Tombstone

Day 11

We were picked up for our tour today and found we were the only passengers so we had a private tour.  After a 2 1/2 hour drive we arrived at the White Dove of The Desert, one of the Southwest's best preserved missions at San Xavier del Bac, just outside Tucson.  The historic Spanish Catholic  mission is known as the 'place where the water appears"'as the Santa Cruz River which runs underground surfaces nearby.  This mission was founded in 1692 and the present church was built in 1783 and it continues to serve as an Indian parish church.

From there we travelled to Tombstone Arizona where the 1880's building and artifacts are well preserved. Tombstone was founded by Ed Schieffelin who set out from the fort to find gold and silver. Because of the hostile Apaches he was warned that the only thing he would find would be his tomb stone. This name inspired the name of his first gold claim and two years later after the influx of miners the mining town became known as the city of Tombstone

The courthouse is now a museum filled with guns and memorabillia from this era.\

From here we walked into the centre of town to have lunch at the Big Nose Kate Saloon. (Named after the girl friend of Doc Holliday)  It was like a 1880's working saloon with bar girls, piano player, etc.  It had a great atmosphere.  We walked around the town then went to the OK Corral where we watched a film on what really happen (not the Hollywood version)  then watched a live re-enactment of the fight between the Erps (and Doc Holliday) and the McLaury's who were all killed and now rest at Boot Hill - the last stop on our tour.

Boot Hill is only small with various victims of violence (shootings and hangings) and disease in Tombstones early years including those from the OK Corral  We found a lot of the wording quite humorous.

Such as

Here Lies Lester Moore

4 slugs from A 44

No less   No more

We were glad to head home.  It had been another long day.  On the way back we were stopped by the Border Patrol looking for drugs and illegal immigrants.(Tombstone is close to the Mexican border).  The driver said they normally just have a look and wave them through but not today.  When we said we were from Australia they told us to pull the vehicle over and wait.  They checked our vehicle and passports and said we could go.  I think it is just because we are Aliens (Non American citizens)

I also liked this sign on one of the buildings