Two hang out in Tucson ...!

Hello blog lovers - welcome back!

Can't believe Saturday has come round again so quickly!  I don't know about you but I always struggle with what to cook for dinner on a Saturday night  As our weekends are usually laid back catching-up-as-a-family type affairs, it has to be something that doesn't take much effort and which involves minimal time in the kitchen (and more time for sitting outside/swimming/catching a local festival etc).  I saw Ree Drummond make this easy Mexican Chicken Soup on an episode of Pioneer Woman on the Food Network channel recently, and as all the ingredients are just chucked in the slow cooker and left for 5 hours, I thought I would give it a go for tonight's supper.  I'll give you the verdict next week!  My slow cooker is turning out to be the best thing I have bought since we moved to Arizona.  The perfect way to cook dinner without heating up the whole house and only one pot to wash up!  (not that I do washing up you understand ... that's Mr B's job :D)

Our very own 'Bear Grylls' returned from his trip to Catalina Island last night and so today I have mostly been washing the smelly, wet contents of a duffel bag and emptying half a beach load of shingle from water shoes.  He had a great time - kayaking, snorkeling, hiking - including a night hike (there was no choice evidently, lol), making Smores round a campfire and even managing to survive 5 days with no phone or wifi!  Apparently though he wasn't that enamored with dissecting a squid or having to get the lens out of it's eyeball ... **bleugh!**   Normal service has now been resumed though and he is currently ensconced in his room on his Playstation with headphones glued to his ears **sigh**  Oh well, it was good while it lasted!

Views from Catalina

Whilst he was away, Mr B and I decided we would make the most of the opportunity and ventured down to Tucson for a couple of days R&R.  

   

We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Marana, which was nestled into the side of Dove Mountain, and a very lovely spot.  Everywhere was so beautiful with lots of palo verde trees, flowering shrubs and cacti still in bloom (although this turned out to be somewhat of an annoyance by the end of the trip as we both left with streaming eyes, runny noses and constant sneezing fits!).  The weather was kind to us with temps in the low 80s, if a bit windy (hence the allergies!), which made it perfect for lounging about outside (with a packet of Claritin and a box of tissues) and a spot of sightseeing without being too hot.  

Breakfast with a view!

Didn't think much of the Kids Club though ...

We visited Tucson itself ... not a lot to see there to be honest ... the only thing I saw that looked interesting was the old Cathedral.  

Wondered why it was decorated with a large purple bow ... probably left over from Easter I thought as I bowled in through the door.  Oh.  Turns out it was a funeral ... **exits quickly whilst trying to stop flip flops from flip flopping ...**

We also took a ride out to the San Xavier Del Bac Mission about 20 minutes outside Tucson.

Gorgeous against the bright blue sky!

ding dong ...

It had some beautiful original carvings and artwork ...

But not sure what the dudes in frilly dresses were all about ...?!

Freaky if you ask me ...!

Outside in the garden we spotted a couple of ground squirrels.  They are the cutest things you ever did see!  They are like mini meerkats and just stand like statues enjoying the sunshine. 

so cute ...!

this one was enjoying a quick snack ...

Back at the hotel we really enjoyed spending the evenings taking a little light refreshment outside around the fire pits  ...

After dark it got quite chilly, and just as we thought we might have to go inside, we were handed a snuggly blanket each ... yay! 

Hiawatha & Pocahontas!

It really was lovely sitting under the stars (the clear dark skies of Tucson are perfect for stargazing!) watching the flickering flames of the fire with a nightcap in hand.  What better way to spend a couple of days to ourselves!

Anyway, back to reality ... I better go and fold all that laundry and check on the soup.

Hope you are all managing to get some R&R in this weekend and hope to see you back here next week - same time, same place, same Bat Channel!

TTFN

Bev x

A Tucson Tale ... !

So this weekend is Mr B's birthday and we decided to make the most of it by spending the weekend exploring Tucson, which is a couple of hours drive from Phoenix.  One good thing about the searing summer temperatures here in Arizona is that it tends to put people off visiting at this time of year and so you can usually find a great rate at many of the luxury hotels that seem to be a feature here.  Bonus! 

After a bit of research we decided on Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, about 30 mins from the centre of Tucson and booked in for a couple of nights.   When we checked in we were advised that as we had booked as part of the Fine Hotels & Resorts Programme, we were entitled to a room upgrade ... huzzah! ... and as the hotel was not particularly busy had us checked into a luxury suite ... double huzzah! 

