12 Jun 2010, Sat - Tuba City, AZ
I am on my way back to Mesa, staying in Tuba City, AZ, tonight. I left Canyon de Chelly ("duh Shay") around 5 PM and I expect to get back to Mesa sometime tomorrow. I've spent the last week at Canyon de Chelly National Monument in northeast AZ. You haven't heard from me because I have been under the weather the past few days, and didn't have reliable Internet access either.
Canyon de Chelly is one of my favorite places. I was able to visit all the overlooks on the south rim again this time, and they were just as incredible as I remembered them. At Spider Rock overlook [above] I watched two pair of ravens dancing on the updrafts for a long time. Sometimes they were calling to each other; sometimes lightly touching the feet of their partner before taking off again; sometimes the four were dancing in perfect synchronization; sometimes none of them were in sync; sometimes the couples were in sync with each other, but not with the other couple. It was fascinating to watch, and because I was up so high on the overlook, they were right in front of me. It was almost like they were showing off - "Look! See what I can do!" Last time I was at Canyon de Chelly, I promised myself I'd come back and stay longer. Last time my schedule was pretty tight, and I didn't have time to take the jeep tour through the bottom of the canyon. This time I got to do that. Finally. At the mouth of the canyon, the walls are only 30 feet high, but by the time you get to the end of the canyon, where Spider Rock is, the walls are 1000 feet high! There is no way that my descriptions or photos can give you a sense of its immensity and awesomeness. You'll just have to go and visit! :-) The canyon has been the home of indigenous peoples for thousands of years, and I got to see many of the petroglyphs and ruins of the Anasazi (the "ancient ones") in the canyon. The most famous ruins are probably those called "White House Ruins" because of the white plastering used on the walls that still survives [photos above and below].
Canyon de Chelly is on Navajo land and is a very sacred place to the People. There are a couple places in the world that feel very sacred to me too, and this is one. Its majesty and beauty take my breath away.
I ordered from the traditional portion of the menu at a local restaurant before I left town - mutton stew and psole (hominy, green chiles, tomatoes - yum!) and "Navajo tortillas". Enjoyed it.
The worst thing about being on the reservation is all the stray, uncared-for, dogs. Makes me sad.
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