LaFiesta de Tumacacori Mission

The Tumacacori Mission is about an hour south of Tucson.  We have been there several times but have always wanted to attend their December Fiesta.  We read in the local RV paper that it was being held last weekend and they were having a procession and mass at 1:00.   (We were so disappointed when we got there and realized the paper had the wrong time; the mass was actually at 10:00 so we missed it.)

This is the mission church; it is slowly crumbling but the National Park Service says they do not repair things but let nature takes its course.  We had a very nice tour of the mission church and grounds - very interesting.  This is from the early 1800's.

When we first arrived we watched a local high school mariachi dance group.  Those gals could really twirl those skirts - they had different groups all afternoon. 

 Loved this row of pots in their granary.

 This was the mission's cemetery.  The round building to the right was the Memorial Chapel.  The king of Spain decreed that all funerals were to be held in this building rather than the Mission Chapel.  This was to lessen the chance of diseases spreading, particularly smallpox and measles.

 They had a very small museum on the grounds and you both know your dad, he likes to read everything.  Fine by me - they had some very comfortable benches for me to sit on.

 The side of the Mission with the bell tower.  The building dad is standing beside was used as the school house.
This is a very interesting site; our guide explained that much more of the site was excavated but because of budget constraints, they are unable to show them safely so they just cover them up again with sand which preserves the ruins.

It was a great way to spend the day.  When the sun was out, it was perfect but a little cool when it went back under.  However nothing like the cold of South Dakota.  We stopped at a little Mexican place for dinner on the way home - Taco Bell.

Have a good week.  Now that I have so little to occupy my time, maybe I can be a little better at doing my blog on a regular basis.  Sorry.

Much love to all of you,

Gramma and MOM