When we got to the room though, whilst it was large, we discovered that a) it was dark and smelled damp, b) it was right next to the main entrance from the car park and very noisy and c) it was right opposite the ice machine (which was obviously very well used!) ... Oh yes, and someone's shirt was hanging in the wardrobe!  Hmmm ... whilst not meaning to appear ungrateful it did not really scream 'fine hotel'.  Mr B made a swift call to the front desk to say that whilst we were very appreciative of the room upgrade it was not quite ticking all the boxes for the aforementioned reasons and was there any possibility we could move to a different one?  

A little while later, we were settled into a much quieter room, no smell, and a nice view of the city lights (well, there would be when it was dark). Something to look forward to.  We unpacked and headed off to the pool, which was beautiful (and the accompanying cocktails even nicer ... well it was Friday).  After a very relaxing few hours dipping in and out of the cool blue water we headed back to the room to freshen up and change for dinner.  

Right, I'll just pop to the loo before we go down  ... erm ... should it be making that noise?  20 minutes later, when it was still flushing accompanied by a rhythmic squeak at 2 second intervals, it was another phone call to the front desk.  "Oh dear ... so sorry about that ... we'll send maintenance up right away".  Thirty minutes later, a nice Polish chap arrived (blimey, they get everywhere!) and after 20 minutes of tinkering (no pun intended) he announced that he needed to go and get a bucket ... ? ... and would be back shortly.  When he finally returned it was getting late and we were all hungry so we asked if he was ok to carry on whilst we went down to dinner.  Yes, he said. "It will be all sorted by the time you get back".  Great.

After dinner, we went out into the garden to take a stroll amongst the twinkly fairy lights and whilst looking up at a stunning diamond studded velvet sky, noticed lots of birds swooping down over the now lit pool.  OMG! They better not be bats! No, wait ... I think we're ok, they definitely have feathers.  Whilst we were debating a friendly chap who seemed to be setting up a large telescope, advised that they were night hawks catching insects attracted to the lights.  What an amazing sight! I settled myself on a lounger to lie back and watch them whilst Mr B and Ethan discovered a ping pong table and a couple of bats (thankfully the wooden kind!).  I wouldn't exactly say they were having a game ... more like Mr Magoo versus Stevie Wonder ... but they seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Friendly telescope man then asked whether we wanted to join the stargazing activity he was just setting up for?  Brilliant! Yes, we would love to!  After amazing views of Venus, Jupiter, complete with 4 of it's moons, and Saturn we were all getting a bit tired and decided to head back to our room (which was quite a walk).  When we finally arrived, I was desperate for the loo again (what? It's all the bloody water you have to drink out here) and was getting cross with Mr B as he was taking forever to get the door open. "Er ... the key won't work".  Marvellous.  "I'll have to go back down to reception to ask them to reset it".  Grrrr.  After a cross legged dash down a three corridors and a flight of stairs, I managed to find a 'Restroom' just in time (and why are they called that?  Who would want to chill out in a toilet?).  Thank the Lord!  Mr B finally returned to advise that the reason the door was locked was because our room was now 'out of order' as the toilet couldn't be fixed!  Seriously?!  We would have to move rooms ... again.  Cosmic.  Packing for the second time today was just what I needed at 10.30pm and after several sleep inducing cocktails (I don't know what they put in them?).  Just as I was about to blow my top, Mr B then added with a smug grin ... "oh ... and we're moving to the Presidential Suite apparently as it's empty".  What?!  Shut the front door!

Even the lure of the presidential suite though didn't stop me cursing and swearing as I proceeded to throw everything back in the cases, repack 3 wash bags, sun cream, make up, hair tongs, skincare ... What? It takes a lot of work to look like this you know. 

Finally, just after 11pm, and another hike to the other end of the hotel and up 3 more staircases, we arrived at the Presidential Suite.  We opened the door to a baby grand piano, two lounges, a large dining room, and mini kitchen ... but bizarrely I thought for   

a Presidential Suite, only one bedroom.  They had delivered a roll away bed for Ethan though so it was all good .. (Bad luck son :D)  Finally, after unpacking for a third time we all fell into bed exhausted but in fits of hysterics after finally seeing the funny side of the day's events and how we came to be in the Presidential Suite ... you couldn't make it up!

As I write this, we have just returned from a day in Tombstone, which Ethan declared two minutes after we arrived to be 'another tacky tourist town' which I guess it was, but even if the re-enactment of the Gunfight at the OK Corral was a bit cheesey, it was good clean fun and an enjoyable day out! 

We promised ourselves when we moved to Arizona that we would endeavour to make the most of our time here, seeing as much as we can and spending more time together as a family .... and I can safely say we are doing just that!

Next week Ethan and I are home alone again (yes, this is the job with 'hardly any travelling') so anything could happen! Check back next week to find out ...