In exploring Barrio Viejo over the past couple weeks I have discovered that there are a number of Parks and Shrines throughout the neighborhood. This week I discovered El Tiradito, or The Wishing Shrine. This quaint, yet beautiful, shrine is located on Main Ave. next to the delicious El Minuto Café.El Tiradito translates as the castaway or the outcast. It is said that an individual of the Catholic Church once committed such a sever sin before dying that they would not allow him to be buried in the Catholic Cemetery. He was buried at this site instead.
Today the site remains as a city park. The adobe wall, which lines the back, contains holes and pockets stuffed with notes and prayers of well-being. In the front of the shrine is a large candle umbra adorned with flowers and the drips of melting wax from the thousands of candles lit over the years.
Today the site remains as a city park. The adobe wall, which lines the back, contains holes and pockets stuffed with notes and prayers of well-being. In the front of the shrine is a large candle umbra adorned with flowers and the drips of melting wax from the thousands of candles lit over the years.
Going to the shrine today was really interesting because there was still a lot of memorabilia from the Jan. 8 shootings. Numerous photos of Gaby Giffords were displayed, with candles and prayers. It was also sad to see, that like many other places in Tucson, the near by cactus froze in the deep freeze we had a few weeks back. They poor cacti are hanging, drooping along the side of the shrine.
I can tell the shrine is still visited often. In my time there on Sunday I saw three people stop and take pictures, and there were even a few candles lit when I arrived.
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