Religion is a fascinating subject. The rich and varied traditions people have developed throughout history in their search for spiritual truths can be a divisive and contentious matter.
I’m comfortable with my personal faith yet intrigued by what others believe. I’d like to think I’m open-minded to the understanding of other religions or spiritual beliefs and thus enjoy visiting various sacred sites.
Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park, Sedona, Arizona
“Seek truth and you will find more questions than answers.”
Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, Arizona
We’re asked to showcase photographs of churches and spiritual centers for this week’s Sunday Stills photo challenge. I immediately knew which places I wanted to share.
French Gothic Architecture
When our daughter was still living in Colorado, we’d enjoy visiting. One year we were able to spend the summer a mere twenty-minute drive from downtown Denver. Sundays turned into our city hiking days. We discovered so many interesting places by walking up and down various streets.
One of my favorite discoveries was the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The architecture is reminiscent of cathedrals found in Europe, and I was thrilled to explore this one in Denver, Colorado.
Spanish Colonial Architecture
No visit to Tucson, Arizona, would be complete without stopping by Mission San Xavier del Bac. Although my taste tends to lean toward the European cathedral type of architecture, I’m in love with this Spanish Colonial structure.
From an architectural point of view, I’m intrigued by how different Mission San Xavier del Bac is in comparison to the Cathedral Basilica. Both serve Catholic parishioners both are rich in history, but that’s where the similarities appear to end.
Stunning structures that amaze me!
Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, Arizona
Spiritual Enlightenment and a Vortex
Sedona, Arizona, is well known for its breathtaking landscape, but that’s not all. Among the beautiful red rock are vortexes. A vortex is thought to be a swirling center of energy that is conducive to healing, meditation, and self-exploration. There are several such sites located throughout the Sedona area, one of which is located at the Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park.
The stupa is one of the oldest forms of sacred architecture on earth, dating back to the time of the Buddha, 2600 years ago. A stupa is considered to be the living presence of the Buddha and as such represents the Mind of Enlightenment. Stupas have been built to avert war, end famine, and promote prosperity and well-being. Their sole purpose is to bring benefit to all living beings.
Whenever my daughter and I visit Sedona, we always set aside time to visit the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park. We make sure to walk the trails around the property and stop by the ‘vortex’. I’m not sure what it is, but we always walk away feeling a bit more peaceful inside.
“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, man cannot live without a spiritual life.” – Buddha
Having grown up in the Chicago suburbs, I was well acquainted with the name Frank Lloyd Wright at an early age. I lovingly blame my father for my interest in design and architecture.
My dad worked in the trades in the city (Chicago) and it wasn’t uncommon for me to see blueprints scattered across our dining room table. Although it would take me years to develop his eye and talent, it was a goal I embraced wholeheartedly.
I was very fortunate to have worked in an industry that I was passionate about, and just because I no longer work in the housing industry does not mean that I’ve lost my interest in architecture … to the contrary.
Travel has only piqued my interest in architecture further, and I love seeking out unique structures.
For this weeks photo challenge, let’s share images of architecture. Show us one of your favorite buildings or structures. Feel free to share a link in the comments below or link back to this page on your own post.
After going through all my photographs, I realized I don’t have any images of Prairie Style architecture. Although I’ve studied and toured prairie style homes and visited several Frank Lloyd Wright historical sites in the past, I don’t seem to have any photographs in my archives. Hmm, perhaps this winter, I should visit TaliesinWest in Scottsdale, Arizona 😏
Each Wednesday I post a different photo prompt as a way for bloggers to share their love of photography and engage with other like-minded bloggers. Perhaps this will help inspire you to pick up the camera in search of a composition or a reason to go through your photo archives. Whether you shoot with your phone, a DSLR or something in-between, don’t be shy, share and connect!
Next weeks photo prompt?
I’ll be taking a short break from these photo challenges for the next couple of weeks, but promise I’ll be back. In the meantime, I’ll be working on some photo prompt ideas and going through my external hard-drives for images. If you have any photo theme ideas, please let me know in the comments. I love brainstorming!
Ten years ago, I enjoyed taking my son on a walking tour of Chicago. Thecity offers a wonderful blend of old and new architecture . It was a great day exploring the big city.
I’ve discovered that there’s a major difference between going on vacation versus living a mobile lifestyle. A vacation has a definitive beginning and ending with very little to no flexibility. A mobile lifestyle offers oodles of flexibility.
