Travel

As Covid releases its ugly grip on us, people are starting to travel farer away from home. People love to go someplace new, exciting, fun or interesting. If you don't know your way there, many of us travel by GPS. Nancy likes the old fashion map (first map by Rand-McNally was in 1924) and talks back at the GPS (it began to be sold to the public in 1995) when we don't understand why we are going as directed. I just enjoy the drive. 

We tasted travel with a short trip to Tucson in April. Last week we wandered off a little farer to North New Mexico to visit the communities of some Native American ancestors. 

We camped in Bloomfield, just east of Farmington and took day trips to see some of the oldest pueblos and cliff dwellings in the USA. All of them have not had residents for more than 1,000 years. Amazingly enough, much of the structures were still standing. Still ruins, but absolutely a marvel of workmanship for its time. We have seen the Pyramids of Egypt, and Machu Picchu in Peru, and the ruins in Italy/Greece, but these were equally amazing.

Chaco Canyon was the first. Even tho we had 21 miles of some of the roughest dirt road I have ever driven, it was worth it.

Unlike Mesa Verde, you can actually walk through, in and out of Chaco. I hit my head several good times trying to pass through the doorways, they were built for much shorter people, maybe 4 foot (I am 5'10" and old). They lived there for a mere 200 years before leaving. Some of these places were built before Christ. 

Next day, we had a tour at Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado. Unfortunately, we could not go into the canyon to tour the cliff dwellings because of restoration construction. Just like our homes, these need repairs and maintenance occasionally.

The nature alcoves in the cliff gave the ancestors and perfect place to build their home for protection from the weather, raiding tribes and a good source of water for their crops in the valley. Cliff Palace, shown here, is only one of more than 100 in the area. They too moved on after a few hundred years. Many native Americans (mostly Hopi) still come often to visit their ancestors here to renew their believes. If you know Arizona, you probably know of our cliff dwellings, Walnut Canyon in Flagstaff and Montezuma's Castle

Next was Aztec (not named after the tribe, but Aztec translates to "Ancestors") north of Bloomfield.

In the city of Aztec, this place was very accessible and was equally amazing to us. A paved walking path all over to almost every structure they built for rock and mud. Again, short doorways, adjoining rooms from one home to another, and some were three stories originally. The city of Aztec was very inviting also with its small town storefront lined main street, to its extremely friendly people. They even have a A&W root beer stand. Had to stop there for lunch and a frosty mug.

A great week. More trips are being planned as I type. Take care.