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Phase Five

Phoenix - Tucson - Bisbee - Albuquerque

May 14 – May 21

This phase of our adventure was completed two months behind schedule. This is because we experienced staffing issues and also, Sandra left me for two weeks in April to spend time with her sisters in Argentina. So we decided that it would be best for me to do this leg of our adventure on my own after she returned. Being that this blog would be incomplete without at least one picture of Sandra, I have included some shots of her Argentina trip at the end of this page.

I began my trip by visiting my family in Phoenix. I have only been able to make it there a couple of times in the past, so I have missed out on a lot of the family experiences. For example, I have a seven and five year old cousins that I met for the very first time on this trip. I appreciated the opportunity to finally meet them.

My next destination was Tucson. Along the way I stopped at the Casa Grande National Monument, which consists primarily of the ruins of one large building that was constructed in the 1300's and eventually abandoned in the 1400's. Later in the day, I visited the western segment of Saguaro National Park. I have to say that I found this park to be the least interesting of all the ones I have seen to date. This section of Saguaro only had a few short trails, and most of the views along them differed little from what you can see from the parking lots. One thing I found interesting about this park was its variety of desert vegetation, and primarily its large assortment of saguaro cactus that come in all shapes and sizes. I lucked out and arrived during a significant period of cactus blooming. The flowers appeared very sporadically, but in contrast to the harsh surroundings they grew in, were strikingly beautiful.

Casa Grande National Monument

Saguaro Cacti in Saguaro National Park

The city of Tucson is an outdoor enthusiast playground. The city is encircled by parks offering more than 200 hiking trails, with most of them just a stone’s throw away from the city’s border. The next day I did Bear Canyon to Seven Falls, a seven mile round trip hike in Sabino Canyon National Recreation Area. I found this park to be far more interesting than Saguaro. The hike concluded at a series of small falls cascading into a chain of pools. Some of the hikers kept on going and climbed the rocks to reach the higher falls. I was very tired, and was perfectly happy staying in the bottom pool with my feet dangling in the cold clear water.

While in Tucson, I spent most of my time in the Pie Allen neighborhood. This area, which is adjacent to the University of Arizona, is very funky and eclectic, and filled with lots of interesting people, shops and bars.

Bear Canyon - Sabino National Recreation Area

Pie Allen Neighborhood

Seven Falls - Sabino National Recreation Area

The Hut Tiki Lounge - Pie Allen Neighborhood

After Tucson, I continued south to Bisbee. Along the way I stopped at Tombstone, the city made famous from the shootout at the OK Corral. The downtown was made to kind of, sort of look like a wild west town and is filled with actors dressed up in old garb, walking around advertising their wild west enactments and tourist trap stores. It was a marginally entertaining way to spend an hour. Another attraction in town is the Boothill Cemetery, which I actually found it to be very interesting, and well worth the $3 admission.

Allen Street - Tombstone

Boothill Cemetery - Tombstone

I spent the next few days checking out Bisbee, which we are possibly considering as a retirement destination. Bisbee lies at 5,600 feet above sea level, so it's weather is more pleasant and it's vegetation is much lusher than it is in the surrounding desert. The city of 6,000 is situated in a canyon with rows of houses creeping up the canyon walls. Some of these houses do not have street access and can only be reached by stairways. If you would add up all the stairways in the city you would come up with over 33,000 steps. Every year the city hosts a 5K run called the Bisbee 1,000 where people spend the day running up and down some of these stairways.

Bisbee was originally settled as a mining city, with a well paid work force. This affluence is reflected by the abundance of art deco and Victorian architecture in the city. Bisbee is a very pretty city, just bursting at the seams with character. After the mines closed down, it began to decline, until groups of roaming hippies discovered the town, and began purchasing property for pennies on the dollar. Many of these hippies were artists and musicians, and transformed the city into a significant art/music/tourist destination. Bisbee now hosts over 30 art galleries, numerous bars with live music, and a variety of art and music festivals throughout the year.

While in town, I took the Queen Mine Tour where I rode a train for half mile inside the mountain. I love taking miniature train rides, so I could not pass this one up. It was loads of fun, and actually very informative.

My next destination was Albuquerque, which was reached after six hours of very boring desert driving. Along the way I came within just two miles of the Mexican border. I was interested in crossing over to visit the town of Agua Prieta to give it a looksee, but everyone I asked about it, said that it would not be worth the hassle of gong there. So I took a pass. The only thing to break my monotony all day was the town of Hatch, which has large fiberglass sculptures scattered throughout the small downtown.

I only had a few hours to tour Albuquerque. I spent most of that time in the Nob Hill neighborhood, which is adjacent to the University of New Mexico. Nob hill was not as interesting or funky as Pie Allen in Tucson, but was still a fun place to visit.

Downtown Hatch

Nob Hill

For Sandra's Family

Sandra came back from Argentina with numerous stories about the great time she had with her two sisters, friends and family. Its interesting that one of her destinations had same kind of terrain, and eerily similar cacti as in Tucson.

The Three Sisters in Valles Calchaquies

Argentina or Arizona?

For my Family

I was glad that everyone was able to get together for an early dinner. Afterwords, Andy had to go to work, and Heidi had a cast party to attend. Heidi has been getting involved in Phoenix's growing movie industry and has had small parts in two films so far. It was great fun spending time with them all, and especially with the two kids which are an absolute delight.