No, we were on a bus tour and everything was pretty fast.

As our tour guide said, "Next stop Montezuma's Castle. Where Montezuma never went but, it's not a castle either."
When European-Americans first observed the ruins in the 1860s, by then long-abandoned, they named them for the famous Aztec emperor Montezuma in the mistaken belief that he had been connected to their construction. The dwelling was abandoned more than 40 years before Montezuma was born, and was not a "castle" in the traditional sense, but instead functioned more like a "prehistoric high rise apartment complex."

It is a Puebloan cliff dwellings near the town of Camp Verde, Arizona.

The dwellings were built and used by the Sinagua people, a pre-Columbian culture closely related to the Hohokam and other indigenous peoples of the southwestern United States, between approximately 1100 and 1425 AD. The main structure comprises five stories and twenty rooms, and was built over the course of three centuries.

Montezuma's Castle.


The ladders were removed some time ago to prevent tourists from going into the dwelling.


Tree below the dwelling next to the creek.


Near Montezuma's Castle.


They just pop up wherever they take a notion.

Here are a few from St Vitus Cathedral which is located within the Prague Castle. It was founded in 1344. Many of the more modern surrounding buildings house government offices.

The crowds were as big as the cathedral.










View from Petrin Hill.

The Vltava river, in Prague alone, is spanned by over thirty bridges and foot bridges. Views of the city from the Petrin Lookout Tower, called the Eiffel Tower of Prague, gives you a view of red tile roofs, the river and a variety of architecture. The tower, built in 1891, is just over 225 feet tall and sits at the summit of Petrin Hill, which is 1,043 feet high.
Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th-century Europe. Main attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter an Petrin Hill Tower.
Traditionally Prague buildings were white with red roof tiles, but today, you can see streets where every building is a different color.
In 1689, a huge fire engulfed the city, destroying many of its buildings, which were then rebuilt in baroque style with red clay roof tiles.

River and red roofs.


Looking out over the city.


The Charles Bridge, river and city.


More bridges crossing the river.


Panoramic view from the Petrin Tower.


Red tile roofs.


Petrin Lookout Tower.


Pastels.

Prague, the capital city is nicknamed 'the City of a Hundred Spires', it is known for the Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colorful baroque buildings and gothic churches. Prague is a 3D architecture textbook.
Charles Bridge, 2,037 feet long, is a stone gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Lesser Town (Mala Strana). Construction, commissioned by Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, began in 1357 and was finished in 1402.

Pastel colors and wires for the cable cars.


Town square.


Tower on one end of the Charles Bridge.


The Charles Bridge.


The Charles Bridge panoramic.


Waterfront property.

While I was there in 1985 the Mayor of the town told us Heidleberg was one of the major cities that was not bombed in WWII. I asked him what happened to the castle and he said, Oh that was a few years earlier, Napoleon knocked that down with a catapult!
But Wikipedia says, In 1688, French troops marched into Heidelberg and took the castle without a fight. When the French withdrew one year later, they had a tactic of destroying the enemy fortifications before leaving, in hope to prevent future attacks.  
Thus, Heidelberg Castle was set on fire and the front of the largest tower, also known as “Fat Tower”, was blown up.
Immediately as the French left, the walls and towers were rebuilt. When the French attack again two years later, they failed to take the castle. The French then changed their tactics and destroyed parts of the town of Heidelberg instead, to cut of the supply line for the castle. This in turn forced a surrender of the castle in 1693.  
This time the French finished off the work the started earlier and blew up the remaining walls and towers.
0pened in 1788, the bridge, commonly known as the Old Bridge crosses the Neckar River. It is 656 feet long.

During our early summer trip to Europe we visited Heidelberg. I was there in 1985 and loved the castle and bridge so I was glad to be returning. Here are some shots from our two days there.

Inner Walls of the castle.


The Old Bridge viewed from the Castle.


Some of the walls have been knocked down others are only partly there.


Looking up at the castle from the city. You can see where part of the corner has fallen.


One of my shots from 1985. It was a foggy spring morning and the mist gives it that "other world" feeling.


A similar view from my trip earlier this year.


A view of the old bridge, castle and river.


The entry at the end of the bridge.


A wider view of the castle, bridge and river.


Looking out over the city and river from the castle.

We went on a dream vacation earlier this year and drove from Frankfurt, Germany to Northern Italy and then on to Salzburg, Austria and Prague, Chech Republic. Here are my favorite shots from Venice.
Venice has 177 waterways and canals that stretch over 26 miles snaking their way throughout the city separating neighbors and neighborhoods. The canals split the city into 118 different islands.
There are over 400 bridges in Venice.

The pastel colors, the clouds and water all work together with the bright colors.


Piazza San Marco is the principal public square of Venice. Procuratie Vecchie on the left was built between 1480 and 1517 and teh Procuratie Nuove on the right was built between 1586 and 1640.




Small bridges over narrow curving canals with slices of sky blend together with pastel colors to give Venice it's Old World feel.

Thanks for all the comments.

Thanks for all the comments.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Here:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-422373-1.html

The "Bison Roundup" happens each year in early October. I grew up near the National Bison Range so I incorporate a visit and a chance to photograph the event whenever I can. They maintain the bison heard at about 350 and conduct the roundup to bring in the bison and check them for health and to sort the herd as needed. This year they Auctioned about 25 head and sent another 25 to a park near Denver, Colorado.

Nikon D800
200-400 f/4 & 1.7 teleconverter
28-300

This old boy decided not to play, when that happens, they just leave them out on the range


Years ago they used horsed to bring them in but recently have started using four wheel drives and 4 wheelers


After coming out of the corral, they just want to get away from humans


And find Momma!


They gather them on the back side of the ridge and bring them over when they are ready for them


If not watched they tend to head back where they came from


Another of the bulls that chose not to play


On the road again


Just can't wait to get on the road again


These bulls weigh about a ton and can move about 40 MPH

Magpie's are typically pretty bashful birds. These seemed to be concentrating on harassing the bull and not paying attention to me so I got better shots than normal. The birds would land on his horns and pick bugs out of his hair, then the bull would shake his head and send off. They would circle around and come in for a landing.

Two in bush and one on the horns




Getting airborne


Gliding in for a landing




He has something in his beak. He would hold it with his foot and work at it with his beak

I was attending the Bison Roundup (an annual event) at the National Bison Range the first part of October and on the way in I ran across these Elk doing what they do!

Nikon D800
Nikon 200-400 f/4 lens & 1.7 TC

Watching over the herd.


Gathering up the girls.


Running off the competition.


Up...


Up...


Up...


And away.