Benson, AZ
Today I sat next to a Chiricahua Apache while sipping whiskey in the Crystal Palace Saloon on the main drag in Tombstone, Arizona. I walked through the OK Corral to the back alley where the gunfight took place. I watched a somewhat hammy recreation of the gunfight in the bleachers next to some germans. I went past the Bird Cage theatre, Wyatt Earp’s house and up to Boot Hill.
Some days on this adventure are more interesting than others.
Tombstone reminded me of Gettysburg. If Gettysburg didn’t have any actual residents. Lots of gift shops with cheap, Chinese western wear. Some profoundly badly dressed interpreters along with some really righteously attired and impressively realistic folks. I dug it. I dug the entire experience.
Oddly though, the Wal-Mart here in Benson doesn’t seem to have the movie Tombstone available on its racks. The Wal-Mart in Gettysburg has Gettysburg prominently displayed right inside the door. I think the folks up here are missing a real opportunity to cash in on the suckers.