December 1 - 15, 2017:
Our weekend plan is the Tamale Festival at the Casino del Sol on Saturday followed by “La fiesta de Tumacacori” on Sunday. The Tamale festival seems to gain in popularity each year with huge lines at the food vendors. I’m not a huge fan of Tamales, but love practically everything else. As usual we run into several other people from the campground. Looking around I see an abundance of over weight people which tends to make me stop eating, that’s my diet plan.
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It's mostly about eating !
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Watching the bands and dance group is secondary
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We skip the Saturday evening dance, Twinkles didn’t feel like going, but I’m sure she will tell her friends that it’s me, but I don’t mind. Dancing is just awkward to me, I only am up for it when the right music is playing which is often not dance music. I can only remember one time in my life that I ever left my seat to approach a single woman on the dance floor, but she was very special, enough said.
One of my my favorite festivals here is “La Festa deTumacacori celebrating the heritage of the Santa Cruz Valley. The fiesta starts with a procession of “Yaqui Tribal members”, bare to the waist with breech cloths and belts with metal bells and with members of the Tohono O’Odham Nation called “Pascolas” who wear ordinary clothes with leg and belt rattles and dance to violin and guitar music. The procession leads to the site of the mass in front of the Tumacacori Mission. The procession and the Mass is very spiritual and accentuated by the setting in front of the Mission with the mountains in the distance. The mass is a mix of Spanish, English and Native Indian culture and language. No photos are allowed and the policy is strictly enforced so if you want to see it, you have to go in person.
The Fiesta follows with food vendors, exhibits and information booths on cultural and environmental organizations, a kids area, folklorico dancers, Apache crown dancers, mariachi bands and native american dancers.
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The fiesta grounds
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Very scary dance troupe
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A favorite of mine
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Beautiful flowing dance dresses
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Mexican mariachi band performing
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The Mission itself is a very unique national treasure saved by the “Antiquities Act” in 1904 by Theodore Roosevelt. The Mission had been abandoned for about a hundred years and stripped of all valuable interior adornments, even the roof was taken for the wooden beams and it was slowly falling apart. Over the years since it has been stabilized with a limited restoration, but mostly left in a state of ruin as a testament to its history. The Mission is operated as a National Historic Park with historical information in the visitors center and guided tours.
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Tumacacori Mission has a haunting quality
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It seems more sacred due to its near destruction
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I didn't realize until afterwards that a shadow of the church was in the background,
it adds a nice touch
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Another favorite festival in Tucson is the winter 4th Street Fair with hundreds of craft vendors, much to see and do and fair food to eat.
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The Carnivaleros Band on stage
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Several street musicians
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Ben's Bells is a Tucson institution
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Lots of food and drink
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The balloon man was really great
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These mariachi kids were great too !
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Twinkles bought ear rings from this colorful man
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Lots of tie dyed shirts
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Lots of masks
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Hippie Gypsy stuff too !
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We met some of our campground friends (wearing tie dyed shirts) in mid afternoon at the “Hut” where the band “Top Dead Center” was performing. They are an excellent veteran band known for its repertoire of “Grateful Dead” and other iconic 60’s music. There was a weird assortment of people in attendance as expected, but the music was very good. We were happy to see the Tucson “Dancing Man” there still dancing non-stop.
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These guys get the sound and vibe of the Grateful Dead, see video
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| John and Donna from Logan Lake, BC on the dance floor |
I attended several live music events in Tucson during this time;
The Ronstadts at the Chicago Bar who since the loss of “Papa Rondstadt” have evolved a bit, but the music continues along the family tradition. Petie Ronstadt has definitely grown into the leader of the band and even does occasional solo gigs.
Tony Furtado at Monterey Court who has won the national bluegrass banjo championship several times. He is also a songwriter and plays guitar, slide guitar, sings. He has many critically acclaimed albums to his credit and has played at major venues. He was accompanied by a violin player who has won the national championship three times.
Sleepwalkers Station at Monterey Court, they are a complete unknown to me, on tour from Berlin, Germany. It was a solo performance, but there are several other band members. I was intrigued by their web site where they are described as having Dylans roots, Drake's philosophy and the dreams of Counting Crows, Mr Jones.
Kevin Pakulis “Sunday Sessions” at Borderland Brewing where Kevin welcomes all to “the church”. It’s always good with much original and southwest inspired country and special musical guests.
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Kevin with a special guest sitting in, Texas "Terry" Trash of
the band "Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks" |
Jamie Anderson at Monterey Court, an original Tucsonian, now living in Ottawa Canada, who returns periodically. An extremely witty, humorous and political singer / songwriter.
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Jamie Anderson on stage
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The St Cinder Band at Monterey Court from Ashland, Oregon. They are street buskers at heart who are competent on multiple instruments and have gained a considerable reputation and following. They are wintering in Bisbee, Arizona this year and hopefully will be in the Tucson area occasionally.
The Great Cover-up at the Hotel Congress where a number of local bands and musicians come together to perform cover songs of various well known bands. Who is covering who is kept a secret until the show which takes place over three nights at three different venues.
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The courtyard of the Hotel Congress
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Louise LeHir and band doing the "Kinks"
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Carlos Azate and his band "The kind souls" did a powerful, dynamic set
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A hispanic band doing the "Doors", they were very good
musicians but how can anyone duplicate Jim Morrison ?
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We bought a new bed mattress for the RV and had to take the old one to the Pima County dump for disposal. Going into the dump is quite an experience, everyone should be required to do it, what a dump ! This could promote conservation !
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This landfill goes on for miles, but there was a time perhaps only 100 years ago when it may
have looked like the following photo
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In contrast, I made it out into the desert one evening as the cloud formations were promising for a good sunset, I wasn't disappointed !
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Indescribable ?
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That’s all for now, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year;
Twinkles and Slick
