tourism | mermaidcamp

What is a Milagro?

February 26, 2016 — 3 Comments

The custom of using milagros, or ex-votos, to remind one of a vow or a wish is common in may parts of the world. The custom was popular in Spain and came to Latin America with the colonizers. I have been collecting and using them for years. I like to find unusual ones to add to my collection. I put them in my change purse to protect my money. I don’t attach any saint or religion to them, but do like to see them every time I sort through my change to pay for something. They remind me of the intention I had when I placed them there. Some naturally get lost, but I have a some for so many years it is surprising.

friends enjoying Tubac

I recently found some great new ones in Tubac that I had not seen before. I was traveling with friends, so I purchased matching milagros for us as a souvenir of our trip to Santa Cruz County. I had just gifted a couple of charms to some guys from Wisconsin who were about to go on bicycles to Mexico. We met them leaving Tumacacori Mission ready to ride across the border. They were not afraid and felt fine about having no plans or accommodations arranged. They were some real adventurers. I was certain they needed some protection, so I gave them each a milagro. I am sure that milagros have been left at the mission for centuries, so it seemed right.

Tumacacori Mission

The Tucson Botanical Gardens has a craft project in the hispanic garden section now for visitors to design and leave their own meaningful charm in the trees. These handmade milagros are really fun to see as they decorate the garden. They signify whatever the maker has in mind at the time, and are very charming (pun intended). Do you have any personal milagros, gentle reader?

milagros in the trees

Biblical Hospitality in Sonoita, Arizona

February 9, 2016 — 1 Comment

I took a trip last week with my Swiss visitors to discover nature and culture in southern Arizona. I shopped extensively for the right location to make our headquarters for exploration. I was rewarded for my effort by spending two nights at the Hetrick’s Cozy Wine Country Retreat in Sonoita. It is situated on 16 acres of land with spectacular views in all directions. As with all air bnb listings, the hosts provided everything we needed. They have three cute dogs that have the run of the house, which made me very happy. The dogs are friendly and playful. The large fire David built for us in the evening was a focal point for conversation and some local wine sipping. Our hosts retreated to their offices and gave us the living room for our conversation. The Hetricks provide exactly the amount of privacy the guests desire. They are available for guidance and local knowledge, but allow the guests to use the kitchen, dining room, and beautiful patios of the home to their hearts’ content. We arrived on the two coldest days of the year, so we did not enjoy any patio time. We were very pleased to see the roaring fire in the living room to welcome us.

The Hetricks are involved in a Christian congregation and have a unique viewpoint on hosting. They practice biblical hospitality. They are both proud of this philosophy which honors every guest as a special gift. The home is filled with very tasteful Christian art, including a wall of crosses collected from around the world. There is no attempt to convert or even to discuss religion, but when I brought up the subject they explained their special mission within the hospitality industry. The attitude is palpable. We felt like part of the home, if not related to the family. The labyrinth was the last place we went before we drove home to Tucson. The site is incredibly scenic and moving. To walk the pattern into the middle and back out is symbolic of inner and outer life. The meaning is always personal and takes some contemplation. For me the sunny morning labyrinth meditation was a strong message of spiritual intention. Our trip had been blessed by the practice of biblical hospitality. If you are in Arizona looking for a very good deal on some biblical hospitality do check out Cozy Wine Country Retreat. It is a special place.

fireplace

zorro

Community Spirit, Beer and Yoga

February 1, 2016 — 1 Comment

yoga class

art studio

stout

yoga class

yoga DJ

yoga class

I was lucky to find a perfect celebration for my birthday this year. I just discovered my local beer garden, Tucson Hop Shop. I am not a big beer drinker but am enthusiastic about supporting local business and local craft products, including beer. This classy yet casual spot is perfect for our neighborhood, located in the Metal Arts Village, a space for metal artists’ studios. The Hop Shop has developed a following and has instigated new events that bring the community together for fun. My big birthday gift this year (besides Medicare) is a visit from two Swiss ladies on vacation. I have been enjoying showing them around town because they are really open to culture and ready to party. The SyncHOPation event not only happened on my birthday but was walking distance from home.

SyncHOPation

Spiritual Gangster is a team that teaches yoga classes around the city in pop up locations. I have never seen yoga with a DJ before, and now I am a complete fan of the idea. I have taught and taken plenty of yoga classes, with and without music. To have a creative DJ work the class is another level of wonderment. The other aspect of the pop up that can be very popular is beer. The participants in the class at the Hop Shop were presented with a pint of beer when they turned in their class tickets. The $5 fee for both yoga and beer is a screaming deal.

