Tucson as viewed on the road up to Mt Lemon – image by kenne
Last week we spent a few, with an emphasize few, days in what I call my “valley of the sun,” Tucson, AZ. Often, I write about being “. . . a tourist in other people’s reality,” but for a change I was a tourist in my reality. Ever since first visiting the Tucson area in the late sixties, I have had a spiritual connection with part of the great American southwest. 
As if to welcome an old friend back, Tucson provided picture-postcard perfect winter — low 70’s day-time highs and in the low 40’s at night in the valley and less that an hour away, snow in the mountains.
Tucson has a lot to offer the body, intellect and the spirit, and yes, great live music venues. In a lot of respects, Tucson is to Arizona what Austin is to Texas. All this, plus great outdoor activity opportunities. The linked photo set only represents two of the many day-tripper areas, Sabino Canyon and Mt. Lemon in the Catalina mountains. 
While there, we stayed at the Windmill Inn in St. Phillip’s Plaza in the foothills of the Catalina’s, with some of the best places to eat within a short walk.
The next time we go to Tucson, it will be with Houston in our rearview mirror.
kenne
Sabino Canyon
