in bolivia: Four Corners Area, AZ-UT-CO-NM, USA

We drove to the four corners area next, which allowed us to continue our scenic overload and recuperate from the canyon. First stop was Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which was incredibly windy yet serene.

infrared shot of the totem poles

the mittens

the three sisters

forgot the name, but a nice picture

sunset

We drove through the four corners on our way to our next stop, being sure to stand on the cardinal axis that divides the four states. It cost 3 dollars a person, but we did get some fry bread (for 6 dollars). Not bad.

We arrived at Mesa Verde National Park--home to one of the densest groupings of ancestral pueblo ruins yet found. The park homepage has more about the detailed and interesting history. We were able to see a multitude of these sites.

Spruce Tree House

Spruce Tree House

The circular opening in the ground you can see in the above picture is an example of a kiva, which served as a religious ceremony site for ancestral puebloans. The park service restored one of these kivas, as they normally have a sealed roof (which since has eroded away on unrestored sites). We could climb down into it.

inside a kiva

spruce tree house

That night we went into town for the oft-loved pizza and microbrew combo at a local brewer--main street/mesa cerveza. They made a great one called schnorzenboomer doppelboch and sold it to go.

The next morning we woke up and took a guided tour of balcony house, another ruin at mesa verde. One must climb up a long ladder to reach this secluded ruin.