“Life is a beautiful ride” I enjoyed window shopping at La Cantera
As a matter of fact, flexibility is key to enjoying this full-time RVing lifestyle. After all, we’re pulling/driving our home full-time and arriving to our next destination safely and fully intact is always the goal. With that said, a key component to a long travel day is the weather. The ability to change travel plans on a whim based on the weather is wonderful.
Al and I had allowed ourselves fourteen days to travel the 1,165 miles (1,872km) from Rockport, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona. That gave us the flexibility to roll with the weather, as well as give us options; get to Phoenix a week early, or take our time meandering along the way, or extend our stay in Rockport, which we seriously thought about – considering I wasn’t quite ready to bid farewell to the scenery OR the birds.
But that weather…. winter weather at that, made the decision for us. We hit the road while good road conditions prevailed. Plus, we usually prefer driving through major cities on a Saturday or Sunday. Sunday morning (January 31st) had us navigating through San Antonio, Texas toward the northwest part of town without issue. We settled into the Elk’s Lodge for what we thought would be a quick overnight stay.
That evening, we easily made a change of plans while reviewing the weather and road conditions for Interstate 10. High wind warnings accompanied by brown out conditions (blowing dirt) followed by freezing rain along Interstate 10 in west Texas and New Mexico had us hanging out in San Antonio for an extra night, then two.
Shops at La Cantera, San Antonio, Texas
Ah, what’s a gal to do parked in a less than scenic parking lot without a vehicle at her disposal? How about visit the neighboring mall for a little retail therapy and architectural photography? The Shops at La Cantera did not disappoint.
The weather was gorgeous which allowed me to hike this beautiful outdoor mall a couple of times. While strolling the mall, I enjoyed the window shopping, the trickling sounds of water features, and the fragrant smell of all the lush vegetation.
Although the mall had all the usual stores, the architecture was anything but boring. There was a unique feel – a combination of new, yet old. I think it was the blending of materials and angles that attracted my attention. One minute I was walking on concrete, then the next I was moseying across cobblestone pavers, then it was on to ceramic tile, or stone, or slate…. and that’s what was happening just under my feet.
Overhead was another visual delight; a combination of canopies, overhangs, or open blue sky adding another layer of ambiance. Each store front had its own special detail, wall color, and finish. Some of the stone used throughout the outdoor mall had a resemblance to that of the Alamo.I must admit, for a split second I felt a little guilty about being in San Antonio and spending all my time at the Shops at La Cantera. This city offers so many fabulous things to see and do, but since we weren’t unhooking the truck from the 5th wheel, driving anywhere was not an option. Plus, during previous visits to San Antonio, we’d already visited the River Walk, Alamo, and Missions.
The Shops at La Cantera is a rather large mall, which allowed me to get in plenty of exercise, but lead to working up an appetite. The day before departure, I retrieved hubby, and we were off to visit Penny at the Cheesecake Factory. Their large size entrees are perfect for taking half the meal home providing lunch on the road the following day. Yum!
Our flexible schedule allowed us to avert inclement weather, and extend our stay in San Antonio. The delay was indeed pleasurable and I might have even pulled out of town with a few new items in my already full closet, but I’m not admitting anything 😉
With blue skies and dry roads, we were on the road again. And for anyone who has ever driven across Texas knows, it goes on for what seems forever. We try to avoid staying in Van Horn, Texas, but we were on a mission to head west as quickly as possible in an attempt to avoid the next wave of weather expected to hit this part of the country.
It was a 6-7 hour travel day between San Antonio and Van Horn, Texas (431 miles or 694 km). We found a less than memorable campground to overnight in since the Walmart is out of the question. Yep, no overnighting at the Walmart allowed in this town. Van Horn? – you know the saying, “if you can’t say anything nice……..”.
The next morning, we along with the rest of the RV’s were quick to exit Van Horn. We made it through El Paso and into New Mexico and I was hugging rocks by early afternoon ……
There’s a major up side to returning to familiar territory. I think we can all relate; we go on vacation to some new and exciting place and have such a wonderful time that we can’t wait to return again and again and again. And although that may mean we’re not exploring other exciting destinations, that doesn’t mean new discoveries aren’t made.
