This morning while Jason went on a bike ride, I went out in the neighborhood to scope out the semi-annual Rancho Sahuarita Yard Sale. Sadly, I waited too late to see anything good, only crap and random stuff only a very particular buyer would want were left.
I came home and we decided to head to the U of A campus.
We enjoyed lunch at Frog & Firkin.
They had all kinds of unique beers... including Stone Arrogant Bastard. LOL
I had a delicious sandwich: chicken, bacon, cheese and apple. YUM!
Jason got fish & chips with a salad that had an awesome dressing.
We enjoyed a couple of cold beers and then...
walked around the strip and
walked around the beautiful U of A campus.
Some of the scenes made me miss college life a little.
After a little exploring,
and searching we found
the Center for Creative Photography.
When we finally did find it, we were not that impressed.
There was an abstract collection and that's not exactly our tastes.
We did find Ansel Adams photographs. They were in a corner upstairs!! Weird.
Jason holding my purse... Bahahahahaha!!!
When we were about to leave, the skies opened up and the rain poured down!
We sat in the lobby and I started taking my own abstract photos. "I call this one museum floor!" LOL [I'll post them later.] It was fun, and had us laughing. :)
I love my sweet hubby. He's so fun!
When the rain finally let up we walked toward the parking garage.
It was fun and romantic in a way.
We decided to check out San Xavier Mission on the way home.
A National Historic Landmark, San Xavier Mission was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed in 1797.
The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church's interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. It is a place where visitors can truly step back in time and enter an authentic 18th Century space.
The church retains its original purpose of ministering to the religious needs of its parishioners.
Some 200,000 visitors come each year from all over the world to view what is widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States.
The current church dates from the late 1700's, when Southern Arizona was part of New Spain. In 1783, Franciscan missionary Fr. Juan Bautista Velderrain was able to begin contruction on the present structure using money borrowed from a Sonoran rancher. He hired an architect, Ignacio Gaona, and a large workforce of O'odham to create the present church.
Following Mexican independence in 1821, San Xavier became part of Mexico. The last resident Franciscan of the 19th Century departed in 1837. With the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, the Mission joined the United States. In 1859 San Xavier became part of the Diocese of Santa Fe. In 1866 Tucson became an incipient diocese and regular services were held at the Mission once again. Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet opened a school at the Mission in 1872. Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity now teach at the school and reside in the convent.
The Franciscans returned to the Mission in 1913. Recently, Mission San Xavier became a seperate nonprofit entity. It remains a testament to the endurance of culture thoughtout our history.
Inside it was very beautiful & ornate.
Just about everywhere you looked... candles...
...candles...
...and more candles!
They were very beautiful, but made it very warm.
I saw this figure laying on a table and for a minute felt horrible, thinking that there was a funeral going on, then I realized this is a statue of Saint Francis.
Everyday the Mission has pilgrams, tourists, and locals pray to St. Francis for intersessionary pray to God. Countless people say their prayes have been answered through the intersession of St. Francis. This tradition goes back to Father Ignacio Joseph Ramirez y Arellano who is believed to have had a miraculous state in death that was witnessed by people from all over the Tucson Area. Those who believe come with needs, requests and thanksgiving for answered prayers. Apparently he is usually in glass, but was out the day we went. People would kiss his forehead, raise him from the neck a few times and then kiss him on the forehead again. Catholics are very traditional, especially the Hispanic Catholics.
The path to the sanctuary had walls with the stations of the cross sculpted into them.
Very small... very warm... and loaded with prayer lit candles.
There was an Indian population there. Some were selling Indian flat bread.
We decided to walk up the hill next the the church and check it out. It is not owned by the church, but there is a gate with lions...
and a white cross at the top...
and everyone else seemed to be checking it out too... so....
The view was beautiful.
This gated cave was around the side of the hill.
and a statue of Mary is in the upper right.
We took a break ...and a photo!
We discovered it's just a ring near the top that goes around in a circle. You have to do some serious rock climbing to get up to the white cross... so we opted not to do that.
Walking down the hill.
It's very beautiful.
After that we drove around trying to find the Tourist Info place at the Pima Mine Rd. exit.
We drove around the Casino.
It looks really nice... but no tourist info place.
[We found out later it was in the Mine Tour place.]
All in all... a wonderful day!! :)
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