Monument Valley

We atarted the day at the Monument Valley Tribal Park which is owned and managed by the Navajos.  In fact, this whole area is part of the Navajo nation.  This scenery is not to be believed!  It is just mesmerizing.  After walking around and looking at the mesas and buttes which were visible from the Welcome Center patio, buying a T shirt and a few postcards, we decided to visit a place called Mexican Hat, which we had heard about from someone at dinner last night.

After driving about 20 miles and hiking some more, I got a perfect picture of this "thing."  Hope you appreciate it.

Following this, we went back to Monument Valley to see what we had missed.  As we found out, it was a lot.  We hired a Navajo guide named Richard, or Richard the Great as he called himself.  He took us and a couple from  California in his van with big windows on a 2.5 hour ride around the park.  This was on unpaved, bumpy and wild roads.  He stopped several times for us to walk around and get photos and have other experiences. 

On one stop, Richard led us into this huge cave in  the rocks where he had us lay back on the wall and just relax as we looked up at the ceiling at least 50 feet away.  The acoustics were incredible as he proceeded to read a poem in Navajo, followed by a mournful song played on a double pipe instrument.  AMAZING!  We could hardly move when he was done.

 

Another stop was at a place where some women sold jewelry and also offered a horse you could get on and get photographed.  You probably would not believe it unless you saw it on film, but check it out.  That really is my lovely bride, Joan, astride a horse in Monument Valley.  It's true!  But thet was only after the trainer assured her that the horse would not move.

My favorite actor, John Wayne, collaborated on several movies with the director, John Ford, filmed in the valley starting with "Stage Coach."  The scenery reminded me so much of the movies I've watched (over and over.)

Following are a few shots - including a sample of the breathtaking scenery of the day.  Enjoy!