Friday, November 7, 2008

US Trip part 5e Mesa Verde

I wanted to see where the Anasazi had lived
so we took a trip to Mesa Verde







This sign talks about the effect pollution is having on the mesa
from this spot at one time
you would be able to see clearly for hundreds of miles
now there is just a haze









I was praying for that storm to come out way
It is so hot



Shots from the lookout
It is the highest spot in the area









These trees are all that is left from a fire
that swept through this area
In the past seven years 50%
of the park has burnt



This is the Cliff Palace
The largest of the dewellings





A group was already down,
and I could not take the heat
we did not do the tour









If you look closely you will see some small
square holes half way down





Views of the canyon











God
the heat





We could not get down to balcony house
but they did have this lovely plaque
you could grub your fingers over



nice



We finally made it inside where the sun could not fry
my brain anymore

I felt like this dog



Inside the visitor center
there was quite an assortment of crap
collected from the area



Some dead things



I saw a few of these dudes
circling me outside



More buzzard bait



Things in stone







I guess I should have told him







I was amazed at how many people
were down here



It was a huge challenge keeping them from messing up
my shots



These next shots are of spruce tree house
It was constructed between AD 1211 and 1278







The over hanging cliff has kept these dwellings
in great shape



















By the time we left the park
the heat had changed my normally sunny
disposistion