Mesa Verde

Last real day of vacation. Boohoo! We spent the day at Meas Verde, as previously mentioned. The real "season" begins on the 8th so we weren't sure that we were going to have a whole lot to see. We planned on a half a day but that plan was scrapped pretty quickly! This place is simply amazing. We were hoping to see some bears, but alas, no dice. The kids did find some snake skin which was pretty exciting. Hans was especially happy because his junior ranger booklet had a checklist and lizard was on it and just could not be found. He felt this was a fair substitute. My kids are amassing quite a collection of junior ranger badges. I really hope that one of them looks into being an actual National Park Service ranger someday.

So, back to the actual dwellings. Again, I am at a loss for words. It was so overwhelming, the amount of ruins in this park. The fact that they are still standing is amazing. There are nearly 5000 archaeological sites being protected here. To walk through and among them is a little surreal.

We were allowed to climb underground into a Kiva. It is something else, trying to imagine what it would be like to live here, in those times. Hans was particularly impressed with these spaces.

Once again, I have taken at least a hundred pictures, trying to choose which to share was difficult. I may have to upload them all into an album and link it here eventually. Really, pictures just cannot do it justice. To walk in the same places that these ancestral pueblans have walked on was a powerful thing. The cliff dwellings so high up in the canyons had Pete and I both wondering how many children were lost. It was insane how high up they were!

This is the Sleeping Ute mountain. Can you see him?

Weather here is so unpredictable. We alternately had our jackets on and off. This picture I love because it reminds me of European Vacation, when Clark wants everyone to wear berets in Paris. When in the Southwest. This has been a really great vacation. we have seen so many things. I am always enamored by the National Parks. The things I learn and see stay with me. No doubt I will spend the next week imagining what it would be like to live in those ruins. But first, we have to drive home. Lame. Luckily we will be spending Easter at Grandma Double R's which will help us get over our vacations over blues. I am in charge of funeral potatoes. Pete wants to know how the non Mormon in the family got assigned funeral potatoes?!! I am confident I can handle it. But just for good measure I will probably make Capirotada as well.

P.S. ONE WHOLE WEEK OF BLOGGING! I AM HOOKED! AGAIN!