Montezuma Castle and Sedona

We are now in Mesa, Arizona.  Before we left Cottonwood we went to see Montezuma Castle and drove through Sedona, Arizona.  So even though I want to tell you about what we have been doing in Mesa, I want to first share about the other 2 places.  We have been keeping so busy and have really enjoyed Arizona.

The day before we left Cottonwood we decided to go see the Castle.  Well it's not really a castle, but that is what they call it.  This was a 20 room dwelling built in the 1100s CE.  Definitely a long time ago.  It is in the recess of the cliff.

Very amazing!
So here is the Castle.

This is about 100 feet above the valley

Because it was built back into the cliff, it has been preserved

These 2 pictures are of what was once was a 6 story apartment building with about 45 rooms.  This was at the base of the cliff and didn't survive as well as the one in the cliff.

 I made this larger because if you look to the left of the hole you will see a bee hive.  You can see it better in the picture below.  Also if you could read the print it says the bees are usually not aggressive, but if you get an aggressive bee, - run away quickly  -  and find a ranger to tell.  I don't know about you but I found this funny. 

On the side of the cliff you could see a lot of different caves and it looks like they were used for dwellings.

There was a creek nearby which gave them their source of water

This was a model of what it would have looked like inside

After we left the Castle we decided to drive through Sedona.  I really wasn't quite sure what it was but I saw the brochures and decided it was worth checking out.  It was absolutely gorgeous. 

Sedona is called Red Rock Country.  Once you have been there, you will know why.  This is what we saw when we got there.

 I know my pictures don't do them justice, but hope you can tell how pretty they were.  The sun on some of them just made them glow.

We turned on a side street and came across this chapel built into the side of the hill.  I guess they give tours but we were there after they closed. 

We just stumbled on this by accident







Wouldn't you like to go out on your back porch and have your morning coffee and look at this

This was just one beautiful house.  There were many in Sedona

By the time we got to Sedona it was getting late or we would have spent more time there.  The brochure says it is voted the No. 1 most beautiful place in America.  I can see why.  If we get back this way I will definitely go there again. 

Bye for now,  Love  Ed and Lyn