Bisbee Art Cars

Today is catch up day for me on the blog. I attended a few events before I started writing this and so I thought today I might backtrack a bit. Another reason for my backtrack is that my camera is in need of some cleanup work. I have discovered much to my dismay that the UFO "blob" I keep seeing on my photos is actually dust or dirt on my camera sensor. I need to clean that before I take some more photos or I will be forced to doctor all my future pictures in photoshop.

A lot of people who visit Bisbee notice "art cars" driving around town. I wasn't sure what to call them actually but it turns out they are "art cars." A couple of months ago, I attended an "art car" show in Bisbee. This was a real eye opener for me since I had no idea there were so many people who made art cars. It turns out it truly is an art. The event even had a film about how people make art cars. You have to admire the conviction (or obsession) of this art. Below are a few photographs of some of the cars that were on exhibit. They are not all from Bisbee but a few of them are often seen around town. Click on each of the photos to see a larger version.

Trip to the Food Co-op in Lowell

Today I went to the Food Coop in Bisbee. I have to drive there because it's down past the giant open pit mine. I went via the Bisbee Coffee Co. which is right in town across from the Post Office. They have good coffee here although I must admit, the smell of the roasting coffee is what really draws me in. They roast the coffee upstairs and when the wind is blowing just right, you can smell it all over Bisbee. 

The Food Co-op is on Erie Street in an area of Bisbee that is called Lowell. It used to be a thriving part of town way back when, with a movie theater, a gas station, a dime store and various other stores. Today there is not much there. The west end of Erie Street now ends with a giant drop off into the Lavender mine.  The mine is no longer active but the big pit is still there! I am told that much of Lowell has been bought up by the mining company, Freeport McMorran, but I don't know if that is really true. It does seem rather desolate.

Next to the Co-op is a place I have yet to go to. It is called the Bisbee Breakfast Club and they are open for breakfast and lunch a few days a week. Everyone says it is a great place to eat. I have driven by but can't really see inside very well.  One day I will have to go in - maybe when a relative comes to visit. Today I just visited the Co-op. I have to admit that I am a little unclear as to how the Co-op works but I know it is open to everyone, not just members.  I have been going because they have some stuff there that I just can't find anywhere else. They also have a great supplement selection. So, today, I decided I would join today since I have been several times and I thought I might benefit from the lower prices as a member. It cost me $12.

Today, bread was much cheaper as a member so I decided rather than pay $5 something for a loaf, I may as well join and get it for $3.50. My $12 membership is good for 6 months and I guess it would pay for itself with 5 loaves of bread. I've been buying this sprouted grain bread that is supposed to be healthy for you and they have a good selection of this bread at the Co-op. They also have a pretty good bulk food section and I also like their yogurt and organic milk. I bought all that stuff there and then continued on to Safeway to get the other things I needed and couldn't get at the Co-op.

This is looking back up Erie Street at Lowell on my way out. You can see the old Texaco sign. There are gas pumps there too but the bus is blocking them unfortunately. There are always cars on the street so people must be in some of the buildings.

One of my favorite things in Bisbee is the roundabout. I love it and every chance I get to, I go around it. It is great fun.  I just would love to zoom around that roundabout in a Mini. I might even go around twice. I think my sister would love it too. I know she loves roundabouts. Is that weird or does everyone love them as much as we do? It makes me feel like I'm on another continent when I drive around that thing.  The police station is right beside the roundabout so you can't really do anything too crazy. There are 4 exit roads to get off of the roundabout, one goes towards Sierra Vista/Hereford, another goes to Warren, the other goes to Douglas, and the other goes to Old Bisbee. There are signs telling drivers the roundabout is approaching.

Yes, I am driving and taking a photo but I was using the "live" mode rather than shooting through the viewfinder so it was actually safer than driving with a phone to my ear!That is the police station on the right. I hope they didn't see me driving and taking pictures! The sign gives you an idea of where you are going on the roundabout. It is funny because lots of people get to the roundabout and have no idea they are actually supposed to continue on and yield to the car on the left. They stop and look both ways. It is confusing for people when they have never seen them before. Once you get on the roundabout you can see the 4 directions marked by these N S E W metal sculptures. 

Here, you can see I am on the roundabout and passing the E. I don't really think the directions are particularly necessary but they are rather artistic, just like many things in Bisbee. One evening Paul and I were driving around the roundabout and a white tailed deer merged in front of me and then decided to just cross through the center rather than follow the traffic rules ;-). Silly deer, I hope the police didn't notice.

Bisbee's Police Beat!

I always read the Police Beat in the local newspaper. Bisbee's is particularly entertaining. Below I have posted an image from the newspaper. They are sometimes so funny, you can't help but laugh out loud. Bisbee is a place with very little crime. You can make it larger to read by clicking on it.

