Tucson

Today is Saturday January 30th, 2016.  Tomorrow were catching a morning bus to Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico where will stay overniht at the Hotel San Sebastian and fly to Oaxaca via Mexico City on Monday, February 1.

It's been wonderful spending time with our daughter Katie.  She is a ball of energy.  She has a full time job as a researcher for the University of Arizona as well as being a very active singer/songwriter and a professional life coach.  She is deeply involved in the Tucson music scene and recently released her fourth solo CD called "The Aviary." Here's a link to a video of one of the songs from the CD "Wood"



Highlights while in Tucson....

Golf at Randolf Park course. (excellent shape, first-class municipal course)

Mission San Xavier (striking architecture,  creepy statues of saints and virgins,  beautiful setting on Native American reservation, great bean burrito with charcoal grilled tortilla)

Birding at Sweetwater Wetlands (Ruddy Duck, American Widgeon, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Coots, Pied-bill Grebes,  Ladderbacked Woodpecker,  Red Naped Sapsucker,  House Finches,  Coopers Hawk, Roadrunner, Green Winged Teal.)

Hiking and birding at Sabino Canyon.( humming bird doing spectactular display flight where it hovered six feet above ground then ascended rapidly straight up to a point where it became invisible it would then fall straight down and make a loud "cheep" as it nearly hits the ground.  We watched it do this over and over again.  Spectacular! Also Roadrunner, Phaenopepla (sp.?) Brittlebush and Globe Mallow in bloom and, of course, the stately Sahuaro.

Tacos at  Taqueria Pico de Gallo in South Tucson.  (muy saboroso, birria taco made from goat meat,  very authentic,  a muy "in" place for Tucsonians)

A wonderful dinner of carne asada tacos and beans at Katie's new home cooked by her very talented boyfriend and musical collaborator, Ben Nisbet.  Fun meal also included fancy Manhattans made with a special  "High West" rye whiskey recommended by Ben.

Lunch at Beyond Bread with my sister Anne and her daughter Heather.  Anne lives near Phoenix and Heather is a pediatrician visiting from Australia.  Wonderful, relaxed time of family connection.