Tucson, Arizona

I arrived in Tucson, Arizona, at around 11:00 in the morning. We had a great lunch in downtown Tucson, at the Little One. They serve Mexican food, including fresh juice. The four of us got their surprise platters, which are a sample of all the dishes that they have available. The owner is a very friendly lady who speaks Spanish, and says goodbye to all her customers with a hug. There is even a sign that says "hugs are mandatory". Among the sample of dishes we had, my favorites were the creamy chicken soup, the chipotle sauce, and the sweet corn tamale. The chicken mole and beef dishes were good too. 

We rented an Airbnb ranch, called the homestead. It's not a convenient location, but it is a beautiful, peaceful area. The owners are bird watchers, so there are elaborate bird feeders all over the property, some filled with types of insects, others with fruits, and others with seeds. You can watch the birds from the wide Windows, which also face east so you can see the sunrise.

The desert is quite chilly (though warm compared to New York), so the gas run fireplace is great to have at night.

We went on a scenic drive up amount Lemmon. Tucson is surrounded by purple mountains, which could have inspired that line about "purple mountains majesty". The landscape changes dramatically as you ascend. It's so cold that you see snow, and then more woody trees. 

The view from the top of the mountain is beautiful. I travelled so much internationally that I sometimes forget how stunning America really is. The long expanse of desert and the towering mountains is a reminder that, despite how urban and industrialized the coasts are, there is still this wild heartland that is largely untouched.