Tucson Arizona

Mardy Bum

Hoping to go over for the summer. Should have work got before I leave. Just looking for info about the J1 with USIT and general experiences on Tucson or Arizona etc:D

Neamhshuntasach

An ex girlfriend was from Tucson so i used to visit a bit. And i have to say it's boring as hell. I was told it was a big college town but the nightlife sucked. And the heat there is crazy. Although not as bad as Phoenix. It's a nice friendly place though and the summer thunderstorms are brilliant. But if you take advantage of hiking and driving off road watch out for the flash floods. And the lightning strikes. I remember mosquitos being a problem too. Anyways it depends what you want out of a place. It's in a desert and has water restrictions, has lots of rocks and some good places to hike, it's a diverse city, has a young enough crowd, some okay bars, really hot weather, good Mexican food, close to Mexico. I liked visiting it but i was always ready to leave after a weekend. Something about it just seemed boring. Dry desert areas tend to depress me though.

Mardy Bum

Neamhshuntasach wrote: »

An ex girlfriend was from Tucson so i used to visit a bit. And i have to say it's boring as hell. I was told it was a big college town but the nightlife sucked. And the heat there is crazy. Although not as bad as Phoenix. It's a nice friendly place though and the summer thunderstorms are brilliant. But if you take advantage of hiking and driving off road watch out for the flash floods. And the lightning strikes. I remember mosquitos being a problem too. Anyways it depends what you want out of a place. It's in a desert and has water restrictions, has lots of rocks and some good places to hike, it's a diverse city, has a young enough crowd, some okay bars, really hot weather, good Mexican food, close to Mexico. I liked visiting it but i was always ready to leave after a weekend. Something about it just seemed boring. Dry desert areas tend to depress me though.

Hate mosquitos!:mad:
Thanks for the advice. It is just desert so I wasnt expecting much. Funnily enough I would have thought Phoenix colder as its higher up. Heading to Phoenix in February so I should get a good idea of it anyway. What was the age for clubs? I know in some states that if you over 18 you are allowed in but not allowed to purchase though some states are 21?I didnt think there would be flash floods in the desert during summer:eek:

Neamhshuntasach

Tucson is like twice the elevation of Phoenix. When you're heading down the 10 from Phoenix it's a climb up to Tucson.

As far as i remember you can be on the premises of a bar if you are with a legal guardian or parent or whatever just like it is in most states. But it's 21 to drink and they were strict about it when i was there. I was there for one July 4th and couldn't get drink anywhere. I turned 21 a few days later and had no problems with my passport.

Yeah the desert would throw you off a bit about it's climate. The south west region gets a monsoon season that usually starts around June or July and lasts maybe 2 or 3 months some years. There are heavy afternoon thunderstorms that bucket down. Out of nowhere floods occur really quickly. During the summer you really have to be careful if going hiking in that entire region. Especially in the afternoons. People die every year because they see the clouds on the horizon and don't turn back. Also because it rains more during the summer months the humidity goes up and that's why the mosquitos appear. There's no malaria or nothing so just cover up or use deet.

blackbetty69

it is bloody hot out there! you will pass some really strange places out there, pure wild western towns.. pretty amazing

Mardy Bum

Cool. Cheers all! Ye I heard it was strict regarding alcohol! Is it mostly mexicans? The few people I know out there are mexican.

Neamhshuntasach

Don't know whether they are Mexicans but Latinos would make up the largest amount of the minorities i reckon. My ex was Dominican and her family lived in the south of the city. That was the big latino area. Think the north is the mostly white area. Not many black people as far as i can remember.