On a mission - Sat 18th Dec 2010.

From Where in the world

On San Xavier's to be precise... As usual, the Tuscon skies and the desert sun enticed us out for another day of exploration. Not far from the outskirts of Tucson, the Moor-designed Mission San Xavier del bac rises up from the Sonora Desert; lonely for company with the exception of cacti and native Indians peddling anything from trinkets through to fried bread in the carpark.

San Xavier (which I quickly learned to pronounce the Spanish way after being tut-tutted by a local woman: have-ee-air) dates from the late 1700's, when Southern Arizona was part of New Spain. Following Mexican independence in 1821, San Xavier became part of Mexico and the Mission joined the United States in 1854. The Franciscans returned to the Mission in 1913 and it recently became a separate nonprofit entity.

End of history lesson! There will be a short quiz to follow...