Arizona is filled with history and legends and of that vast history there was one we didn't want to miss during this visit, Tombstone. Yes, if you have seen the movie and thought that it was a fiction you were very incorrect. Tombstone really does exist and the events at the O.K. Corral really did happen.
So we headed out for the hour drive and followed some "shortcut" directions Tony gave us which resulted in the photo above. It may seem like we were in the middle of no where and that is because we were. But nonetheless, it was a shortcut indeed.
We decided to first take in a dinner show which we enjoyed. Well the show anyway, the food was very overpriced but the show was very entertaining and depicted much of the history of Tombstone.
The realistic gun fights scared Zoe so Kristy had to distract her during some of the heated moments. Neleha on the other hand was not frightened, in fact she would yell at the actors/actresses and tell them to be nice to each other. I am not sure what was more entertaining, the show or Neleha.
This "Old West" town is lined with shops and restaurants. We had a great time browsing through some of them. We anticipated this visit and so we packed some boots for the girls and I am telling you they were the most precious cowgirls Tombstone has ever seen.
The Bird Cage Theater is one of the few still standing buildings from the haydays of Tombstone. We were able to visit the inside foyer but due to our budget we opted to not take the tour. It just gives us a reason to return some day.
After a quick bite to eat we took a ride on the stage coach. I was very surprised at the comfort I found in the stage coach, it was more comfortable then most cars I have ridden in.
We all enjoyed the informative and comfortable tour of this old west town.
It's funny in some ways how I lived here in Arizona for most of my childhood and Chad has lived here for the last three years and yet this was the first time either one of us actually enjoyed the many offerings this place had to offer.
Molly and Neleha thought they were in a parade or that they were celebrities because as we were riding along in the stage coach they were constantly waving. However their wave became very enthusiastic when someone waved back.
Our Cowgirls surely loved the ride.
As always Molly wanted to personally thank the horse for the nice ride.
One of the cowboys that run the stage coach saw that Neleha was thirsty when she knelt down at the dog water dish nearby and offered her a drink from his cup. Before we could stop her she starting gulping away. In fact she went back to his cup two more times.
The main attraction in Tomstone of course is the reenactment of the shoot out at the O.K. Corral. During this trip we learned that it was the first famous shoot out in the old west and was also one of the most documented as it resulted in many news articles and a court hearing.
Kristy decided to look at other stores with Zoe due to Zoe's dislike for the gun shots. And before the reenactment began I had to take Neleha out because she had a very hard time with staying still and with the heat. So it was just Molly, Chad, and I that got to enjoy this most enjoyable attraction.
They depicted the events that led up to the shoot out and even provided some of the history surrounding the individuals involved.
The shoot out was over almost as quick as it started, not like the movies, but probably more authentic to the real events.
Molly really enjoys these type of theatrical shows when women have roles such as the barmaid in this depiction.
The sign that hangs over us in this photo is an exact replica of the one that hang over the corral during the famous shoot out, it has been authenticated by photographs.
Our Molly had a wonderful time in "Cowboy Town" as she called it and she even got to take a token of the old west home with her, a pink 6-shooter.
On the way out of Tombstone we stopped at Boothill Graveyard which had the motto of being the final resting place of those who died in Tomstone with their boots on.
The above headstone is one of those more well known on Boothill.
After Tombstone Kristy and the girls hung out with Carmen and then Tony and I hit the golf course.
During our game we came across a local who we preferred to let "play through".
Later on in the night Tony and I played softball for Tony's church team. It reminded me of my days in high school playing church ball.
It was a good time and I even made a run, not bad for not playing for so many years.
