San Xavier del Bac

Here's a typical tourist picture of the San Xavier del Bac Mission, probably the top tourist destination in Tucson.  The mission was founded in 1699, and the present church was started in 1783.

I have always had a connection with Tucson, going back to my five months in 1971-2 when I worked for the Lunar and Planetary Lab at the University of Arizona.  I hadn't been back to Tucson for a number of years and had never shown San Xavier to Laura, so this winter seemed like a good time to return briefy to "The Old Pueblo" as Tucson is sometimes called. 

The altar, and in fact the entire interior, is very ornate. 

Candles in an adjacent shrine room made a nice pattern picture.

Santos in the shrine room.