Missions and Wine Country

Saturday we planned another trip south to see two important missions and then would complete the journey with a visit to Arizona wine country.

Traveling south on I-19, we made a side trip just south of Tucson to see the mission, San Xavier del Bac, one of the oldest Spanish missions in the US. It was founded by Father Kino, who built a mission and a community from the sand and cactus of the desert. Sap from the cactus was actually used as an adhesive in the manufacture of the adobe that covered the structures.

I learned something from Father Kino's mission. The Garden of Gethsemane was not just the site of an olive grove and press. Olives have to be knocked from the tree and then, to get the oil, crushed under a heavy mill stone. Oil from the olives would flow through a groove and into jars. The millstone itself was called a "Gethsemane." The night before Jesus was crucified, the Bible tells us that while praying, he perspired blood.

This metaphor, of the crushing weight of sin, is often overlooked, but would have been immediately recognized by those familiar with the production of olive oil.

The next stop was Tumacacori National Historical Park, another Spanish mission. The gardens at the mission were cool and peaceful, patterned after the quiet places that priests once created here for contemplation.

On this particular day interpretors were scattered throughout the park so we had the benefit of getting some additional information about the early inhabitants. We also got to taste some paper thin tortillas, like the early natives ate. They were delicious!

Because this site is run by the State of Arizona, there was some odd editing of the Christian significance of the buildings and purpose of the rooms. Other that this annoyance, it was an interesting place to visit.

Finally, we made our way around to Arizona wine country, Elgin and Sonorita. We stopped at the first winery, Villages of Elgin, which was about 8 miles off the main highway, and signed up for a wine tasting. For $3/person, you were given a nice, big wine glass and a taste of five different wines.

Lest you think that these wineries are like the ones pictures in Napa Valley, California, I have posted a picture here. (No bathrooms, just port-a-potties).
We visited three wineries and bought several bottles of wine before leaving for home.

On the road to Tucson, we decided to pull over here and eat our picnic lunch.
A quiet place, the air so clean and crisp and the breeze keeping us cool in the hot March sun. All that was missing was a hammock.

Can you tell we really like Arizona?