We are on the road again! It seems strange to be standing on line at the TSA Pre check in Omaha; it has only been five months since we returned from our nearly two months in Europe but that feels like a lifetime ago. We are now headed to our annual visit (some would say freeloading) to our friends in the Southwest. We left our home at 4:45 AM on Monday, stopped to pick up our driver Darcy (dear DAPC2) who will drive our car back home. Our first leg on Southwest Airlines was uneventful, we arrived in Denver and immediately proceeded to the McDonald’s outlet in the C concourse for an egg, bacon, cheese biscuit sandwich and a potato patty to share and take the edge of our hunger. We arrived at the Tucson airport where Tom & Kevin are on hand to meet us. We loaded our meager luggage into their white sedan and headed to the Casa T&K bed and breakfast for the next few days. Kevin was our chauffeur this morning with Tom riding shotgun.
A scant mile from our destination, we were stopped in the turn lane waiting for the light to go our way when SMACK, we were lightly rear ended by a Mercedes SUV. The light changed, we pulled around the corner and into a grocery store parking lot to make the obligatory information exchange and inspect the damage. No injuries, barely a tap, and no apparent damage to either the Toyota or the Mercedes. The offending driver (Gigi) was in a tizzy, extremely apologetic and nearly in tears. Kevin spent a great deal of time calming her down and getting the necessary information from her. Cellphone pictures of license plates and insurance card info make this whole fender bender situation so much quicker.
Back on our way, we quickly arrived at Casa T&K for the beginning of our stay. We visited at length, Kevin made some grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch and then we laid our tired bodies down for a quick nap. Next thing you know it was up and on to cocktail hour. The mountains that form the stunning view from the deck of Casa T&K were beginning to change color with the setting sun, and as they say here “When the mountains turn pink it is time to drink!” Mark mixed up a pair of dirty martinis for Tom & Deb (twice) and Kevin and Mark enjoyed some wonderful Scotch single malt whisky.
Kevin had prepared a magnificent dish of creamed scalloped potatoes, a delightful bowl of peas and garlic and grilled a quartet of beef filets for our dining pleasure. We ate well, talked into the night and fell into bed happy with our first day of “Spring Vacation.”
The weather in Tucson has been decidedly chilly, highs in the low 60’s and lows into the upper 30’s. Sitting on the patio if it is not sunny in the afternoon requires a light sweater or jacket. Mark, of course brought his sandals and shorts, which seems only natural to him. These pair well with his fleece pullover so things are fine. Deb has long pants but not nearly enough long sleeved blouses - some quick shopping may be in order! For Tuesday morning, Kevin has prepared his usual B&B spread of fresh fruit, danish coffee cake, bananas, juice, cereal with milk and of course, copious cups of coffee. The Hampton Inn buffet would be shamed! This morning we loaded up the Toyota and headed south to the border town of Tubac, Arizona. This historic town, first established as a Spanish presidio in 1752, is now primarily an art colony and the shopping area is crammed with over 100 art galleries. We walked, shopped and stopped for a wonderful lunch at the famous Elvira’s Restaurant. Although we have heard stories of the Arizona wildlife, we only encountered a lonely grasshopper on our visit to Tubac.
Elvira’s was originally established in 1927 in Nogales, Sonora county, Mexico. In the 1980’s the restaurant closed as US tourists stopped flocking to the restaurant due to the combination of drug/gang violence, economic downturn and changing regulations requiring passports to cross the US - Mexican border. They re-opened in 1987 in Tubac and serve wonderful Sonoran cuisine. We dined on a Mole Poblano, a Chili Relleno, some chicken enchiladas, and steak and mushroom quesadilla. All accompanied by a Modell Cerveza and house margaritas. Our chauffeur Tom stuck to ice tea.
We arrived back at Casa T&K around 5:30, in time for Pink time, and then grasped on leftover scalloped potatoes and some grilled kielbasa. By 10:00 we were nodding our heads and crawled into our beds, having enjoyed the touring, the food and the camaraderie.
