"Downtown"

Turned out to be a great day today in Tucson! Lots of sun and a bit warmer than yesterday. Spent the morning enjoying the sun, drinking coffee, and working on my new pet project - the "Photo Contest". Yes, I am going to enter the RV Resort's photo contest, in 3 different categories, Landscapes, Flowers, and Animals. I am in the process of putting it all together, and if you check the blog tomorrow I will show you my finished product for each one.

This afternoon, after our computer work was done, we headed over to Wallmart to take care of a few items, and then it was off to "Downtown" Tucson. When we were down there last week at the Visitor Centre, Judy picked up a brochure on a downtown walking tour. Today was time to do it! They call the tour "The Presidio Trail"...

Here is the Presidio which was built 1775! It was a fort used to defend Tucson. This place is dripping in history.



These are the front Gates, very impressive...



This bronze statute commemorates the day in 1846 when Mormon soldiers entered Tucson on their way to California, to fight in the Mexican War.

This monument honored the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge... WWII.

This is right in the downtown core, and is very well done as a mall, it has a courtyard you can sit around in and contemplate life!

A fountain to keep your feet cool...

We were on a pedestrian walkover, and took this picture looking north.....

and then this one looking south at the mountains.....

While we were walking downtown, could not resist taking this picture of a liquor store, that has a drive through.... gotta love it, only in Arizona.



There is a big Rock and Gem Show on in Tucson right now and here are a couple of the venues...

this is the big new Conference Centre...




These tents are across the road from the Conference Centre, and are big!



This Shrine in downtown.... apparently in the 1870's some Mexican killed his Wife's lover, and the local Priest did not allow the burial in the local cemetery, so local people built this Shrine and burned candles to help pray for his soul.


Typical Arizona, just up from the Shrine, they allow the cactus to grow right on the sidewalk...


This picture is from the core area downtown and was a bit busier with people shopping etc....

Now this is COOL.... this is the Hotel Congress. Built in 1919 across from the railroad depot, this hotel was popular with winter visitors. It became famous in 1934 when members of John Dillinger's Gang rented rooms. While they were there the building caught fire and the gang paid some firemen to carry their bags outside. The firemen didn't open the bags but wondered why they were so heavy; the bags contained sub machine guns and bulletproof vests. The gang was recognized from a True Detective Mysteries magazine and soon were arrested.


Tucson is going through re-development at this time. This building was just near completion, and I thought it was a bit weird, as it has no windows on this side.... I think due to the fact the sun is on it all day!


The next picture is for Kristina... they irrigate all the flowers downtown, so they have to put these signs up.....


A great day overall, we went back to the RV from our tour, and enjoyed the nice setting sun outside before going in to watch the Leaf's lose again! Yikes.... oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Till tomorrow...