3 October Moab- Mesa Verde
Left Moab and headed back down Highway 191 to Monticello where the
trees were beginning to take on their fall colours. Had a coffee there before
changing to the 491 and headed to Colorado. Wow! What a contrast! Almost as
soon as we crossed the border the country changed from dry canyon lands to
green farm lands. Enroute to the
Mesa Verde, we passed through a number of small farming towns with names like
Dove Creek, Cahone, Pleasant View, Cortez before reaching the Mesa Verde about
12.30. We immediately booked onto the tour to see Cliff Palace. It is situated
in the cliff face so was quite a walk down into the canyon but the return trip
was via steep steps and several ladders. Bit of huffing and puffing but we made
it.
The story of the cliff dwellers is one of unsolved mystery. The ancient
Puebloans settled in the Mesa Verde about 1400 years ago but it was during the
Classic Period 1100-1300 the people moved to the cliff dwellings which were
quite sophisticated in their design. The straight courses of the carefully shaped
stone work is amazing. They built kivas inside enclosed walls instead of out in
the open. They were farmers, traders, makers of baskets and pottery as well as
tools. About 1300 the Mesa Verde was deserted. No one is certain about the
reason but it seems the people moved
south into New Mexico and Arizona.
We visited the Spruce Tree House as well and while it was still a climb to come back up it was
not as steep as the Cliff Palace. We did the loop drive and were able to see
most of the cliff dwellings. We went to the Sun Temple for sunset.
We had booked into the Far View Lodge so we had dinner there and it
was a really great meal – one of the best we have had. We had prickly pear brulee
for desert and it was to die for.
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