Thursday, December 23, 2010

Ready for Christmas in Tombstone and Bisbee

I uploaded these pictures in a larger format you can see them by clicking on the pictures and clicking the "BACK" button to return to the blog- Paul



Yes we did arrive in Sierra Vista Arizona in time for another fantastic sunset in the state where "Scenic" lives. Every one since we have been here have been amazing.


I'm still learning to shoot night shots and may be on the verge of doing okay with this moon shot. Unfortunately too late for the great eclipse but...


... one turned out in a sepia (un-retouched) tone that looked much like the eclipse I did see.


So today after the arrival of our grand daughters, Sierra and Ansley and my son from back home in Oregon, Isaac, we drove to Bisbee for a tour of the area. I walked down one of the streets to take some pictures and got this picture of an ad for mufflers on a corrugated steel wall...


... a couple of old gas pumps...


... and a cleverly decorated empty lot.


Then there is the plant growing between a plywood covering and a brick wall thanks to the sunlight that filters through this circular hole.


The Lavender Pit mine in Bisbee was used to mine copper but there was a by-product Turquoise. Bisbee turquoise, also known as Bisbee Blue, is amongst the finest turquoise found anywhere in the world.


The view from the overlook to the mine is awesome ...


... and in many ways sad but it is our history and part of civilization's learning process.


Of course Bisbee itself is an anomaly. Anomaly is defined as deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule a person who is unusual. Bisbee is definitely both.


Driving through the town however, gave me a different perspective than the old town area with interesting eateries...


... one perspective is the stair-step layout of the residential area...


... another is the odd and colorful nature of this really cool town.


Drivting from Bisbee to Tombstone is a very scenic drive ...


... and following Matt's Jeep with Sharyn driving was a treat allowing me to take pictures as we drove along.


At one point we stopped for Isaac, the really good photographer, to take some shots from the middle of the two-lane highway...


... looking back to the mountains behind Sierra Vista...


... and even getting into my lens.


So we finally arrived at Tombstone, home of the OK Corral.


... and people in period costumes acting out the old west and some as tourists...


... and some who took period old time pictures, Matt and his girls actually had their pictures done in costume.


The Tombstone Art Gallery had done some remodeling and decided to leave a section of their wall open to expose the lathe and plaster original wall from the 1880's


There are more than a few stage coaches on the streets...


... showing the variation of wagon travel of the period when Tombstone was founded.


Of course some of the adobe walls are not really old...


but they are interesting none-the-less. I was amazed about something as we walked the streets of the 1880's town when I realize the "Old Schoolhouse" in Creswell, Oregon was built in 1874 before the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.


While Matt and the girls were having their picture done Isaac and I attended one of the "Gunfight Shows" in Tombstone...


... and had a great time taking pictures and enjoying the show...


... that included the "good guys" vs the "bad guys"...


... and sometime the good guys lost.


A show and re-enactment of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was about to start and I got a shot of the actors getting ready to start.


One of the Stagecoach drivers caught my eye...


I just really enjoyed watching them drive by...


... then this store was one shot I couldn't resist...


...along with my usual odd shot of the day.

No Scrabble tonight.

Quote of the Day ~
Billy Clanton: Why, it's the drunk piano player. You're so drunk, you can't hit nothin'. In fact, you're probably seeing double.
[Billy Clanton draws a knife]

Doc Holliday: [takes out a second gun] I have two guns, one for each of ya.

From the Movie Tombstone (1993)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

So where are the pictures of Matthew and his daughters? It would be nice to see them...

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