Lazy day besides finishing cleaning out the trailer. All clean and ready for their next trip. TV, computer, rock painting, eating and going to bed early. Always nice to have a rest day.
I'll end this blog here. We still have lots of things to look forward to. There are many other things we could do but so many places are closed due to Covid. Tucson Museum of Art is closed. But having a super time. I enjoy the cool mornings on the patio with Cheryl having our coffee. We are hoping to go up to the mountains to check out the trees changing next week. All for now.
* Mistletoe: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1JZAP_enUS698US698&sxsrf=ALeKk00VMCKGJ7iDVBvnedNnhZmDNQL_yQ:1601301737025&q=mistletoe+in+trees+arizona&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_ktrpgYzsAhUVpZ4KHUTpDMcQirwEKAB6BAgUED4&biw=1229&bih=578
