We continued on to Bandelier National Monument, the site of a pueblo and cliff-dwellings, as well as a holy kiva high up the side of the mountains. It was a powerful, moving, and inspirational place: to sit inside a cliffside cave where people once lived, loved, worked, and played; to climb hundreds of ladder rungs to the most sacred location of an ancient village; to marvel in awe at the petroglyphs etched high on rock face depicting beings of this world and another. Here is one of a Toucan, which was likely acquired through trade with Central America:
Then we couch-surfed with some terrific folks for a couple of nights in Flagstaff, AZ. I LOVE this town!! It is youthful, picturesque, hip, and super-friendly. We made some new friends & also met up with my cousin Amy & her boyfriend Dave for a day-hike in nearby Coconino National Forest. Here Mel & I hugged our first Ponderosa Pine.
And then, of course, we couldn't pass up Grand Canyon National Park. It literally brought tears to my eyes. It is magnificent! And so big! The poster below is from the backcountry office in the park (demonstrating how hot the bottom of the canyon can get), making us ever more eager as we approach Burning Man next week!
The next stop was Zion National Park, where we took a lovely little hike to a waterfall, rode around in the shuttle listening to the driver tell bad jokes, and saw California Condors soaring above the cliffs.
We continued on to Bandelier National Monument, the site of a pueblo and cliff-dwellings, as well as a holy kiva high up the side of the mountains. It was a powerful, moving, and inspirational place: to sit inside a cliffside cave where people once lived, loved, worked, and played; to climb hundreds of ladder rungs to the most sacred location of an ancient village; to marvel in awe at the petroglyphs etched high on rock face depicting beings of this world and another. Here is one of a Toucan, which was likely acquired through trade with Central America:
Then we couch-surfed with some terrific folks for a couple of nights in Flagstaff, AZ. I LOVE this town!! It is youthful, picturesque, hip, and super-friendly. We made some new friends & also met up with my cousin Amy & her boyfriend Dave for a day-hike in nearby Coconino National Forest. Here Mel & I hugged our first Ponderosa Pine.
And then, of course, we couldn't pass up Grand Canyon National Park. It literally brought tears to my eyes. It is magnificent! And so big! The poster below is from the backcountry office in the park (demonstrating how hot the bottom of the canyon can get), making us ever more eager as we approach Burning Man next week!
The next stop was Zion National Park, where we took a lovely little hike to a waterfall, rode around in the shuttle listening to the driver tell bad jokes, and saw California Condors soaring above the cliffs.
No comments:
Post a Comment