On the Res - Mesa Verde and Monument Valley

Trip Start Jun 15, 2008

Trip End Aug 16, 2008

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Flag of United States Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Wednesday, August 6, 2008

I wasn't due at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for my rafting trip until Aug. 7, so I decided to take a little jaunt out of the way to Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado. What a fascinating place - a plateau with 800 year old Indian/Native American/First American (your choice, we're not PC here) cliff dwellings. I was fortunate to catch the last tour of the day into Balcony House, a medium sized dwelling that requires an adventurous little hike down into the side of the cliff. Nice park, and the only national park devoted to man-made structures.

On the way to the Grand Canyon from Mesa Verde, I passed through Monument Valley. Monument Valley is the place you always see in the Marine commercials and in a number of movies. It's the desert scene with towers rising up hundreds of feet. See the pictures. You will recognize it.

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