Well, it's Marcia's turn to drive
This is a picture of Montezuma's Castle, located about an hour north of Phoenix
This five-story, 20-room pueblo built by the Sinagua Indians in the 12th and 13th centuries is so impressive that some thought it was built by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler of ancient Mexico. It is tucked into a cliff 100 feet above Beaver Creek.
This type of structure was difficult to access by intruders because the inhabitants used ladders to reach the cliff dwellings and then pulled the ladders up behind the last person that entered.
This type of construction was evidence that knowledge of other civilizations building techniqes from North and South America were used. They used the river bottomlands for farming their agricultural resources to keep them alive, but around 1300 A.D., the castle along with most dwellings around the Southwest were abandoned. This abandonment is thought to be the result of a major drought that occured around this time, but the definite reason is still a mystery. Their knowledge of agriculture and advanced building techniques are both evidence of life of the Anasazi during this period in prehistory.
Marcia wanted a picture of me in front of it.
Here we are at a restaurant/theater in Phoenix.
That's Dee, Marilyn, Marcia and Jim
When I was in the service, my favorite restaurant was Mama Louisa's La Cantina in Tucson. It was only four years old at the time. It's still there! It was raining at the time I took it.
The girls humored me by going there for dinner. Lasagna followed by Spumoni ice cream!
Also, when I was in the service in Tucson I enjoyed a country and western bar called the Maverick Club. It was only about five years old at the time. It was still there also!
Here's Jim and his harem enjoying a drink at the Maverick Club
Same place, only a lot closer picture. Would you believe I sang Ray Price's "Personality" at their Karaoke Night?
San Xavier del Bac, Arizona, is a beautifully preserved gem of the late Baroque style of New Spain. Completed in 1797, it stands in the San Xavier District of Tohono O'odham Nation, about twelve miles south of Tucson, Arizona. Alone of the Sonoran Desert missions, San Xavier is still served by Franciscans, and still serves the Native community for which it was built.
Retablo Mayor. The magnificent Baroque interior, basically unchanged since 1797,
Here's Ron and Bev's home in Phoenix, where we stayed.
This is the fence of memories at the
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building which was Bombed April 19, 1995
At 9:02am Wednesday morning, April 19, an explosion devasted the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. On May 5, 16 days after the bombing, the recovery effort ended. Of the 168 identified fatalities, 19 were children. One victim was a nurse who died of injuries suffered in the rescue effort. Metro hospitals treated over 400 people injured by blast. The severed leg of another victim was later discovered at the blast site, assumed for some time to be unidentified victim #169, but in late February identified as belonging to Lakesha R. Levy, a previously identified victim.
At 7:01a.m., Tuesday, May 23rd, the remains of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building were demolished by a controlled implosion. Approximately 150 pounds of carefully placed explosives reduced the structure to a rubble pile in less than 8 seconds. Immediately afterwards, workers began removing the debris. The cleanup was completed in several weeks.
On Monday, May, 29th, the last 3 identified bodies were recovered from the rubble of the Murrah Building. Late Memorial Day afternoon, workers finally reached the bodies of 2 credit union employees caught in the explosion. A previously unknown victim was added to the death toll when the body of Alvin Justes was also found. Justes had been missing since before the blast and was known to do business at the credit union that had been in the Murrah building.
A Catholic Church, just across the street south, that incurred major damage from the bombing put up a statute that said "And Jesus Wept"