To me, it’s kind of like watching a movie for the second or third time. Character lines are heard that may have missed the first go around, or there’s a better understanding of a plot. I feel, some movies are actually better the second time around.
I think the same can be said about traveling to a familiar place. This was our third January spent in the Rockport, Texas, area and our best visit yet. I’ll be the first to admit, this is a place I probably wouldn’t recommend to most folks unless one’s interests are either birding, photography, or sportsman activities (fishing/hunting). Considering Al and I enjoy that stuff, it works perfectly for us.
For those more interested in beaches, quaint shops, and plenty of dining options; Port Aransas on Mustang Island is the place to go. I even found myself visiting the island three times during the month of January exploring some of my favorite places.
Mustang Island and the Corpus Christi area hold special memories for Al and me individually. During Al’s Navy days, he was stationed in Corpus Christi and the aircraft carrier he was trained to land a plane on has now been turned into a museum. My memories center around my parents and their RVing days. It was not uncommon for the kids and me to visit my parents during their winter sojourn to Mustang Island. Fond memories, indeed.
Back to Rockport – Fulton and my new discoveries … these two quaint Texas coastal communities offer plenty of options to keep me entertained (in addition to my birding, that is). After a two-year renovation, the Fulton Mansion was once again open to the public and at the top of my list to visit. This 1870’s French inspired home has been beautifully restored. (click on any photo to enlarge into a slide show)
Front entrance
The dining room
one room upstairs, shows materials
The basement was for the servants
kitchen appliances from the 1800’s
sits on a beautiful piece of property
I found the self-guided tour of the mansion interesting as I was transported back in time. One of the rooms on the second floor was left as original as possible showcasing damaged lath and plaster walls. Parts of the ceiling and flooring were also left exposed to share some unique materials used in the construction. I never would’ve thought to use sand and seashells as insulation between floors. My Real Estate background had me reading each word displayed regarding ownership of the property and the prices each party paid. Back in the 1960’s the front yard was actually an RV park and all the historical photos were extremely entertaining.
Touring the grounds alone is also worthwhile with its wind swept Oak Trees, manicured garden, and serene ocean view.
There was more history for me to discover in downtown Rockport. Since I didn’t have anything to shop for, I strolled the main street looking for things to photograph. Architectural photography remains a challenge for me, so I’m always looking for opportunities to practice.
Shopping in Rockport, Texas – quaint, unique shops and interesting structures
No shortage here of things to photograph as all the buildings are unique and one of a kind. And just because I didn’t have any knickknacks to shop for doesn’t mean this former shopaholic didn’t step into a shop or two.
Even the local hardware store stocks items for tourists
coastal knick-knacks
Mermaids anyone?
Should I get the seahorse or the flamingo?
What was once a gas station is now a shop!
a local Tom protecting his neighborhood
Most of the shops cater to the tourist crowd, even the local Ace Hardware store gets in on the action. Aside from exploring the little shops in the downtown area, I found myself visiting stores throughout the community. Stores I normally wouldn’t visit if it hadn’t been for my quest to find a pair of rubber boots. You see, I was in dire need of a pair of rain boots if I was to go out on the boat with Dennis. His funky little boat required that I board from the water and the temps were way to cold for my Keen’s, thus the need for boots. But not just any old rubber boot would do. Come on, they had to be somewhat fashionable after all.
Visiting the local Garden – Feed store had me longing for a home with a yard. That thought quickly passed 🙂
Finding rubber boots wasn’t an issue in this coastal community. It was the fashionably cute part that was difficult. I wound up running all over town, including the hardware store, feed store, stores an hour away in Corpus Christi, and eventually turned to Amazon. Every time I found a pair of boots I liked, they didn’t have my size!
Whew…. all that shopping had me working up an appetite and this year’s new restaurant discovery was just five minutes up the road from our RV Park. Stevie Lew’s is a locally owned, family run business with everything homemade. My chicken BBQ sandwich was delicious as were the chicken tacos that I tested on visit number two.
Fresh roasted coffee beans
They even roast their own coffee beans and it smelled wonderful. I forgot to buy some coffee on my way out 😦 Next time! See, there’s always a reason to return.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful markets around here. Texas is home to a grocery store chain called H.E.B. I’m always able to find what I need at a reasonable price and the employees are usually very helpful and friendly. I’ve never had a bad experience at a H.E.B. And then there are all the local seafood market’s which need to be explored. We pulled out of Rockport, Texas, with every square inch of our RV freezer filled with fresh shrimp and fish.
