Travel Diary: Tucson, a tale of two cities
Posted on May 11, 2008
Filed Under Random stuff, Travel Diary
It’s funny how sometimes we can live in a particular area for years and never truly explore the world we live in. Like lifelong New Yorkers who have never been the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. I’ve lived in Arizona off and on for over 20 years and have only rarely driven to Tucson, mostly through. And given what most of us see as we pass through the former capital of the state, there doesn’t appear to be much to see. It’s old, it’s ugly, and if they didn’t have the University of Arizona, it would be a ghost town. Needless to say when I found out I had a 9am meeting in Tucson last week, I was less than excited. When I did the math and realized I’d have to be on the road before 7am, I was even less excited. So get up way too early, 110 mile drive, visit one of the ugliest cities in the state, yeah I was psyched, thank God for Starbucks.
On Friday however, I learned that Tucson is indeed a tale of two cities. Much like Batman’s nemesis Two-Face, Tucson also has two sides which are indeed polar opposites. I have now visited the oft rumored about, but seldom see ‘nice part’ of Tucson, the ‘foothills’. I’ve long heard that the ‘foothills’ are beautiful, but much like Bigfoot or the Lochness Monster, they were merely the stuff of legend. I’m here to report that this northern part of Tucson is indeed exists and is quite beautiful. Rolling hills and canyons with lush landscape, it almost made me forget I was in Tucson.
We had a great meeting with a resort company and I was all set to revise my thinking about our southern sister city when we journeyed to our second stop closer to downtown. We went from beautiful desert oasis to nasty rundownsville in about 10 mins. Now this was the Tucson I’d been loathing all these years. We had a so-so meeting with a pest control company and then thankfully I was on my way home. At least they had an In-N-Out Burger, so they do have that going for them. All in all I’d still recommend passing on your next invitation to Tucson, but if you must go, be sure to exit at Ina Road. Anything south of there is at your own risk.
Until next time…
Hi5 for the hero mention
“Much like Batman’s nemesis Two-Face”…
Thanks Cap’n! I guess I’m a little psyched for the new Batman movie.
it took you two hours to get to Tucson? Should only be like 90 minutes at most I think…I thought you could get there faster, maybe I’m wrong.
And I don’t care what you saw of Tucson, I still hate that town
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