Tucson

 

The last time I was in Tucson it was Spring Break of 1980, and I was here for the College World Series of Mining Schools. We were competing in a number of categories, from what I remember they were: Hand Mucking, Hand Drilling, Jack Leg Drilling, Rail Setting, and Beer Drinking. The schools that made it to the competition were University of Arizona School of Mines (of course, the host school since they won the year before), Colorado School of Mines, Montana School of Mines, South Dakota School of Mines, Missouri School of Mines (that's in Rolla, in case you were wondering). Of those, only CSM and SDSM offer undergraduate Mining Engineering degrees. Sic transit gloria mundi. 

UW placed last, scoring points only in the beer drinking. We had driven straight through from Madison to Tucson in the head of our department's station wagon. (Thank you, and RIP, Dr Bob Heins) There were 5 of us (as I recall) and it was not a calm bunch. I was the President of the Mining Club (because, of course), the only senior, and the only responsible member of the group. Had I not been involved, I doubt any of those kids would have made it home.

But because of that trip, I developed a real mythical imagining of Tucson, and the ability to say that I have been from Tucson to Tucumcari.

Tucson is not, of course, how I imagined it. For one thing, I have not had nearly as much beer. And we have not spent hardly any time in town. But it is a beautiful place, and we've spent most of out time hiking the various Saguaro parks.

But we also did spend some time in town, visiting what is typical (googy) architecture from the '50s and '60s that is being destroyed in a wanton street expansion program, and we walked the Turquoise Trail, a 2.5 mile historic walk designtated in downtown via a turquoise stipe on the ground. (that was very helpful)

Pima County Courthouse.

As I said previously, every city is famous for some food. Here you have a couple of them. You have El Charro, where the Chimichanga was invented, but is famous for their Carne Seca, or dried steak. We waited 30 minutes in the Tucson 98 degree heat to be fed dried beef. Chipped. On Tortillas. But I have to say it was really quite delicious. We also had some mini chimichangas as appetizers. If they were not invented here, they should have been.

The other famous delicacy is the Sonoran Hot Dog, which you can get in something like 200 different places here. Of course, we went to the Mother Ship, El Güero Canelo, who claims to have imported this treat from Hermosillo.

It's not much to look at, but it is wonderful. A hot dog wrapped in Bacon, covered with Beans and Salsa, chilis, crema, mayonnaise, and mustard. 

You simply cannot eat just one.