On June 27th, we toured Arches National Park and later visited Moab.
The following photos were taken from pages 2013 J and K of old site.
On our way to Arches National Park
June 27, 2013
From inside the bus
We are back in Utah. We took Interstate 70 West and then Route 191.
I have no idea why this photo is this color.
We continue to head to Arches
June 27, 2013
Every few yards and around every corner there was a sight to behold. What beauty!!
See the moon?
And then we made it to Arches
June 27, 2013
We made a rest stop in the Visitors' Center
Outside the Center
View from inside the Center
Arches National Park
June 27, 2013
View of Center and roads from the top of a hill
Park Avenue explained
If you look closely, you will see a number in a circle. Look more to the right side, a little to right of the color chart. 1 is on top, 2 is more in the middle, and 3 is closer to the bottom. Explanation of numbers follow.
Arches
June 27, 2013
Park Avenue
The 3 Sisters
The 3 Sisters Referred to as the 3 Gossips on postcard.
Do you see what I see? A contorted figure: Hands, abdomen, and a small head with lots of hair.
An "Okay" sign
Arches
June 27, 2013
This formation looks like an animal. I see a bison.
Double arch though not totally visible.
Double arch
Cacti
Cacti and postcards
Postcard - Three Gossips and Sheep Rock, Arches National Park. Photographer - Tom Stack and Associates (c) Brian Parker
Postcard - Courthouse Tower Photographer - George H. H. Huey
Moab
Downtown Moab
Though there was no traffic light, the traffic will stop for pedestrians as soon as they step off the sidewalk and onto the street. We found it fascinating!!
Mural on the wall of a cantina next to the diner.
Part of Moab's Main Street at sunset. Moab was a small town but quaint. It appeared to be surrounded on all sides by beautifully colored mountains.
On June 28th, we left the Best Western Plus in Moab and headed to Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado) and Monument Valley (Utah). It was sunny and hot.
As always, stops were made along the way. A stop was made in Cortez and an area called Bluff Fort (Bluff, Utah). I also heard the Tour Director mention Monticello, Utah but can't recall if we stopped there.
Last of Arches, Bluff Fort
June 28, 2013
Wilson Arch. Arches National Park
Close-up of Wilson Arch
Mormon Church in Bluff Fort
Leaving Bluff Fort. From inside bus. Called Mexican Hat
Views from inside the bus on our way to Mesa Verde
June 28, 2013
Entering Mesa Verde
The haze could have been from the many fires in the area.
Mesa Verde
June 28, 2013
Oak Tree House
Another cave dwelling
Spruce Tree House taken from inside bus during a quick stop.
Explains what life was like in the community.
Sun Temple
Sun Temple
Explanation of the Sun Temple
Close-up of explanation
Part of the Sun Temple
Spruce Tree House. Look closely at right center. See all the blue? Visitors being given a tour.
More of Spruce Tree House
June 28, 2013
What brought the American Natives (Puebloans) to live in these caves? And why were they abandoned?
Used to crush grains. I was told the top rock was improvised but the bottom rocks (white/gray) are authentic.
Still at Spruce Tree House
June 28, 2013
Kiva, close-up view
Reconstructed Kiva. See explanation #1 below.
See explanation #2 below.
#1 - I did not climb down into the Kiva. There are numbers that appear throughout the house, which are explained in a booklet.
#2 - There is a trail allowing visitors to get to the Spruce Tree House. It's an incredible structure, though some of it has been "reconstructed". This view is of the lookout area from Spruce. The lookout area is for those who cannot walk to the House. Walking down was easy but I had to make a few stops on the way up!
More of Spruce Tree House
June 28, 2013
Looking down from lookout area.
Other views of Spruce Tree House and explanation.
"At Mesa Verde, Spanish for "green table," multistoried dwellings fill the cliff-rock alcoves that rise 2000 feet above Montezuma Valley. Remarkably preserved, the cliff dwellings cluster in canyons that slice the mesa into narrow tablelands. Here, and on the mess top, archeologists have located more than 4,800 archeological sites (including 600 cliff dwellings) dating from about A.D. 550 to 1300.
The sites, from mesa-top pithouses and multistoried dwellings to cliffside villages, document the changes in lives of a prehistoric people once dubbed the Anasazi. They are now more accurately called the ancestral Puebloans, and modern Pueblo tribes in the Southwest consider themselves descendants of these ancestral people. Some 40 pueblos and cliff dwellings are visible from park roads and overlooks some of these are open to the public."
From National Geographic's website.
Postcard - Mesa Verde National Park, Spruce Tree House. Photographer - Laurence Parent
Jigsaw Puzzle
Jigsaw puzzle - 500 pieces, #19272, panoramic view, 11.5" x 35.5". We did not visit this site. Photography by George H. H. Huey
Museum
June 28, 2013
Beadwork by the Ute Indians Beautiful
Paintings hanging in restaurant
They may have been for sale
A type of cactus
Leaving Mesa Verde National Park Taken from inside of bus
On our way to Monument Valley
June 28, 2013
Haze still with us. Look closely, upper left and you can see tail smoke from a plane in the sky.
Photos taken from inside the bus
More views, hotel, and vehicles that would take us to "Be My Guest" dinner which was hosted by the Navajos.
June 28, 2013
Gouldings Lodge Hotel
This, and next two photos, taken from balcony of our room. Red dome is a hogan.
Vehicles that would take us to dinner.
Photo taken from the back of the truck. The rooms of the hotel can be seen.
More photos of the beautiful area
June 28, 2013
The sun was beginning to set. All photos taken from the back of the truck taking us to dinner.
Everything around us appeared to be in a reddish hue.
Dinner
One of the other trucks joining us.
Where dinner was served.
Here, and at the dinner with Happy Pappy, we were served fried bread. It reminded me of what we call on St. Croix "arepas" or "Johnny cakes". Here, and with Happy Pappy, we were served kidney beans. However, Pappy's beans contained bacon. The beans with the Navajos were sweet. Again, it reminded me of St. Croix.
Above, you can see one of the passengers, Helga, learning a Native American dance. The drummer/dancer gave us an explanation of the drum, music and dances.
It was an enjoyable evening.
More photos of Monument Valley on next page.
Continued on D-5
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