Monday, March 28, 2016

Home Sweet Home - by Magdalena Scott

Tohono Chul Park - Tucson
Earlier this month, I spent a week in Tucson, Arizona, staying with friends in their lovely guest suite.

Besides being chauffeured to a variety of beautiful and interesting sites around town, and having a picnic on Mt. Lemmon, I spent two days at the fabulous Tucson Festival of Books. (Books! Authors! Readers!)

I also had coffee with author Patricia Forsythe, and lunch with author Merrillee Whren. What a treat to have unscripted time with each of these two ladies, whom I met a couple of years ago through Sweet Romance Reads.

My "host family" adores the area they live in, and regularly get out and seek new places and experiences. They treated me to walks in the desert, delicious home-cooked and restaurant meals, and generally spoiled me rotten.

It was one of the most beautiful, interesting, restful trips I've ever taken, and when I was back home in my little studio apartment, the experience seemed almost like a dream.

Three days later I had company for a few hours--people who wanted to see where I live and work. I gave them the full tour of my apartment: Stand in center of apartment, turn 360 degrees. We also strolled around the town square and stopped in at all the shops. We ate a delicious meal at a restaurant just a few hundred yards from my front door. Our waitress, and all the shop owners, were gracious to my friends. I'm certain they enjoyed the visit as much as I enjoyed having them with me.

I love traveling--seeing new things, trying new foods, making and strengthening friendships. Yet it's always wonderful to be home. And it's a treat to see people enjoy my little town. Helps me appreciate it more.

Do you ever try to imagine how visitors see your city? Do you treat yourself to "touristy" things at home, and not just when you're in a new location?

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Magdalena Scott is a USA Today Bestselling Author of small town sweet romance and women's fiction. Learn about her books, read her blog, subscribe to her newsletter, and connect on social media by visiting her website: magdalenascott.com

Her newest release is Book Four in the Serendipity, Indiana series: THE BLANK BOOK. Paperback is coming soon. The ebook version is available here:

11 comments:

  1. I love to travel too and see different places. I'm glad you were able to get away.

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    1. Thanks, Margaret. I hope our paths will cross again!

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  2. I love Tucson! Lived there for a few months when I was in college doing an internship. I do enjoy traveling - and coming back home.

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    1. Your Tucson experience sounds fun and interesting, Shanna. Did it inspire you to write a story?

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  3. I love to travel. I have not spent much time in Arizona, but imagine this would be the best time of year to be there. I do like doing touristy things here at home when people come to visit.

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    1. From what I hear you're right on the time of year to travel to Arizona, Jen. :) Good for you doing touristy things at home. I need to get better at that.

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  4. It was a treat to have lunch with Magdalena. She didn't even complain that I came to lunch right off the tennis courts. I knew she would have a wonderful time in Tucson. It's a very interesting place with lots of cool stuff to see and lots of things to see that are within a few hours' drive.

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    1. No problem on the "after tennis courts" timing, Merrillee! ;)

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  5. Don't do much traveling as vacation time is when I go back East to visit my Mom -- we do do some tourist attractions while we there

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    1. I'm headed east this summer on a girlfriend trip, Joanne. What sights do you recommend?

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  6. Magdalena,
    My husband and I are transplanted New Yorkers, now living near Charlotte, NC. Our family from the north visits us frequently, and we've become excellent at showing them the beautiful south.

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