My visitors and I had a fine time meeting people, drinking beer and dancing. The art studios were open, the parking lot was blocked off for the event, and the crowd was in a very good mood. Pizza and popcorn food trucks were serving delicious snacks. We enjoyed both with our beverages. My friend Steffi took the yoga class while Pia and I watched from a table on the patio. We toured the studios, did some dancing to the DJ, then walked home. There could not have been a better way to celebrate. If you like beer I highly recommend a visit to the Tucson Hop Shop. It is the perfect place for a party.

Cooking with Kraut

January 22, 2016 — 1 Comment

potato, fake sausage, kraut

The first rule of cooking with kraut is like Fight Club, never cook the kraut. The living probiotic culture that gives your homemade sauerkraut all the extra health benefits would be killed if heated above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The zesty flavors as well as the cool temperature are used to create contrast in dishes. Most people think of the Reuben sandwich when they think of this very useful condiment. Indeed, the use of cool crunchy fermented vegetables as part of a well stacked sandwich takes the creation to a new level. I encountered red cabbage kraut in use at my favorite food truck in East Austin a couple of years ago. The Juice Well hooked me on their vegetarian Kraftwork sandwich at first bite because the condiments were spectacular and made in house (or in Airstream to be precise). I never forgot how much bang for the buck one gets out of specialty first rate condiments.

Another obvious use we all know is the hot dog on a bun served with kraut. This time honored combination works well by itself, or with a fermented beverage like beer. I will soon be entertaining real live Europeans in my home. Real live krauts will be eating krauts at my house, so I am gearing up to treat them to some special culinary delights. My friend Steffi will visit with her friend from Zurich for a way-out-west vacation. I have some local places in mind to dine with the visitors, but it will be gem show time in Tucson, not the best season to go to restaurants here. We like eating at home the best anyhow. This is a vegetarian home, with no meat, but I am not adverse to fake wurst. In fact, fake meat is one of the only processed foods I still consume…my biggest guilty pleasure.

Today’s experimental dish, which I just devoured for my breakfast, is a baked potato with Tofurkey Italian Sausage chopped into pieces on top of the spud. I topped it with spicy and cool Cowboy Kraut from Garden Goddess. I am very full and happy with the way this tasted. I added some cheese between the potato and the slaw, which is cool for all of us lacto-ovo vegetarians. Vegans might add something else. The flavors worked well, and the contrast of warm and cool made it all the more satisfying. I know not everyone wants sauerkraut for breakfast, but my craving for the stuff has reached an advanced stage. I have become officially crazy for kraut. Do you have any ideas or recipes to share with me on my new favorite food?

Fermenting Foods with Garden Goddess

December 18, 2015 — 4 Comments

questions answered

paleo snacks

bone broth explained

kraut fans

My latest craze is making sauerkraut. I discovered Garden Goddess Ferments products at a farmer’s market in Scottsdale a couple of weeks ago. We returned to Phoenix the following weekend to buy more sauerkraut and attend a workshop about making fermented foods. Suzette Smith of Garden Goddess Ferments organized an expo with break out learning sessions at the Office Pile. The space was perfect for the event, and many interested patrons turned out to learn more about eating healthy food. Healthy snacks, bone broth, personal chef services, and health coaching tables greeted guests, and classes were held both upstairs and in a conference room.

The fermented food class Suzette taught was so basic, simple, and informative that anyone could leave and go make kraut after attending. She told us about the benefits of the natural probiotic cultures and how she created her own delicious line of small batch artisanal krauts which she sells to the public. She also has for sale hand made crocks and cabbage shredders for the home fermenter. She forgot to bring the tool with which she had planned to mash the cabbage, so while she gave her informative lecture she pounded the cabbage with her fist until it yielded enough liquid to submerge itself. It really drove home the primitive, and as Suzette stressed in the class, forgiving nature of this process. If you have a glass or stainless steel vessel, a cabbage, a small amount of salt and a fist you can preserve food like our ancient ancestors. The mixture was rubbing up immediately, demonstrating the basic chemistry involved. This is the most natural way to preserve food and keep it alive.

