Tubac, Tumacácori and Wisdom's

One big outing while in Tucson was a drive south down towards Nogales.  But, something was going on and the police, Arizona State Patrol and the goverment's INS agents were thicker than fleas on a St. Bernard!  eeeeepah!

So we left the freeway at Wisdom and drove down to Tumacácori State Park.  This is the site of what is believed to be the oldest mission in Arizona, circa 1701.  It was good getting out into the sunshine and almost fell asleep standing in a sunbeam while I waited for my mining partner to catch up with me!

The ruins are gutted.  Apaches, Mexicans, US Soldiers, vandals and cows have all taken their toll on the them through the centuries.  And there is a disconnect in there.  The Apaches hit the mission in 1645, yet the building dates from 1751, but then there is literature giving 1701 as the date and even earlier ones in the 17th century.  It seems there were either multiple structures across time or researchers are confused.

This was a Jesuit settlement, very plan ordinary priests.  The building is not.  It is more Franciscan in style - fancy!  As is the San Xavier mission up the road.  Yet even the San Xavier mission was a Jesuit site as well but it is known that the original was washed away in a flood.  So maybe the Franciscan's rebuilt that one as well?

Not far away, like a football field length away I found some other ruins, not listed in the brochures.  Very simple, lost to time, but someone has been working the dirt looking for clues I imagine.  Perhaps this was the real Tumacácori MIssion?  

In the writings of the Jesuit's Padre Kino is said to have established the Tumacácori Mission for the Pima Indians in 1691!  Could this be the original mission buildings?  Most likely there was a small house and a small chapel (about 9x15 if I was to guess).  Simple, what you might expect a Jesuit to have built.  Hmmmmmmm ....

This is a site well worth the visit.

Just down the road a bit further is the Santa Cruz Spice company.  Cheap spices, excellent quality and a wide variety of chilies.

Back up the road north is Wisdom's, a hole in the wall diner and usually packed.  But, remember, there were police and INS agents everywhere today - so it was very open and "white eyes" were rushed to tables while a strolling mariachi band sang their songs.  

This is where I had that Sonoran Hot Dog several years ago, I told you about.  It is still on the menu but I already ate one once!  I forgot what I had, the prickly pear margarita sort of removed all memories of the meal from my mind!  Yeah, I rarely ever drink alcohol and so no real memory I fear .... :)  Man, that puppy was pure rocket fuel!

Tubac is a tourist trap, north of all I have been discussing.  You will have to go through an inspection station where all cars were being searched, dog sniffed and whatever.  I utterly freaked out my friends by switching to German just for laughs.  LOL - well sort of, INS agents have no sense of humor it seems.  But, that must be a grueling operation to have it removed ...  As for my German, I was practicing how to respond in German for about 15 minutes.  LOL!


It was a great day.  I picked up some great Indian pots from Casas Grandes, down in Mexico and some Mayan chocolate utensils (for Swede's birthday coming up).  Oh and of course some chirping bird dolls for the grandkids when I see them this weekend.