Our time along the Gulf Coast flew by, and I’ll admit, we weren’t ready to leave. That said, we’ve talked about spending two months along the coast next winter, but then again, the desert has a strong pull. Ah, we’ll need to sit down and do a little scheduling and time management. There are worse things to contemplate!
Last year I did a post on the places we camped in this part of Texas. Click here if you’d like more information on camping options.
So, I think I’ve about summed up our time along the Texas Gulf Coast – shopping, museums, photography, fishing, hunting, birding, photography, eating, boating, sunsets, sunrises, did I mention photography. That’s a wrap! Next up, we’re back in the desert southwest .
I remember that trip as if it were yesterday. I was sixteen years old traveling by myself to a foreign country. I boarded a plan in Chicago bound for Frankfurt, Germany, where relatives I barely knew picked me up at the airport. That summer was an enlightening adventure beyond my expectations and was also responsible for piquing my interest in architecture.
Photo-Cologne Tourism
The sight of the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) in Köln, Germany, had my jaw dropping in awe. Viewing photos of this magnificent structure continues to have the same awe-inspiring effect on me to this day. It seems, I continue to be drawn to beautiful and ornate churches, and can’t pass up an opportunity to photograph these architectural marvels.
Although, I haven’t seen anything as ornate and stunning as the Kölner Dom, I have encountered other unique structures, that are equally beautiful in their own right.
Last winter while visiting Tucson, Arizona, I found myself stopping by Mission San Xavier del Bac several times. With each visit, I discovered more unique and ornate details.
Mission San Xavier del Bac
intricate and ornate
Last summer while hanging around Denver, Colorado, I made several visits to the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The moment we drove by this structure, I knew I had to stop and explore.
Cathedral Basilica, Denver, Colorado
Inside Cathedral Basilica
But there was one church on my bucket list that I just had to see. Perhaps it’s the home builder in me or my spiritual beliefs ….. regardless, the Loretta Chapel and its Miraculous staircase was a must see for me during a Santa Fe, New Mexico visit.
Inside the Loretta Chapel and the miraculous staircase
Loretta Chapel
Loretta Chapel
I’m sure as we continue to travel, my ongoing quest to seek out these spiritual and architectural beauties will continue 🙂
By now, you all know I grew up in the Chicago suburbs. Thus, the city of Chicago will always hold a special place in my heart. During past Illinois family visits, we always managed to squeeze in at least one trip into this iconic city.When I was in my twenties, I thought nothing of driving into the city. With the exception of a school bus, public transportation was foreign to me. Plus, I always preferred the freedom of driving my own car. Now a days, I wouldn’t fathom driving in downtown Chicago traffic, opting instead to take the train and walk to all the amazing sights this city has to offer. Plus the Metra Transit System is just so very convenient.
With Lollapalooza scheduled during our targeted downtown venture, we chose to forgo a Chicago sojourn during this Illinois trip. The addition of hundreds of thousands of concert goers invading the city acted as a deterrent to us like Raid to a bug. Ah, next time I’ll do a better job checking event dates.
It you’ve never visited Chicago, I highly recommend you do. Obviously it’s one of my favorite cities. Here’s a sampling of things to see and do……
1. Millennium Park is a wonderful place to stroll around. This 24 acre park was constructed in the late 1990’s. Sculptures, water features, a music venue, and gardens are a pleasure to explore during a warm summer day. The “Cloud Gate” elliptical sculpture other wise known as “The Bean” is a photographers delight. The Chicago skyline is uniquely reflected in this seamless stainless steel structure resembling a drop of mercury.
Me back in 2009 in front of “Cloud Gate” aka “The Bean”.
2. – Next door to Millennium Park is the Chicago Art Institute Museum. I was in elementary school the first time I visited this beautiful art museum.
I’m standing behind one of the famous copper lions in front of the Chicago Art Museum.
Although at the time I found the visit rather boring, today I’m extremely grateful to have been exposed to this level of art at such a young age. I remember one painting in particular making an indelible impression upon me (I was a mere eight years old) – Seurat’s – A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of LaGrande Jatte.
My daughter stands in front of my favorite painting. Georges-Pierre Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of LaGrande Jatte
Until this day, this Seurat is one of my favorites. So much so, that I had a large print hanging in my home office that I purchased at the museum. Did you know there’s not one brush stroke, only dots? The entire canvas is composed of dots. Amazing!
