We met for breakfast back at the cafeteria. I was going to order three Blue Corn pancakes, but changed it to two when i saw how large they were. Actually one would have been enough as they covered the plate and were thick and fluffy!
We packed up and left our cars by the main lodge office at 8:45 and climbed up on our open-top six-wheel ten-seat truck that was to take us on a four-hour drive through both Canyon del Muerto and Canyon de Chelly. It turns out the trucks were old German troop carriers!
Our driver, Elton, was knowledgeable and humorous, and got us into the canyon before the other groups. It was cool but clear; there had recently been a flash flood and the roads up the canyons were muddy and deeply rutted with evidence of lots of sandy mud being washed down stream making for a rocky ride!
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| Ruins high on a wall |
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| A Raven and its Shadow |
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| Mountain Sheep |
Elton showed us many petroglyphs from different eras; pre- and post- horse, and also showed us the small foot and hand holds carved into impossibly high and steep walls that various Indian groups used to climb up to caves and ledges. He also pointed out some ladders and handrails installed to enable gringos to climb the walls more “easily” - which still looked unbelievably scary!
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| The Cat |
We saw rock formations in the shape of cats, woodpeckers and bears, and some actual bear paw prints and a few mountain sheep. Way above us we could see tiny figures of people looking down from the overlooks where we were standing yesterday on the ledges of the canyon rim.
We returned to the Lodge at 1 PM and set off for Winslow, AZ, with a brief stop at the Hubbell Trading Post, where for 150 years the local Native Americans could sell their art works for needed supplies, and where beautiful blankets and jewelry is still available.
The countryside was rolling grasslands or sagebrush, with very few trees, but some areas of impressive buttes and mesas. We searched in vain for the Rotten Bananas Butte! At 3:30 we arrived at La Posada, a wonderful large hotel refurbished twenty years ago, where I have stayed twice before. It lies near Rt 66, on the Santa Fe railroad line, and was a grand hotel in the 1930s. It was fortunately saved in the 1990s, and it has been returned to its glory days. It has courtyards, hallways full of beautiful tile and artwork, surrounded by gardens.
Bob and I met Hilary and Teri in the bar and were soon joined by Margaret, our friend from Tucson, and her friend, Jeanette. We had fancy drinks and went into dinner.
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| Margaret & Hil enjoying cocktails |
We had their “Signature Soup” (half bean purée and half corn purée, followed by chicken in cilantro sauce with a tamale for me and Hil, and venison with pomegranate sauce and corn flan for Bob. The dining room was full and quite noisy as they seem to be doing a great business.
Alter dinner we inspected each others rooms as they are all different, unique and charming, except ours has a dangerous 12" step down from the bathroom!
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