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Wilderness RV camping only fifteen minutes
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Vintage car decorated for Day of the Dead |
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Alice Zyetz and Jaimie Hall in Day of the
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Burning urn ceremony concludes the parade |
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The popular concept of RVing is traveling
down the long, lonesome highway, stopping by a faraway desert
cactus to spend the night in splendid isolation. Which we did
last month, except we were fifteen minutes away from urban Tucson,
a city of more than half a million people, full of art galleries,
museums, live theater, concerts, and multiple activities. As
a former resident of New York City and Los Angeles, I love the
Recreational Vehicle lifestyle, but I miss the energy of a city.
It was a delight to find both in Tucson.
THE ENERGY OF TUCSON
Tucson attracts people of many cultures.
Starting with the earliest settlers-the Native Americans (Tohono
O'Odham tribe), Spanish, Mexican, and American pioneers-the
city continues to attract people of many cultures. The 17th
Street market is a huge warehouse space packed with shelves
jammed with foods and artifacts from India, Thailand, the
British Isles, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and many other countries.
The daily newspaper devotes two pages
to free and inexpensive concerts, lectures, meetings, dramatic
presentations, storytelling, "improv" theater, Brazilian
folk dancing, gardening, butterfly magic, woodcarving shows,
and other arts and crafts. Among other activities, we attended
a fundraiser for the local live theater. "Jerry Springer,
the Opera" was not only "interesting," the
singing was great.
DAY OF THE DEAD
Tucson's Indian and Mexican influences
are ever present in the daily life of the city. Much of the
architecture is Spanish pueblo style, and the name Tucson
comes originally from the Tohono O'Odham language meaning
"spring at the foot of black mountain." Early in
November is the traditional Day of the Dead (El Día
de los Muertos) celebration, originating with the Mexican
and Indian custom of paying respect to dead relatives and
friends. In Mexico, people build altars in their homes and
decorate them with photographs and mementos of the departed
along with paper cutouts, orange marigolds, sugar skulls,
and various skeleton characters including brides and grooms.
The families go to the cemetery to party and visit with the
spirits who have returned. When the monarch butterflies return
to Mexico in November, it is said that they bring the departed
spirits with them.
In Tucson, the Day of the Dead is celebrated
with various performances as well as a variety of artistic
altars in museums and shops. One tradition is a huge parade,
known as the All Souls Procession, made up of thousands of
ordinary people who dress in Day of the Dead costumes. It's
not unlike a giant Halloween parade of fanciful skeletons.
Jaimie Hall and I visited with some of our RV friends, made
our own altar, put on makeup and other doodads, and went to
the parade. We had a rich time remembering our own loving
family and friends who have left us. As is the custom, we
also said goodbye to any old habits we wished to be rid of.
At the conclusion of the parade everyone gathered as a giant
urn created by local artist Paul Weir was filled with people's
paper messages. It was then set on fire, lifted several stories
high, and allowed to consume itself. We decided this would
be an annual event for us.
BE A TOURIST
[www.visittucson.org]
Tucson, located in a high desert valley surrounded
by mountain ranges, offers activities for all interests.
For nature lovers, the desert and mountains provide opportunities
for walking, hiking, stargazing, birding, and sightseeing.
The Sonora
Desert Museum is an excellent resource for learning about
the desert and features a unique hummingbird and prairie dog
display. Tohono
Chul Park is a 49-acre desert preserve located in the
heart of the city. Saguaro
National Park is located both east and west of Tucson.
The Saguaro (suh-WAR-oh) is the familiar "Peanuts"-style
cactus -- with arms jutting out -- that only grows naturally
in Arizona and a few select spots in Mexico.
For baseball lovers, the World Series
champs Chicago White Sox will be doing their Spring training
in Tucson in March, 2006, along with the Arizona Diamondbacks
and the Colorado Rockies. Golfing is perfect in the ever-present
sunshine. Museum-goers have their pick of art, historical,
and scientific museums. The old West is still accessible.
Of course, there are plenty of restaurants, including Guatemalan,
Indian, Ethiopian, lots of Mexican, and many others. Click
here for a slide show from the 2005 All Souls Procession
and here
for an amazing collection of art projects currently underway
in the greater Tucson area.
WHERE TO STAY IN TUCSON
[www.go-arizona.com/Tucson/Camping]
Although we prefer to dry camp in a more primitive setting,
there are numerous RV parks and campgrounds within the city
limits. RVers can often stay for extended periods in mobile
home parks. For all others, there are hotels
and motels throughout the city.
Alice
Zyetz
12/4/05
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