We had a reproduction of this Monet hanging in our living room.
I’m such a huge fan of French Impressionism that our sticks and bricks home was decorated almost exclusively with art purchased from the Museum Shop. And they remain waiting for me in a storage locker 🙂
My 2009 visit with my daughter, is most memorable. Ashton had just completed a college prerequisite “Art” course of some sort and was sharing all kinds of fascinating tidbits on various artists including Seurat and Monet. Until this art class, she hadn’t realized she grew up surrounded by famous works of art. Cultured, indeed 😉
3.– A nice walk down Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile) is a shoppers delight but head south and it’ll take you to the Field Museum. Everyone loves the Field Museum; young and old alike. The new dinosaur room even impressed me and I’m not necessarily into dinosaurs. I can most likely be found in the Gem Room salivating over the largest pink diamond or blue sapphire.
My son and I visit the Field Museum in 2007
My son, Logan, has always had an interest in dinosaurs…. what boy doesn’t? He was in elementary school when the original Jurassic Park movie was released and visiting this display had his imagination running wild. However, the Field Museum offers so much more than dinosaurs and gems. Free admittance day is usually on a Monday and thus a perfect time to take a quick stroll through the museum without feeling a need to dedicate an entire day. Two hours in a museum is usually long enough for me.
4. Skyline; I’ve had the privilege of traveling to most of America’s major cities as well as those in Germany. That said, in my opinion Chicago has the most photogenic skyline I’ve ever seen.
Me and daughter in 2009 with the Chicago skyline in the background
With the exception of being in a boat on Lake Michigan, the next best place for a Chicago skyline photograph is near the Adler Planetarium. One of these days, I’d like to be here at sunrise to photograph the skyline.
5. Architecture; you just have to love the amazing architecture Chicago has to offer. From the Sear’s Tower (aka Willis Tower) to the John Hancock building to the old water tower to the original Marshall Field’s on State Street (now Macy’s), the mix between new and old is not to be ignored.
You could spend an entire day just walking around Chicago looking at buildings. I know, I’ve done it.
Not to be missed is a visit to a sky deck/observatory. I’ve been to both the Willis Tower and John Hancock and although I prefer the view out of the Hancock building, others prefer the Willis view. Regardless, a visit to one is a must.
6. We all know what a taxi is, but did you know Chicago offers a water taxi? This is a fun way to get from the Field Museum to Navy Pier or from Navy Pier to the train station. In an effort to give our legs a break, we’ve taken both. It’s a great way to see the city from another angle.
The Chicago River. Trump Tower (tall bldg. in background)was still under construction in 2007.
7. Entertainment; Chicago is known as the Second City….. second to New York City. Therefore, there’s always wonderful theater and live entertainment to be found. My favorite; Second City. Here’s a list of comedians who got their start at Chicago’s Second City – list. Many ended up later joining Saturday Night Live.
Seriously, there is so much to see and do in Chicago that I feel guilty ending my list here, and don’t even get me started on the shopping. So many fantastic shops. Moving on….
Ashton in front of Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park
Lodging in Chicago is also part of the adventure with endless options. We stayed at the historic Knickerbocker Hotel several years ago and enjoyed it. We flew from Denver to Chicago partly to spend Christmas with family but to also expose our children to the city around the holidays. If I had to visit Chicago in the winter, December is the perfect month to do so. The holiday decorations are incredibly pretty.
Chicago’s a huge city offering an abundance of things to see, do, and experience, but a little street smarts will serve you well. Safety first and always be aware of your surroundings.
Me and Logan near the Field Museum – 2007
Chicago has long been associated with gun violence; from the Al Capone days to today’s gang violence. Much of the gang activity is within their neighborhoods and not much of a concern for any of the areas I’ve mentioned in this blog post.
What about RVing in Chicago? I’ve recently read a couple of blog posts on people boondocking (dry camping) at McCormick Place, Illinois’ premiere conference and convention center. In both instances (at separate times) the couples found themselves parked in the parking lot alone. The only RV on site….. Hmm, I wonder why? Fortunately, they both had an uneventful and safe experience. However, it’s not a place I would stay.