It is so simple I can’t believe we are not all doing it all the time. I am hooked. I had both succeeded and failed in the past with large batch kraut in a ceramic crock. After seeing the class I understood that I had used too much salt and left it in the crock too long. Other students reported the same thing. This is what we got for following directions. This is one of those hands on experiences, like bread baking, that can be best learned by personal observation. Suzette is enthusiastic about the healthy possibilities and has developed a range of zesty flavorful krauts containing very healthy ingredients such as ginger, garlic and turmeric. The difference between her products and commercial krauts is the living probiotic culture present in the home made version. Bubbbie’s is the only live sauerkraut I know on the market, but she does not have anything like the range of flavors Garden Goddess offers. Suzette also creates seasonal varietals. Right now at home I have Kowboy Kraut, finished with cumin, Kristmas Kraut with some apple and my favorite, Power Kraut, made with red cabbage, garlic, ginger, and turmeric. She is constantly creating new and exciting combinations. If you live in the Phoenix area I urge you to run right out and buy some Garden Goddess kraut. Your digestion will thank you for it.

Suzette in her kitchen

The Garden Goddess

Rebirth of Phoenix

December 15, 2015 — 1 Comment

air bnb

We visited downtown Phoenix over the weekend, staying in the Garfield Historic District. The neighborhood is undergoing a major revitalization with very impressive results. It had been few years since I was in that part of town which now is near university campuses for medicine and law. U of A and ASU now have large downtown campuses and hospitals. The demand for real estate has taken off fast. Very cool local businesses have sprouted up to serve the community. We enjoyed eating at two of them, Jobot Coffee and Dining and Mother Bunch Brewery. They both have distinctive atmosphere, excellent service, and fantastic food. There are very few chain stores in the district. Most businesses are local and unique. The Roosevelt Growhouse is a wonderful non profit with a mission to promote healthy food and handmade art. Participants are welcome to work on and pick from the communal garden, and some people rent small individual garden spaces for $10 a month. The folks working in the garden together on Sunday were clearly enjoying each other and the beautiful sunny day.

Mother Bunch Brewery

There are murals everywhere. The back alleys and walls, utility boxes and entire buildings are decorated with brightly painted art. Naturally some are better than others, but the total effect is really stunning. The artsy feeling flows all through the area. Our home away from home was the best part. We rented a shipping container Air bnb apartment that came with bikes for us to ride around the area. We felt right at home. Our local hosts gave us advice and directions and off we went exploring. I look forward to returning to do some more exploration and watch the Phoenix as it rises up from the ashes of the real estate depression. It appears to be a very lively rebirth.

Roosevelt Growhouse

mural art

The Phoenix

Chalk-A-Lot, Tempe Festival of the Arts

December 7, 2015 — 1 Comment

Retro Toy Theme

family fun on the street

As part of the Tempe Festival of the Arts everyone was invited to draw on the street downtown. Participants in the professional art show covered large spaces and stuck to the theme “Retro Toys”. The creativity as well as the stunning artistry was very impressive. Watching the work evolve each day is a major part of the fun for us. The artists don’t mind a little visiting while they work. We left before the end to drive back to Tucson, but think I will stay until the end next year. All of the work is amazing considering the medium and the way they have to work. Many of the artists we met were from Tempe, but they came from all over to compete and make the street look extra special for the holiday.

: my chalk art in progress

: my chalk art with neighbors

: my chalk art

The community participation was the best part. I purchased my chalk and joined the youngsters on the street. I had a very good time meeting my fellow artists on kneepads. I paid $5 to support the festival, and got to keep my chalk to take home and practice on my own driveway. I was pleased with the way my piece turned out, but after I packed up and left it occurred to me that I could have done more than one square..nobody would have stopped me. The way the community mosaic mural looked on Sunday morning was superb. All the styles went together very well to show a patchwork of visitor talent right next to the sidewalk. I am proud to leave my mark on Tempe, and thank that very artsy city for the opportunity to do so.

chalk mural artists

retro toy

chalk mural artists

artist on kneepad

retro toy

family fun on the street

artists on kneepads

family fun on the street

Ikebana Sneak Preview

November 26, 2015 — 1 Comment

I was lucky to catch up with Patricia Deridder at the Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson as she prepares for this weekend’s big Ikebana exhibit. She is the founder of the gardens, a teacher, and still a student, of Ikebana. She has organized a group of masters who will show their work over the weekend in the gardens. This very special treat will give the public an idea of the different schools of Ikebana and the individuals who live here and practice these special arts. There are monks in Japan who do this practice as meditation. Anyone involved in this way of looking at flower arranging will discover elements of mediation or merging with nature.

