Desert Life

Our house on the right, owners' on the left

Sun awoke us in the morning and we decided to go for a hike in Saguaro National Park first thing, accessible through the rear entrance of our cottage. 

The park was established in 1933 for the purpose of protecting the giant saguaro cactus (Carnegia gigantean), an iconic symbol of the American southwest. These majestic cacti are easily recognized by their size and structure, sometimes reaching a height of 50 ft/15 m, and at that height they are 200+ years old! Saguaros only grow in the Sonoran Desert, but only in a specific area, ranging mostly from central Arizona to Sonora/Mexico. 

Palo Verde in front, left

Separated by the city of Tucson the park has east and west districts, and, in both areas the desert floor gives way to mountain foothills. The western section of the park - where we are staying - lies within the original homeland of the Tohono O'Odham people. 

 

Besides Saguaros there are ocotillos (fouquieria splendens), prickly pears (opuntia), chollas (cylindropuntia, barrel cacti and hedgehogs (echinocerus/echinocactus), plus shrubs like palo verde, mesquite, acacias and creosote bushes. Views were gorgeous, no other hikers to be seen in this "backyard" of the park. Lush life and death are very close together in the park.

 

Bird's nest in an acacia (?)

Hummingbird at the feeder on our patio

In the afternoon, after lunch at an authentic Mexican restaurant in South Tucson, El Merendero, with a good friend of us, we drove into downtown Tucson, parked at the end of the (complimentary) streetcar and explored El Mercado, Presidio, Historic 4th Ave. and the Historic Courthouse with its fantastic Visitor Center. 

 

Tucson was founded in 1775, but Hohokam Indians lived and farmed here for 4,000 years before Spanish missionaries and soldiers arrived in the late 1600s and established the Presidio San Agustín del Tucson (right) and the Mission San Xavier del Bac. In 1877, Tucson was incorporated as a city, making it the oldest city in Arizona. Today the metro area counts more than 1 mio. residents. 

 

Since it had become cloudy, didn't take too many photos, still have plenty better ones from last year, therefore mostly concentrated on murals on the way:

On the way back home we stopped at a Mexican Supermarket El Herradero (below), which we knew from our previous visit. A good choice, since its much less expensive than regular supermarkets! You could even get a taco or tamales outside, on the parking lot, prepared in the trunk of a car or on a truck bed. Dining out has really become expensive in the U.S., no matter where! 

It had warmed up to about 65 deg F/18 C in the evening, despite all the clouds. We enjoyed the not real clear sunset on our patio, wondering who's living in these million+-dollar properties surrounding us. Most of them look empty, probably also just temporary homes of very wealthy city dwellers from colder regions? We would love to do some homesitting for sure,,,