Monday, July 18, 2016

Santa Fe - Last Stop

Day 17-20
July 9-12, 2016
Santa Fe, NM
Sunset in Santa Fe


Enchiladas with Green Chile sauce

Tamales

International Folk Art Market


Seeing all of these rugs made me miss Syria!

All of the artists were there to sell their fair trade goods.



Our Airbnb rental- 150 year old adobe

Green Chile Stew- very hot

My next house

Ian and I exploring the galleries near the Railyard.

San Miguel Church- the oldest church structure in the USA


On Canyon Road  -- exploring the art galleries


Meow Wolf - an amazing interactive mystery playground


There was an entrance into the "Dream Zone" through the refrig.


Cool artwork throughout Meow Wolf - If you go to Santa Fe, this place is definitely worth it.

Mesa Verde to Santa Fe

Day 16
July 8, 2016
Mesa Verde National Park
Definitely one of my favorite spots.
If you go you must stay at the Far View Lodge inside the park and splurge for a room with a view. It is spectacular.

What a cutie!

Long House ranger-led tour


Climbing into the Pueblo cliff dwellings

Home sweet home

My angel


David is experimenting with the focus on my camera. He thinks he's cool. 


Kiva

On our way to Santa Fe, after this hike.


Sunday, July 10, 2016

Magnificent Mesa Verde

Day 15
July 7, 2016
Chinle, AZ to Mesa Verde National Park, CO
The Four Corners Monument was supposed to open at 8:00. It was 8:05 and it was not open yet, and the line was very long. We waited five more minutes and still no movement in the line, so we decided to take a picture of the sign instead.

First look at Mesa Verde- highest point at Park Point 8572 ft.

Evidence of forest fire

After a five hour drive, we needed to stretch our legs by going on our first hike through Mesa Verde National Park. Here we are squeezing through on Petroglyph Point Trail. 

Looking over the canyon during the Petroglyph Point Trail
See that hole, no we did not have to crawl through there.

Out on a ledge - Please be careful!

Watch out for tarantulas and scorpions hiding in those holes.

Back to our beautiful hotel at the Far View Lodge within Mesa Verde National Park.
 At 5:00, we will go on our next ranger-led tour of Balcony House. 


Climbing up to Balcony House - the Pueblo did not use ladders, they climbed the rocks using foot and hand holds that they carved out of the rock.

Another ladder!

Balcony House - The Pueblos used the sandstone to build these structures and sand and clay as mortar. Sometimes they even used their own urine as the liquid to hold the elements together when water was sparse.

See the balcony behind Ranger Pete- that is why it is called Balcony House. 
It is the only intact balcony among the ruins.

Sitting around the top of a kiva- a room within used for religious rituals. As many as 15-17 people would go into one kiva.


Inside Balcony House

Not taken by me- but I wanted you to see what it looked like from the viewpoint. 
You can also see the 30 ft. ladder we climbed, on the right.














Saturday, July 9, 2016

Navajo Reservation

Day 14
July 6, 2016
Chinle, AZ
Another red-spotted toad that begins our hike to see White House Ruins.

Down we go...

White House Ruins in Canyon De Chelly. These are Anasazi ruins that date back to 1200 A.D. 
The Navajo still farm in the Canyon, today.

Cholla Cactus

On our way back up. This hike we agreed was actually more enjoyable than the Grand Canyon hike.


A black widow spider Ian found in the Canyon De Chelly Visitor Center boy's bathroom.

Our view of Canyon De Chelly- as we drive across the sandy riverbed and our truck bucks and goes glug, glug.

Which is our open-air vehicle? The one that is overheating and keeps stalling or the modern-day jeep in the shade?

Come give your mom a hug!

Just to give you some perspective.



Pictographs by Pueblos in Tseyi Canyon (Canyon de Chelly)

Antelope House Ruins

The boys playing basketball with Navajo relatives of our tour guide.

In front of Antelope House (near Ben, our tour guide's house)

Sunsetting over Canyon de Chelly