Staying in the country at the Paul Wolff Campground surrounded by forest preserve and cornfields sounds like the perfect place to camp for anyone wanting to visit Chicago with an RV. From there, a one-hour train ride into the windy city will allow you to enjoy all this marvelous place has to offer. So why is Chicago nicknamed “The Windy City”. Since the city sits at the shores of Lake Michigan it does experience a fair amount of wind from weather, but no more than a bunch of other places. The power of the name lies in the metaphorical use “windy” for “talkative” or “boastful.” Early on, Chicago politicians became famous for long-windedness. Chicagoans were also considered braggarts.
But in another way, Chicago is actually earning the title of “windy city”. Architects and engineers did not foresee the effects of tall buildings and air current. In some areas, the wind is literally sucked down into the streets. It may be perfectly calm in one area and extremely breezy in another. Ladies hang on to your dresses, and men your hats!
Before pulling out of Patagonia State Park, I checked one more time to see if there had been any cancellations, thus allowing us to extend our stay. No such luck. So we stuck with the original plan and hit the road with Tucson, Arizona, as our destination.A few days earlier, I made notes on a couple of places to stop and explore along our route, but after indulging in a little too much of my “special” lemonade the night before, I was fighting a mild hangover headache and wasn’t in the mood to do anything but find our next home site.
Gosh, I’m such a lightweight. I guess that can be viewed as a good thing.
The mission in Tumacácori and the cute town of Tubac will just need to wait until next years excursion.
Two hours after leaving Patagonia, Arizona, we pulled into a boondocking area known as Snyder Hill near the far southwest side of Tucson. We quickly found a level spot and proceeded to set up home. While nursing my headache the rest of the day, Al and I discussed the things we wanted to see and do during this stay in Tucson.
It turns out, we had only two things on our want to do list. This was our third visit to Tucson and on both previous visits, Mission San Xavier del Bac was a place I wanted to see yet eluded our schedule. Not this trip! I visited not once, but twice.I shared a few of my morning photos of Mission San Xavier del Bac via a previous post and today I’m sharing my evening shots.
During this late afternoon visit, I entered the mission as it was being readied for the evenings service. I hadn’t realized the mission held a Saturday evening mass.
I took a couple of quick interior photos but didn’t linger as I didn’t want to seem disrespectful. I’m sure it was fine as there were plenty of other folks snapping away, but for me, I felt a little uncomfortable doing so.
About a half hour later folks started arriving for Mass and by 5:30 the mission was packed allowing for standing room only.
With my desire to visit and photograph Mission San Xavier satisfied, our next ‘must do’ on our list was seeing our friends. Mike and Linda originally planned to boondock with us at Snyder Hill but a heat wave had rolled in requiring them to use the air conditioner for pooch, Lucy, while they were out and about all day exploring. Thus, they were staying at the Gilbert Ray Campground just up the road with electric hook-up.
Al, Ingrid, Linda, Mike, and Lucy
We invited Mike and Linda over to our place instead of going out to eat so Lucy could join us. We had a great visit and realized our travels will be overlapping a few more times in the next couple of months just as they did last year.
I’m assuming there could be a few more happy hours accompanied by more amazing sunsets in our future. And by the way, I stuck with water the entire evening. This lightweight couldn’t handle even the thought of an alcoholic beverage 😉With both items checked off our list, we bid farewell to Tucson. Until next time!FYI…. This visit took place during the 3rd week in February and I know all you folks to the north are dealing with severe snowstorms and record low temperatures. I feel for you and although all the photos of snow are beautiful, I don’t miss the shoveling or bad road conditions. Yet another reason why we love our RV – we follow the weather.
Boondocking at Snyder Hill southwest side of Tucson
We arrived in Tucson, Arizona, a couple of days ago and my first ‘must see’ stop was Mission San Xavier del Bac. The stunning Spanish architecture and beautifully landscaped grounds made for a fun and interesting photographic opportunity.Mission San Xavier del Bac is a historic Spanish Catholic mission located about 10 miles south of downtown Tucson. The church was built between 1783 and 1797 and is the oldest European structure in Arizona.
The mission was originally founded by an Italian Jesuit, Padre Eusebio Kino. San Xavier is still actively run by Franciscans and continues to serve the local community.Over 200,000 visitors come here each year from around the world to view what is considered some of the finest Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States.There was so much to explore and take in at the mission…. more than I expected. So if you do visit, plan on spending at least an hour versus the 20 minutes we scheduled. I guess that means, I’ll just have to revisit.And since Jen over at WordPress challenged us to experiment with the Rule of Thirds with a little bokeh (blur), I thought I’d end the post with this photo of an unusual cactus bloom located near the entrance to San Xavier.
