My Darlin' and I have lived here in the Tucson Mountains for more than a decade. She's a transplanted Jersey Shore girl, and I've lived all over the western hemisphere. Our neighbors hail from locales as diverse as Cook Inlet, Alaska, Vancouver, British Columbia and the American Midwest.
What we all have in common is a love for the outdoors.
Outdoor living is special no matter where we come from, but there's a magical quality to Tucson that captures our visitors and draws them back. It's the light.
Artists and photographers from around the world visit Tucson to capture that light on canvas or paper, and take it home with them.
Topography and architecture create different moods as the sun courses through the day. A photo of that Mexican Blue Oak would be ordinary, except for a single shaft of afternoon light shining into the canyon, painting its blue-green leaves yellow.
And doesn't the architectural detail of the ramada in the afternoon sun make you want to take a nap in that hammock?
There's another thing that makes outdoor living in Tucson so enjoyable: we have no gnats. No mosquitoes. No black flies. No biting, annoying, buzzing, blood-sucking insects requiring screened-in porches, cans of bug spray, or that favorite of the Jersey Shore, bug zappers. (You know, those outdoor lights that attract and then electrocute the little monsters.)
The absence of these nasty little insects allows Tucsonans the luxury of creating outdoor rooms that are extensions of our indoor living areas.
Except for the hottest days of summer, entertaining in the Old Pueblo is an outdoor enjoyment. And even in summer, when the days are scorchers, we enjoy outdoor living and entertaining at night.
You see, that special quality of light that brings magic to this little corner of the planet doesn't end when the sun goes down, the moon rises, and the stars come out.
The atmosphere in Tucson is (usually) so clear, the air so clean that even nightfall has its own magic. Isn't it time you decided to come visit us?
I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.
Think of me as your Tucson mortgage expert.
Call me if I can help you with a mortgage to buy your next house:
(520) 349-9090
Photos copyright Mike in Tucson (all rights reserved)
The Series:
Mike, Really neat pix of your area. I am putting the pictures you post of the Tucson area and am putting them in my "mind movie" Plan to vacation there next Jan...
Mike 3 out of 4 still makes your photos great, but that last one was a little under exposed! It comes up black on my screen.
Bill
Now I know what you are trying to do Mike.........You are trying to get me to leave all of this snow and cold and come to your warm, sunny and inviting area to enjoy all of the bug free nights and savor all that Tucson has to offer. That's what you are trying to do isn't it? Come on fess up!!!!
Hi Mike:
This is great stuff. There is so much information we can share about our areas.
I look forward to part 4.
Toula,
Thanks! What's the temp in NJ?
Don,
You bet I am! Is it working yet?
Bill,
Time for a new flat monitor if you can't see the skyline against the mountain. :)
Michael,
It is working! Thanks for being the first to comment.
Mike in Tucson
Mike - The pictures are stunning as usual. You have almost convinced me to schedule a vacation to visit soon. When I do, I'll give you a call.
Mike,
I'm enjoying this series so much, I decided to leave my 11,000th comment here!!! :) Thanks, Fran
WOW - It's simply beautiful there. I've yet to experience AZ in person, but you've done a wonderful job of providing an online presentation. Very pretty place.
Mike, Are you moonlighting with the Chamber of Commerce or the Convention and Visitors Bureau or something? Very nice. :)
The way you describe this bring back memories of vacationing in Cozumel...though I have never visited Arizona...sounds like a great vacation spot! Beautiful write and photos on this, Mike!
Shawn Davis
Sounds very enticing with our high temp in Michigan for January was 35 degrees I sometime wonder why I don't live in the south.
This is a great series of articles, Mike. Thanks for sharing them with everyone!
Kent,
I'm having a good time with this; thanks for stopping by.
Terry,
Brrr! I wonder that, too!
Shawn,
It's a wonderful place to visit, and even better to call home!
Doreen,
Someone's got to pick up the slack. LOL
Jason & Amber,
Come on down for a visit!
Fran,
I'm honored that you would spend so auspicious a comment as #11,000 on my blog! Thanks!
Larry,
I'll be looking forward to your call!
Mike in Tucson
Mike ... thanks for this post about Tucson, and photo images are great.
We cheered loud and long for the Arizona Cardinals to win the Super Bowl today. They didn't give up, played well, and Christi and I are proud of the team, Kurt Warner and management for that.
Best wishes. Harrison
Harrison,
They gave us an exciting game! I've never seen a Superbowl that was more so.
Mike in tucson
Mike I am convinced that I need to visit. Your love of the area shines through. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer,
Call before you come! We'll roll out the red carpet.
Mike in Tucson