Montezuma's Castle

The problem with being busy with travels and other exciting activities is that one is too busy to write about those activities - though I'd rather have it this way. The alternative is, of course, writing about how bored one is, which is enjoyed by no one.

Two weekends ago Victor and I decided to forgo the forecasted 115 degree highs and head up to Flagstaff, where the temperature promised to top out in the low 80s. On the way up we stopped at Montezuma's Castle National Monument, which contains the ruins of a prehistoric community. The ruins were erroneously attributed to Montezuma and the Aztecs by the Spanish who (re)discovered the ruins in the 17th century. The actual inhabitants were several hundred Sinagua Indians, a tribe that mysteriously disappeared from the site approximately 800 years ago. Archeologists speculate that the Sinagua may have joined nearby Hopi tribes.






These are some of the cliffside dwellings built by the Sinagau. At the peak of the community there were 60-70 rooms built into area cliffs, though many of the structures have since fallen apart.






This is by far the coolest part of the site. In the middle of the desert, surrounded by prickly pears, sagauro cacti and sand there is a beautiful natural lake. Called Montezuma's Well, it is fed by underground streams and thus is kept at a constant 76 degrees (we were still about an hour south of Flagstaff, and so not yet out of the 100 plus degree heat). Down at the shore we were able to dip our feet in.



Victor: Only YOU can prevent forest fires. (Possibly he was actually pointing to a lizard).