After a morning of birding then sharing a yummy lunch with our husbands, Mona Liza and I bid adios to the guys and off we went to explore more of Galveston. Two days earlier the four of us stopped in at the Galveston visitor center. The gals at the center were extremely friendly and helpful. This was the perfect stop to begin our Galveston explorations.
Just one of many beautiful homes in Galveston’s historic district
We left the center with plenty of information, brochures, and maps to assist us in getting the most out of our stay on the island. Mona Liza and I used the ‘birding’ brochure that morning to help direct us to various spots for the best bird sightings.
beautiful neighborhood… these trees survived hurricane Ike
Now it was time for us to pull out the ‘Tree Sculpture Tour’ brochure. When Hurricane Ike hit on September 13, 2008, the combination of damaging winds and tidal surge led to the demise of many of Galveston’s tree’s.
A group of homeowners decided to turn destruction into symbols of rejuvenation by commissioning local artists to turn these downed and damaged trees into works of art.
These carved tree sculptures are located throughout Galveston but the bulk are concentrated within Galveston’s East End Historic District.
With map in hand, ML and I set out to see as many of these sculptures as possible. Although we enjoyed the whimsical sculptures, we were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful architecture. Each house was unique and lovely in it’s own right.
Without the tree sculpture tour incentive, I’m not sure we would have ventured up and down all the residential streets, but I’m really glad we did.
I was so taken by the houses, the architecture, and the gardens that I just had to show the area to hubby.
The next day Al and I went for our morning walk up and down the streets of Galveston’s East End Historic District in lieu of the usual walk on the beach.
The owners of the home own a grey Great Dane and they commissioned the artist to carve a replica of their beloved dog. The tree had actually grown around the fence at the spot where the paws grip the fence.
The Galveston tree sculptures represent a very small percentage of the trees destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Several organizations worked together to ensure 100% of the “Iked” wood was kept out of landfills.
Yes, Toto and the Tin Man are both carved from a tree and still rooted to the ground
Some of the wood was used to restore an American historic whaling ship, 200 tons went to Malago, Spain, to build a full scale replica of the Brig “Galveztown”, and a local lumber yard took a fair amount. And yes, 100% of the destroyed trees were repurposed in some form.
a Grandmother reading. This tree sculpture sits in a park. How appropriate!
A carved Geisha represents the homeowners love of the Orient. The smaller sculpture “The Angels” represents the homeowners two granddaughters. The Geisha was carved from the trunk of the tree while The Angels were carved from the top of the tree. The tree was originally taller than the home. “The Angels” carving is one of the few sculptures not still rooted in the ground.
As I was writing a post in an attempt to get caught up with our travels, I’m distracted once again….. but in a good way by today’s Daily Post photo challenge. The word ‘angular’ is perfect to share some of Galveston’s beautiful architecture.
Since we arrived in Galveston, Texas 10 days ago, I’ve had the opportunity to walk around downtown Galveston a couple of times. I’m in love with the beautifully restored Victorian homes. Sure there are still signs here and there of a devastating hurricane that occurred in 2008 – hurricane Ike, but restorations are on going.In my short time in the area, I do believe I’ve fallen in love. Galveston has so much to offer and hopefully I can convey all of it’s beauty in upcoming posts. Stay tuned!
the Great Dane dog sculpture was carved from a downed tree caused by hurricane Ike. There are more tree sculptures located throughout the downtown area. Talk about a great way of ‘repurposing’
meandering along the way, or extend our stay in Rockport, which we seriously thought about – considering I wasn’t quite ready to bid farewell to the scenery OR the birds.
neighboring mall for a little retail therapy and architectural photography? The 
I must admit, for a split second I felt a little guilty about being in San Antonio and spending all my time at the Shops at La Cantera. This city offers so many fabulous things to see and do, but since we weren’t unhooking the truck from the 5th wheel, driving anywhere was not an option. Plus, during 
previous visits to San Antonio, we’d already visited the 
possible in an attempt to avoid the next wave of weather expected to hit this part of the country.
Live Laugh RV 