Bisbee Observer, 2010

Chocolate Shop

Today I went to the Chocolate Shop in Bisbee. I had met one of the owners a while back. They only open in the winter because the chocolate just melts when you step outside in the summer. Armed with that  insight, I figured that they must have fabulous chocolate if they can make a living doing this and be open only part of the year. I decided to check it out today. I was not disappointed. They had the most amazing chocolates. My husband warned me about setting foot in there. I couldn't leave without buying some.

The nice woman behind the counter let me try various samples and they were so yummy. They had flavors such as Chiltipin Truffle which is described as: "Made with wild chiltipin peppers, this confection has oranges & attitude." The  Coffee Lover's is described: "Fresh-roasted Fair Trade Bolivian espresso blended into a creamy dark chocolate ganache." Other flavors they have include Citrus Grove, Double Dark, Circular Logic, Anejo Tequila, Sweet Sage, Grand Marnier, Bisbee After Dark (infused with local chili peppers), Kahlua Divine, Polynesia, Berry Butter Bites, Nutty Orange Truffle (delicious - I bought this one), Three Pepper Cardamon, Celtic Cream, Turtle Power, Primavera Corazon (Fresh organic rosemary and lime ganache enliven this dark chocolate heart - I bought this one and ate it already), Spirited Chocolate Leaf. Yum Yum Yum.

Inside the Chocolate Shop.

Above, you can see my take-home booty. I bought some chocolate bars that they make from scratch in the store, grinding up the cocoa beans. One is called Bad Girl Breakfast Chocolate. I think I'm going to be a Bad Girl for breakfast from now on. The 4 little chocolates in the box that I bought were from bottom left clockwise: Nutty Orange Truffle, Bisbee After Dark, Primavera Corazon, Coffee Lover's. Yah, it's a little expensive but I have to say, it's worth it eating really good chocolate. I had never had chili peppers with chocolate before except in Mole sauce but I have to say, it was really extraordinarily delicious. I'm glad they are only down 300 steps from my house. 

Bisbee Blog

I am relatively new to Bisbee but I already find this town enchanting. This old mining town has been revived as an artist town that brings in tourists. I guess many towns need to re-invent themselves when their major industry shuts down. This happened in the 70s and that is when the "hippies" moved in. Since then, Bisbee has changed a lot but it has retained a lot of its mining heritage. There are still old timers that worked in the mines living in Bisbee. The houses in Old Bisbee are mainly miner cabins. Some are falling down, some have been restored. We live in a restored miner's cabin on a narrow road perched on the side of a hill.

I will try to introduce you to my new town through this blog and through a newcomer's eyes. I am just learning about the history of the town and meeting the people that live here. The town is green and hilly and there are more steps than you can shake a stick at. I have heard it said that Bisbee doesn't have sidewalks, it has staircases. Many tourists probably don't get much opportunity to walk the steps, the way the residents do. You really get to see this town when you walk up the thousands of steps here. According to my husband,  Bisbee uses any excuse to have "a band and a bar." We have been to several of these events and there is always music and a bar.

 I recently found this charming poem online about Bisbee:

A Mining Tale by Larry Wittig The “Mile High City of Sunshine” Lies a’sleepin’ among the Mule’s Twixt rusty rugged mountain peaks And skies of azure hues. From Main Street, very serpentine, Her streets and alleys spread From brightly colored shops below To weathered homes above. Built by rugged miners, With pick and bit and sledge, Who’d wrestled free her precious gifts Of copper, gold and lead. The city grew, her riches milked, By men who sweat and swore, Until at last, her treasures gone, She slept and grew no more. Then one day the “new ones” came, In tie-dyed shirts and sandaled feet And occupied the weathered shacks She cradled in her arms. The picks, shovels and drills were gone, Replaced by clay and pen, Until, at last, the once proud town, Began to wake again. Now we climb her well worn steps And hike her narrow streets, And marvel at the history Preserved in brick and stone. From shop to shop we walk and talk And view her wealth, in kind, By artisans made, to take if you’ve paid, For now the tourist is mined. (Source: http://members.cox.net/~chilesmith/bisbeewn2.htm)

Living in Bisbee - Some images

Art on Clawson Drive

Stairs and cat in Old Bisbee

Art on Clawson St

Subway Street

Subway Street

High Road bicycle art

Brewhouse on Brewery Gulch

Dog Park on Brewery Gulch

Dog Park Fence with adornments

Dog Park painted wall

View from top of the stairs into Old Bisbee

 

Artistically painted electrical panel

Main Street or Tombstone Canyon Rd, Old Bisbee

Main Street, Old Bisbee

View of Old Bisbee from Trail

Bisbee Staircase

Roundabout leaving Old Bisbee