many days

the ruins of Mesa Verde - These cliff dwelling ancient Pueblos lived on the mesa and then build their home in alcoves in the rock. We were able to crawl down a very narrow ladder and go into one of the 600 living areas..called the Palace. Probably 20 families lived in a communal way and get their water from the spring rock. I can tell you at 8000 ft above sea level...I was doing a little huff and puff...but the stuff was so interesting and exciting I hardly noted. The pic in the middle was a ritual spot...they had a hole in the ground that they covered with a canvas and then danced on it to make a drum sound for the others... I am anxious to learn more....I have been here before....

I have found blogging harder in the US than in Asia. I started out at the library but the security was on and even though I had a pass...could not get it. I am now at the Dam Bar and Grill and this appears to be working....drinking a blonde beer and waiting for my food...so free wifi. I have my slot at the walmarts and just relaxing. So lets go back...an pick up were I was before the power went out. I did see a tire on the back of a rig that said Obama is a communist...and lots of Jesus stuff... We had a rock slide stop and I actually had a nice conversation with the JesusRK folks. Somewhere along the way I made a decision to got to Mesa Vede...wow...it was a something. I got my live time pass as a senior for $10 and then got half price for lodging. One of my first greeters was this moose deer...wonderful face. I also saw five wild horses...but they were faster than my camera. The evening sun gave me some opportunity to capture the ancient rocks. There was construction so I had an opportunity to pull over and take a few shots. I will give you a few laughs...I has to go to the bathroom at about 4....well I had a medium size soda glass..and thought that would be ok... I discovered two things..my need was greater than the cup... and a foam is a sponge....you do the math. I cleaned up and tidied up and re configured the bed..and all is well that end wall.

As you can see. I did see the sun come up and the wonderful stars in the sky on the sky roof. I intended to have a show but it was 25 this am and I just could not do it...so I took a picture and then went to the lodge to have an omelet and get ready for the 4 hr bus tour I had signed up for.. thank you to the extra money folk... the tour was great... and this is a pic of Jim the tour guide. He was very informative and there were only 13 of us on the bus... the

place was amazing.. One thing I learned was what happens to the forest when there is a fire. It is amazing to see a 100 yr old bush tree that has been burned. It will take 2oo years before there is even a twig here.... very sad... time to zzz...

Jim grew up in AK an has been at the Tetons and several other places...but this is his favorite..and he offers no real apology for presenting the info from an native perspective. He has obviously spent some time getting to know the natives and gaining trust. As I drove across the desolate land that the government so graciously gave to the people who owned all the land..I saw great poverty..but cowboys and folks herding cattle down the high way. I got gas at a native spot and that was a hoot.