We spent three cold nights in Mesa Verde, it snowed the day we arrived. We were able to visit three of the cliff dwellings.  We liked Balcony House and Cliff Palace best.

From here we went to Bluff Utah for three days to tour Monument Valley and the Goose Necks of the San Juan River. We had full hook ups here but it was warmer,  windy and dusty. 

Our next stop was in Chinle Arizona for another three nights of dry camping.  Chinle is home to Canyon de Chelly. It is also home to many Navaho Indians, the unemployment in the area is over 50%. We met the Priest at the local church, he is a Franciscan and has been in this Parish for over 30 years. We went to mass one morning and took him out to  breakfast.  We then spent the next four hours working in the church’s food bank. They serve over 900 families each week.

We also toured the canyon.  Many Navaho still live there in the summer. To tour the canyon you must have a Navaho guide, there is only one trail open for public access.

After Chinle we were off to Page Arizona about three hours away. This is our current location. Page is home to Lake Powell on the border of Utah and Arizona. We took a four hour boat ride to see Rainbow Bridge, and also visited Antelope Canyon and the hydro electric power plant. Our next stop is the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

We had a little snow upon arrival 

at Mesa Verde

Palace House.

Inside a Kiva.

Sand stone formation in
Monument Valley.

Monument Valley

Monument Valley.

Navaho posing on a horse in
Monument Valley.

Monument Valley.

Goose Necks along the San Juan River.

Goose Necks along the San Juan River.

Hogan on a small farm in Canyon de Shelly.

Jeep trip through Canyon de shelly.

Sandstone formation in Canyon de Shelly.

White House ruins in Canyon de Shelly.

Sandstone formation in Canyon de Shelly.

Altar in Our Lady of Fatima.

Campground at Lake Powell.

Hydro plant.

Lake Powell Dam.

Did I mention we took a raft trip on 

the Colorado River.

Rainbow Bridge.

Rainbow Bridge.

Lake Powell.

Inside Antelope Canyon. This is a narrow canyon 

carved in sandstone over millions of years.

Antelope Canyon.

We were in Durango for four nights. On Monday we took a bus up to Silverton and rode the train back to Durango. The train ride was three and a half hours long.  There was a rock slide that took about a half hour to clear.

When we arrived in Silverton we were at about 10,000 feet in altitude. The weather made the day very memorable.  When we started down the weather kept improving.

Silverton has only one paved street and about about 200 year round residence.

The weather in Durango has been windy, highs in the mid sixty’s and the lows at night going below freezing.

We leave here on Wednesday for  dry camping in Mesa Verde for three days

Our friend Ken in front of the restaurant.

Maggie in the snow.

It snowed the entire time we were 

in Silverton.

Main street Silverton. 

Main street Silverton.

Old silver mine.

On the way back to Durango. 

On the way back to Durango. 

The train followed the Anamais

River all the way to Durango.

Some places the train was right on the edge.

We left Albuquerque on Monday heading for Pojoaque witch is just north of Santa Fe.  On Tuesday we went to Bandelier National Monument. This area was inhabited from the mid 1200’s to the mid 1500’s. Some of the villages here exceeded 600 rooms.  In the afternoon we went to Los Alamos where the first atomic bomb was developed.

Wednesday we went to Chimayo to visit the Holy Dirt Church. This area is know as the Lourdes of the U.S. This Church and the dirt from the spring is known for the healing of many people.  There are many crutches hanging up in the Church. We also visited some weaving shops in the area.

Thursday we toured Santa Fe. Included in the tour was the Loretto Chapel. When they built the Chapel in the 1870’s no one could figure out how to build a staircase to the choir loft.  The sisters prayed to Saint Joseph for help and a mysterious carpenter showed up and constructed the stairs using only wooden pegs. The story of these stairs were also featured on Unsolved Mysteries.  We also visited Saint Francis Cathedral Basilica next to the Chapel.

On Friday we went to Taos and the Rio Grande River Gorge. On Saturday we head for Durango, Co. 

A little snow was falling just before we 

left Albuquerque.

.

 View from the Cliff dwellings.

 View from the Cliff dwellings of the ruins.

We were able to climb  up to some of the rooms.

 Cliff Dwellings.

This was one of five stages of a 140 foot climb.

One of the weaving shops.

Dirt Church in Chimayo.

Doors leading into church grounds.

Bronze sculptures  in Santa Fe.

(Playmates)

Can you name this sculpture?

This is the door everyone went through on their

way to Los Alamos, the secret city.

After dark they would be taken up to the compound at Los Alamos.

No one could know where they were Everyone had the same address;

a PO box in Santa Fe.

 Santa Fe is the oldest and highest state capital in the US.

The stairs in Loretto Chapel after the railings were added.

 The stairs as they were originally constructed.

Learn more about Loretto Chapel.
 http://www.lorettochapel.com/history.html

 Altar at St. Francis Cathedral Basilica.

 St. Francis Cathedral Basilica.

Rio Grande River Gorge.