Saturday, April 11, 2020

Visit to Mission San Xavier del Bac

Location:  The RV Park in the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona


What a difference a day makes! 

Woke up this morning reluctantly at 8 o'clock.  Yuma could hear the new neighbor's dogs in the Dog Park and he wanted to join them.  I knew the owners didn't want him in the same cage with them so I put Yuma in the small dog cage.  These dogs are not mean.  They are two Newfoundland dogs and they each weigh 160 pounds!  They just play rough.
They have a young one too that weighs only 120 pounds.  I can't believe this older couple in a 38 foot RV live with these three dogs.  Oh well!  To each his own.

By noon the rain started and lasted most of the day.  It has finally stopped this evening.  Before moving to the Mission, I have a few pictures that got lost in the shuffle.

Full moon on April 7.




Sunset on April 9.




View of a mountain northeast of the RV Park.



Now lets go back to the short trip me, Yuma and Nancy took to the oldest intact European structure in Arizona not far from here yesterday morning at 10:30.  Nancy said she would post some inside pictures from previous visits, so check out her blog.

We both had checked online and from what we understood, the church was open but no services were scheduled.  We were wrong.  The doors were locked so the only pictures are from our stroll around the premises.  For more information there is quite a bit on the internet.

Entering the parking area.




Nancy telling us to hurry up!



Entrance.  The right side is still being renovated.

Courtyard




Beautiful cactus flowers.



 We walked through the archway and headed up the hill beyond.

Looking back.


Entrance to the hill path.



Hill resident.

 As we walked around the hill there was a grotto on the north side.

Lit candles.







Cross at the top of the hill.



Looking through the vendor cover.


Newer plaza with small shops.


We were finished by 12:30 and Yuma an I enjoyed laying out in the warm afternoon sun.  Later, I cooked a couple of hamburgers for us on the grill and watched Gold Rush.  Great day and I thank Nancy for taking us to that beautiful mission.  Hopefully, next year I will see the inside.

Tonight's sunset after the rains.
See you later.

18 comments:

  1. That's a beautiful mission. It seems to out in the middle of nowhere. It is cettainly big. Gorgeous coactus flowers. I wonder what the name of the mountain is near your RV park. Wonderful photo of the sunset through the rain clouds.

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    1. Thanks Dolly. Its nine miles south of the Tucson city limits and the land is owned by the O'odham Indians and is farmland they still use for their food. I believe the name of the mountains east of here are the Rincon Mountains.

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  2. Doug, We live close to the Mission, and hopefully next year you can see the inside, well worth it. Buy the way, those doors are from the 1700 hundreds. I always like to touch something that old. The stories those doors could tell! How much longer are you hanging around? Take care, Rawn

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    1. I could tell the door was old by the wear in the oak wood. I'll be in New Mexico tomorrow night. Working around the weather to get home next week. This adventure is winding down.:((

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  3. I've been lucky enough to visit that mission twice in my life. It is called "the white dove of the desert". The weather is usually beautiful & the sky a brilliant blue (just like your photos). Glad you got to see it and hope I see it again some day. Happy Easter, Doug. Enjoy a special day in the desert sunshine with Yuma.!😎

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    1. Thank you very much Moonfly. It is a peaceful place especially when there was hardly anyone there. I hear it is normally filled with people. I will be back. Today is a beautiful Easter! Hope you have a special Easter too.:))

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  4. Two years ago we visited that Mission and it is definitely worth a trip back to see the inside. We didn't go up the hill, we were with friends and she didn't do hills so none of us went. It would be a different experience outside with no people than what we had. :) They were renovating the steeple then too.
    Happy Easter!

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    1. Thank you Patsy. My pictures pretty much covered the hill, so now you've seen it all. I'll go inside next winter.

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  5. It is an amazing piece of architecture. Much work is going on to keep it upright as the rains try to wash away the adobe walls. You definitely want to see the inside. It's amazing!! The mountains to the Northeast of Tucson are the Santa Catalinas. To the East are the Rincon mountains and to the South, the Santa Ritas and more, because every little group of mountains has a different name!

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    1. I'll be sure to stop in Tucson next winter and finish the tour. Thanks for the names of the mountains. I've given up naming them because I'm always wrong:))

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  6. Awesome pictures Doug! It would be nice to have been able to have ventured inside for sure! Love the sunset! Hopefully today there's no rain and you two can enjoy being outside for Easter! I can't imagine living with 3 huge dogs, no matter the size of my home!

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    1. Thank you Shirley. Woke up this morning to a warm sunny morning. Bad weather left quickly. Hopefully next year everything will be back to normal.

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  7. Great pictures! Really like the one of the colorful flowers! That is a really cool place. Been warm here but this week is going to be down right cold! Stay warm!!

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    1. Thanks Steve. Just when I'm heading home it turns 🥶 Bummer

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  8. Great Pictures. Hopefully you'll be able to see inside on your next visit.
    Wishing you and your entire family a Safe and Happy Easter.

    It's about time.

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  9. The mission is beautiful inside and out. The first time we visited was back in 2015 to attended Mass and they were doing some renovations in the altar area. I told Tom afterwards it was hard not to let my eyes wander during the service there is so much to look at. We had another chance to stop this year. I hope you get the chance to go inside next year.
    Safe Travels as you continue your trek east and home. Take care and stay healthy.
    Happy Easter!

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  10. As always....simply amazing pictures. This is the area where we spent six weeks with my family. They live very close to the Mission. I have been there many times and it still takes my breath away. My very first trip outside of Yuma was to visit the Mission. I was a baby and my parents took me there because of a promise my mother had made. Have a safe trip home!

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