I am thrilled to have this artful peaceful alternative to Black Friday shopping offered in my neighborhood. If you happen to be in Tucson this event is offered with the regular entry fee, or to members as part of our membership. This is a wonderful opportunity to be immersed in nature carefully and beautifully crafted by artists. I am excited to learn more and enjoy the show. The three pieces I watched in progress all came out beautifully.

flower show in progress

freestyle

formal arrangement

flower show in progress

Patricia does a final edit

freestyle

flower show in progress

Ermanos for Gourmet Tasting

November 22, 2015 — 2 Comments

: bar

: skylight

: fun space

We tried a new brunch place yesterday and have found a new favorite business in Tucson. Ermanos on 4th Avenue serves brunch on the weekend, which is when we like to go out to eat. We arrived early before the crowds which was lucky because I convinced the chef to make me an off the menu food sampler. She created a wonderful cauliflower creamed soup that had butter but no cream in the ingredients. This rich and luscious starter was accented with an herbal oil, green and brightly basil scented. I was really surprised when she told me there were no potatoes or cream in the smooth rich dish. She happily shared her recipe so I can knock it off at home. This is one main reason I dine in restaurants (finding new recipes to make), so I am especially pleased when there is no resistance to sharing recipes. Chef Claire was gracious s well as creative in her approach. She took very good care of me and my tastebuds.

cauliflower soup

My tasting board included black eyed pea hummus to die for, some perfect home style corn tortilla chips adorned with fresh pico de gallo, a seasoned cubed pear, and some fried avocado with sauce. The flavors were very exciting, each bite a contrasting taste sensation. I enjoyed this flight of food while sipping my flight of wine. It was an explosion of tasty thrills.

vegetarian ceviche

bites with flights

The hip, cool setting and the vast selection of wine, beer and fresh food on the menu attracted us in the first place. They feature local musicians often, and hold special events for beer releases, etc. They run the kind of local business we like to support. The reason we have instantly become loyal customers is the exceptional service. Our server Alberto Noeggerath is knowledgeable and very helpful. Since I rarely drink wine these days I was happy to put myself in his capable hands when selecting three reds to taste in my flight. I also tasted a cava sparkling that rounded out the flavor party at my place setting. All the wines were to my liking, but the zinfandel from Wilcox that came highly recommended was the star of the flight. I would almost order a glass of that next time if it were not for the fun of flighting. The option of tasting and trying new gastronomy with attentive, happy help from the staff makes Ermanos a great dining destination for us. We plan to return often in the future.

Regular customers were arriving as we finished, and we spoke to a couple who were as enthusiastic as we are about the place. We are big fans who recommend Ermanos for party time, gourmet time, or homestyle, homegrown down home downtown Tucson time. This place is perfect for everyone who likes eating and drinking.

: excellent menu

: Bob and the beer menu

: to go

Bob loves beer, and I love dining. We both love fabulous service.

chef Claire Ferguson

server Alberto Noeggerath

Bob ate biscuits and gravy and four beers in a flight.

biscuits and gravy

beer and wine flights

We had to try the beer float for dessert. Loved it!

beer float

Tumacacori National Historical Park

October 28, 2015 — 1 Comment

Padre Kino

I initiated my new fabulous senior pass for the national parks yesterday at Tumacacori. It was a full moon night and a special program was presented. The park reopens a few times a year to let the public experience the place after dark. The ranger was a wonderfully knowledgeable presenter who showed a lot of pride in her position. This is a unique park because it preserves history of a mission that was abandoned. The original mission was founded by Padre Kino, who visited a couple of times before he died, but had little contact with the locals. He became popular by gifting the natives with seeds, animals and trees. Mission land was granted for the natives to use, but not trade or sell. Success through new agriculture was the main selling point used by the missionaries. By farming within the mission walls the crops were protected from wildlife and livestock grazing in the area. Crops and animals were introduced that provided food in seasons when native plant harvests were scarce.

Kino was a member of the Jesuit order, which would eventually be banished from New Spain by the king. The Franciscans took over the place, but when Mexico won independence the funds no longer flowed from Spain. The missionaries moved north to Mission San Javier del Bac, which is still in use today as a Catholic church. The abandoned site sat empty until the National Park Service took over.

: mission church

: Franciscan church

: mission church

: mission church

: altar

: church door

The full moon tour was an exciting and authentic way to honor this historic place by learning about the past. I learned many new facts that make me curious to learn more and return in the future to take in this very special atmosphere. I plan to make the most of my senior pass by checking out all the national parks in Arizona. I will have many happy travels in the future by tuning into programs and events such as the one we enjoyed yesterday as a day trip . If you know a senior (62 or over) who does not yet have a pass, this would make the very best of holiday gifts. It works for a whole car load of visitors. You only need one senior pass per car for free entry for all passengers. Maybe it is time to start traveling with a senior on board.

: native dwelling

: native dwelling

Arizona is full of scenic places with ancient civilizations. We are privileged to have such a rich cultural and natural tradition surrounding us. Now that I am loaded with my lifetime park pass I will be taking full advantage of it.